RUMFORD – Following a lengthy executive session Monday night, the River Valley Growth Council voted not to extend or renew the contract of Executive Director Joseph Derouche, who asked for a three-month extension.
Derouche, who was hired as the council’s executive director in January, was not present at the meeting. He began the job on Feb. 1 with a pro-rated salary of $40,000 through June 30.
Acting council President Dick Lovejoy said after the 60-minute closed-door session that Derouche had been hired on a probationary contract. Derouche, Lovejoy said, had requested a three-month extension on the contract.
But Monday night, he said the Personnel Committee recommended against the contract extension.
Directors came out of executive session and voted 10-6 to deny the extension on the first of four motions from Personnel Committee Chairman Bill Hine.
Directors voting to deny it were Lovejoy, Jim Rinaldo and Greg Buccina, all of Rumford, Rumford Town Manager Steve Eldridge, Dick Pierce of Dixfield, Hine of Peru, Norris Conant and Diane Ray, both of Canton, Brenda Flagg of Carthage and Bruce Powell of Hanover.
Voting to extend Derouche’s contract were Matt Kaubris of Rumford, Rich Allen and Barbara Laramee, both of Mexico, Brenda Gross of Hanover, Bill De Vries of Dixfield and Craig Zurhorst of Andover.
“It was just the will of the growth council to vote to not extend his probationary period as requested,” Lovejoy said.
In March, Derouche, who has a virulent form of multiple sclerosis, was given a two-week unpaid leave of absence to deal with chronic medical problems. He had already used the three weeks of sick and vacation pay provided with his position due to his illness, Bradley said in March.
He declined to specify why the majority voted against the extension. But, he said, “We’ve gotta move forward, and we’ve got some great opportunities now to get the (River Valley Technology Center) and growth council moving ahead.”
Hine’s second motion was to not renew Derouche’s contract when it expires on June 30. A 10-6 vote OK’d it.
The third motion was to empower the Personnel Committee to negotiate with Assistant Executive Director Rosie Bradley regarding the executive director position, beginning on Friday, July 1.
It was approved by unanimous vote.
Powell and Gross left before Hine’s fourth motion, to empower the Personnel Committee to negotiate with Derouche on either a part-time or consulting position. It was also unanimously approved.
Due to the July 1 time frame, the board moved its regularly scheduled July 6 meeting to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 29.
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