Parsing (updated)

Pioneer Press Sun, 04 May 2008
City's former manager asks for $8,736

A former Maplewood city manager is â€" again â€" asking the city to reimburse him for education expenses. Richard Fursman hasn't worked for the city for two years, but he says he had an agreement with the city for tuition compensation during a portion of his tenure with Maplewood. Recent requests for the money have gone unanswered, he said. "I am resubmitting tuition reimbursement forms that were ignored by the previous administration for the past two years," Fursman wrote in a letter to acting City Manager Chuck Ahl in March. Fursman was Maplewood's city manager from 2001 until he was fired in 2006. He was replaced by Greg Copeland, who was, in turn, ousted earlier this year. Fursman said his attempts to contact Copeland "were also ignored." The City Council will vote tonight on whether to grant Fursman the $8,736 he has requested. ... Ahl sent a letter to council members recommending they authorize the payment, noting that the budget will allow for it. Mayor Diana Longrie said she expects some debate tonight as council members discuss "how you interpret those benefits." "There's probably a reason that it wasn't granted before," Longrie said. "I think it has to do with the definition of benefits in the (employee) handbook and the definition of employee." Council Member Will Rossbach, however, said the reimbursement was "definitely" a part of Fursman's contract. Rossbach said that he, too, expects some debate on the issue but that the request should be granted.

[Update 5/5 8:00am]
Maplewood Voices has extracted the staff recommendation, Mr. Fursman's request and employment agreement from the council packet.
[[keywords: Officials;Staff;Maplewood;]]