Charlottetown council hopes to reach deal with CAO Peter Kelly on May 11

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown has referred to as a particular assembly of council for Might 11 to attempt to attain a severance cope with town’s outgoing chief administrative officer (CAO).

Brown confirmed on Might 9 what sources beforehand instructed SaltWire Community, that Peter Kelly plans to retire as CAO, a job he took in 2016.

Council, which appoints the CAO, met in personal for greater than three hours on Monday night time, Might 9, to debate Kelly’s want to go away, however the assembly ended shortly after 10 p.m. with out an settlement on the phrases of his departure.

“We had been making an attempt to get some consensus amongst all of council … on our CAO and his want to go away the company together with our want,” Brown stated following the assembly. 

“Lots of data was shared, numerous dialogue befell. We ran out of gasoline, and now we’re refueling. Hopefully (on Might 11 council will) come to a conclusive choice on the place we need to go together with the company.”

Engaged on particulars

Brown stated town is making an attempt to work out particulars of the settlement that Kelly will get.

“We didn’t get to that time. I consider we’ve got to return again once more … to deliver some closing conclusion to this entire concern,” Brown stated following the Might 9 assembly.

When the assembly ended, just a few members of council left shortly, providing nothing greater than a terse “no remark” to the media. Solely the mayor agreed to do an interview.

Brown didn’t provide a timeline as to when Kelly might be leaving, however one supply lately instructed SaltWire Community that he’ll depart in early June.

The closed-door session adopted council’s common public month-to-month assembly.

Within the closed session, council acquired a briefing from third-party authorized counsel.

“The third-party authorized counsel made their presentation tonight,” the mayor stated. “(Attorneys) got here in to present an outline of what we may do going ahead. We collected numerous data tonight. We expended numerous power. I might have favored to have stayed till we had a conclusion to this concern, however we’ll have to return again.’’

Negotiations

Sources have additionally instructed SaltWire Community that Kelly could possibly be in line for a six-figure severance package deal.

Brown wouldn’t touch upon that on Might 9.

Sources additionally stated the severance can be based mostly on components such because the contract Kelly signed when he was employed in 2016 and what his annual wage is.

Chantal Matheson, government useful resource and privateness co-ordinator for town, stated Might 10 she couldn’t say what Kelly’s precise annual wage is however did say it falls between $130,000 and $165,000.

“The CAO is the one place that council appoints, and the wage is negotiated as a part of their contract,” Matheson stated.

When SaltWire Community requested for a replica of Kelly’s contract, Matheson declined to supply it, saying it’s thought of private data.

“Even for those who had been to undergo the FOIPP course of we’d not launch (it),” she stated, referring to the Freedom of Data and Safety of Privateness Act.

Brown stated town gained’t be releasing the sum of money Kelly will get as a part of his severance.

“That’s an inside matter,” the mayor stated following the closed-door assembly Might 9. “That data is between the employer and worker.”

When the media pressed him on the difficulty, saying that the severance package deal might be taxpayers’ cash, Brown stated his precedence is to achieve a deal and transfer on.

“I’m not privy to debate (the small print of a settlement) at this level as a result of we’re not at a juncture the place each events have agreed. We’ve to work out a settlement between the 2 events.”

Evaluate

Simply earlier than SaltWire Community discovered Kelly was set to announce his retirement, Coun. Julie McCabe pressed council in April to conduct a evaluate of the CAO.

McCabe famous on the time that the evaluate, which is meant to occur each two years, was missed final 12 months.

McCabe declined to remark Might 10 about whether or not a evaluate ought to nonetheless be held, saying she was holding off on commenting on something till after the assembly on Might 11.

At a look

Right here’s a abstract of Peter Kelly’s historical past since 2000:

• Served as mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality, 2000-12.
• Served as chief administrative officer of Westlock County in Alberta from September 2014 till February 2016.
• Employed as Charlottetown’s chief administrative officer in April 2016.

SaltWire Community requested Brown on Might 10 if a evaluate was achieved and confirmed Kelly had been missing in some a part of his job whether or not it may have an effect on the severance provide from town. Nonetheless, Brown declined to remark.

Underneath fireplace

Kelly has been below fireplace for weeks over allegations he fired two deputy CAOs after they got here ahead with issues concerning the metropolis’s administration and funds.

Tina Lococo was let go from her job in early April after about six months within the deputy function whereas Scott Messervey was fired three years in the past solely a 12 months after he was employed.

Messervey filed a lawsuit towards town that’s nonetheless earlier than the P.E.I. Supreme Court docket, alleging he was fired for elevating monetary issues. SaltWire Community obtained emails that Lococo had despatched to council with the identical allegations.

Not one of the allegations have been confirmed.

Workers

SaltWire Community lately spoke to a number of staff at metropolis corridor who stated the latest issues had been to do with Lococo, not Kelly.

The staff, who SaltWire Community didn’t establish as a result of they feared being fired in the event that they spoke out, stated they’d difficulties working with Lococo.

In a letter to members of council, Lococo admitted there have been issues within the office, however it was as a result of Kelly was making a poisonous work surroundings.

Nonetheless, different staff at metropolis corridor put the blame squarely on Kelly.

On Might 5, Inexperienced occasion Chief Peter Bevan-Baker tabled a replica of a letter within the P.E.I. legislature from 4 metropolis corridor workers members by which they referred to as their office poisonous, saying it was managed by worry, favouritism and lies. The workers members urged council to launch an investigation into Kelly’s conduct.

Whereas Kelly declined to speak to the media following the Might 9 closed-door assembly, he did present an e-mail response to SaltWire Community on Might 10 to the allegations detailed by workers within the letter that was tabled within the legislature.

“These are critical allegations and issues,” Kelly stated. “Metropolis workers anticipate and deserve a protected work surroundings. That’s an absolute and an unwavering dedication. My dedication and tasks to workers and council stays.

“Nonetheless, the state of affairs continues to be made private and has turn into untenable. There may be an apparent want for a evaluate of practices, insurance policies and procedures. In the end, I need to be certain that the expectations of workers, council and residents, together with our collective priorities are met.

“It’s of utmost significance that these points are addressed, and full accountabilities are upheld. I belief that senior workers and metropolis council will work collectively to assist handle these issues and decide a transparent path ahead.’’

Brown stated not one of the issues amongst workers had been mentioned through the Might 9 closed-door assembly.

“That will get to past what the assembly was about tonight,” Brown stated. “What was mentioned is how we discover a path ahead and that’s what I’m making an attempt to do as mayor.”

Dave Stewart is a municipal reporter with the SaltWire Community in Charlottetown. @DveStewart