Commentary: Instincts

At Monday's (Feb 23, 2009) meeting the Maplewood City Council rejected the employment contract for City Manager finalist James Antonen.

Somewhere in the discussion HR attorney Bethel, who has been handling the contract negotiations, had pointed out Mr. Antonen was expecting a phone call from him that evening with news of the vote outcome.

After Ms. Juenemann's expected and Mr. Hjelle's unexpected 'no' vote, Mr. Nephew voted 'no'. The motion to approve the contract having failed, Mr. Nephew offered a motion to reconsider in order to elicit reasons from Mr. Hjelle. Mr. Nephew withdrew his motion to reconsider after hearing what Mr. Hjelle had to say.


Here is audio of the aftermath (small mp3), starting with Mr. Nephew's explanation of his position.

Faced with an unexpected outcome in a moment of, shall we say, drama, Plan B Mayor Longrie directs staff member Bethel to communicate a status and council negotiating position which has almost no basis in what actually happened.