AUBURN — Police Chief Phil Crowell will continue serving as interim city manager at least through Nov. 21, Mayor Dick Gleason said Monday.

Councilors went behind closed doors to discuss options for replacing Glenn Aho.

They voted to terminate Aho’s employment agreement at the Oct. 17 meeting, placing him on 90 days paid leave.

After Monday’s meeting, Gleason said the Council reviewed a number of proposals for managing city operations while searching for a new manager.

“Some are management firms, some are individuals,” Gleason said. “What’s important to note is that this Council is looking for a way to continue operations in the interim. They are looking for a way to manage the city until the next Council can come in and hire a new manager.”

Gleason said Crowell will invite two of the interim managers discussed Monday to the Nov. 21 meeting. He said councilors will interview them at that meeting and would make a decision after that.

“In some situations, these would be firms that would handle both the daily management and the recruiting of a new manager,” Gleason said. “Then it would be up to the new council. They’d tell the management firm what they’re looking for. Anyway you slice it, this Council appears to want interim management while a new manager is being recruited. This Council has no desire to appoint a new city manager.”

Councilors also voted 5-2 to ratify their Oct. 17 decision to terminate Aho’s contract, with Councilors David Young and Mike Farrell dissenting.

Crowell said that vote was needed to make sure the Council’s decision met the requirements of the City Charter.

According to Aho’s employment agreement, councilors were able to terminate Aho without giving a reason. According to that agreement, Aho is due a severance package equal to six months worth of salary and benefits if he is terminated without cause. That amounts to $54,500 plus unused vacation and benefits, according to Aho’s most recent salary.

Don Vachon, an Auburn city employee and representative for the newly formed Auburn branch of the Maine State Employees Association, read a letter from his group supporting the Council’s decision.

“The Auburn employees represented by the MSEA want you to know that the formation of this union had nothing to do with our wages, benefits or pensions,” Vachon said. “This union was formed to protect ourselves. The Auburn employees represented by the MSEA fully support the decision that was made by this council during the Oct. 17, 2011 meeting and we thank you.”

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