RUMFORD – Amid a noisy backdrop of a raging thunderstorm Wednesday night, River Valley Growth Council directors opened their meeting with an executive session.
By 9:30 p.m., they were still behind closed doors, 3 hours later, discussing a personnel issue.
Before a 10-minute break at 8:30 p.m., both Executive Director Joe Derouche and Assistant Executive Director Rosie Bradley left the session.
Bradley returned first, then, after two back-to-back periods of applause at 9:10 p.m., Derouche re-entered the discussion 12 minutes later.
At the board’s previous meeting on June 13, a majority voted not to extend or renew Derouche’s probationary contract. He had asked for a three-month extension.
Hired as the council’s executive director in January, Derouche began the job on Feb. 1 with a prorated salary of $40,000 through June 30.
Also on June 13, by a unanimous vote, the Personnel Committee was allowed to negotiate with Bradley for Derouche’s position, and with Derouche for either a part-time or consulting position.
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