| 2/27/2008 6:47:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Maplewood settles with Copeland
Former city manager gets 6 months' salary, benefits
Alex Davy
staff writer
The City of Maplewood reached a termination settlement agreement with former City Manager Greg Copeland at a special Council meeting Jan. 19.
Copeland will receive his full salary and insurance benefits until June 14, as well as full reimbursement for his $2,744 trip to the National League of Cities convention in New Orleans in November, 2007.
Also listed in the settlement was the return of "one Christmas wreath that Copeland purchased with his own money" and reimbursement for up to $40 for another Christmas wreath he bought for the city.
In exchange, Copeland has agreed to release and discharge the City and its current and former Council Members and staff from any legal liability relating to his employment.
That would include any potential breach of contract and wrongful termination lawsuits or any violations of state statutes such as the Minnesota Open Meeting Law.
The settlement also marks an end to speculation that Copeland might follow through on a $100,000 anti-disparagement clause in his contract. The agreement specifically states that Copeland was discharged without cause, and Copeland has withdrawn his request for a hearing and notice of written charges.
Questions remain
As interim City Manager Chuck Ahl delves into his new role, one thing is becoming clear: Copeland left Maplewood with significant financial questions.
According to Ahl, budget data such as fixed-asset audits from 2008 were nowhere to be found in the City's computer system, and 13 months' worth of bank statements had not been reconciled.
Most troubling of all is the revelation that the Maplewood Community Center - reportedly close to breaking even in October - is actually $600,000 to $750,000 in the hole.
"The City was planning to end 2007 with about $300,000 to start the new year," Ahl says. "Now it looks like we're going to start the year well in the red."
Ahl has made establishing an internal financial plan a top priority, and plans to address the council on the financial state of the City March 10.
In the meantime, City Council members are left wondering how it came to this. "Why the finance department has fallen so far behind at this point is a mystery to everyone," says Council Member Will Rossbach.
A clean exit
"The main reason [Copeland] was released without formal cause is that there is a desire from the majority of the council to be less confrontational than we maybe have been in the past," Rossbach says. "If we had opted to list causes and fire him, there was the potential of getting sued. Almost for sure, any suit would have cost more money than the settlement."
It's also tough for the City to make real progress in the glare of media coverage, he continued.
"We want the City to settle down and not have everything we do become a huge issue."
Alex Davy can be reached at adavy@lillienews.com or at 651-748-7825.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, February 29, 2008
Article comment by:
Dave Hafner
In response to your front page article titled, “Maplewood Settles with Copeland,” (2/27/08) Will Rossbach claims "the main reason Greg Copeland was released without formal cause (translation: did'nt get fired) is that there is a desire from the majority of the council (Rossbach, Juenemann, and Nephew) to be less confrontational than we have been in the past." If Rossbach had probable cause, Copeland would most definitely have been fired. Con Number 1.
"It's also tough for the city to make real progress in the glare of media coverage." You mean like it was for Diana Longrie, Erik Hjelle, and Rebecca Cave? Fact: Will wasn’t concerned about the glare of previous media coverage. He instigated much of it. Con Number 2.
"We want the city to settle down and not have everything we do become a huge issue." Sure, now that Slick Willie's retained power. Fact: As the minority, Will incessantly contrived “huge issues” over the last two years. Con Number 3.
Oh Will, you're such a compulsive kidder!
When is staff writer Alex Davy going to interview Greg Copeland to get the truth?
Posted: Friday, February 29, 2008
Article comment by:
Dave Hafner
Will Rossbach claims "the main reason Greg Copeland was released without formal cause (translation: did'nt get fired) is that there is a desire from the majority of the council (Rossbach, Juenemann, and Nephew) to be less confrontational than we have been in the past." Fact: If Rossbach had probable cause, Copeland would most definitely have been fired. Con Number 1.
"It's also tough for the city to make real progress in the glare of media coverage." You mean like it was for Diana Longrie, Erik Hjelle, and Rebecca Cave? Fact: Will wasn�t concerned about the glare of previous media coverage. He instigated much of it. Con Number 2.
"We want the city to settle down and not have everything we do become a huge issue." Sure, now that Slick Willie's retained power. Fact: As the minority, Will incessantly contrived �huge issues� over the last two years. Con Number 3.
Oh Will, you're such a compulsive kidder!
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