City Manager on Leave, Negotiations Underway
Prince George, B.C. – 250 News has received information from sources who say City Manager Beth James is on leave from her position at City Hall and that further developments could be forthcoming.
The nature of that leave has not been divulged however the sources say further that negotiations between legal counsel for the parties involved have been proceeding into the weekend.
Previously released information indicates that under terms of her contract if she leaves the job, James would be entitled to receive severance of six month’s salary along with one month per year of service to a maximum 18 months. The contract also contained an annual salary of $212,000, a vehicle allowance of $6,000 per year, 30 vacation days and the basic benefits given all city exempt staff. For her move to Prince George from Vancouver she was given $25,000 for relocation expenses.
Members of City Council were informed of James’ leave status last week.
A special closed meeting of council is to be held on Monday in Council Chambers. The agenda section of the Council Meeting schedule on the City web page says the closed meeting has been called for Council to consider subject matter relating to labour relations or other employee relations, and to receive advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.
Calls from 250 News to City Communications Manager Todd Corrigall seeking information about City matters this week have gone unanswered. The response when asked whether Corrigall might be ill or away from his job was “no comment.”
Comments
Cha-Ching…..pay up suckers.
Who negotiates these contracts? Fire them immediately, if you quit, I don’t care what kind of leave it is you get nothing. 6 months salary for quitting is outrages. James knew she was lousy at the job and with her buddy gone she knew it would really show..
And the communications manager having no comment…lol. Fire him too
If Mr Corrigall is on vacation or ill I can understand his silence. If he is hiding, maybe his position is not necessary. What does our new mayor have to say? It shouldn’t be hard for someone to say no statement will be given at this time due to the legal nature of the matter.
Baby is gone, time to toss the bath water. No shield any more, if she goes before her term is up then she has to repay the moving expenses and take a cut in what was bargained in her contract. I for one would be happy to see her go (along with a lot of other folks). She stirred the hornet’s nest in City Hall, that’s why city staffing moral is low.
Based on the election results, I am not surprised at this in the least.
A 300k handshake? Poor taxpayers (us)!
‘Members of City Council were informed of James’ leave status last week’
Wouldn’t council already know this as they would be the ones to instigate her removal in the first place.
Ridiculous contract. 30 days of vacation?… $200k salary. Who needs a vehicle allowance when you make $200k?
P Val: You missed the point Sheri brought James in as a paid pit bull to do her bidding. James did what she was instructed to do, can, fire, relocate and encourage folks to leave, that where not in the best interests of her lordship.
So she did what she was brought in to do, and she did it very well. Pulling city staffing moral to an all time low. Now that Sheri is no longer in the mix, James decided it was time to get out of Dodge before anything further comes to light (reference to what she has done in City Hall to date).
Who wrote up this employment agreement you ask, well the mayor and the clowns on the previous council is who agreed to the contract and it’s terms. Some one high up has to agree with the pending payroll bill.
new2pg: Current council and Mayor didn’t see this coming, this was a James thing, she chose to leave before her term was up. Her job for Sheri completed, she can’t retract her fangs and play nice, so time to move on with a health little parting gift.
The fifth floor should become a much more peaceful place in the coming weeks, say bye bye to bad baggage.
I had dealings with Beth James, in the past, and I was very disappointed at her lack of knowledge of the city operations and bureaucracy.
Was Beth James a buddy of Shari Green? If so, Green’s gone so now James goes and I agree with other comments that she should not get a dime past her last day of work. I would also like it to be made public, who in the City negotiates these gold-plated employment contracts with more severance than most employees make in probably a couple of years.
I also notice that the election is now over and the secrecy surrounding City Hall bureaucracy continues. Will this go on for another four years. I thought Lyn Hall would make a difference. I will give him some time to improve before exercising any more criticism of his behaviour.
I hope 250 News will be able to uncover more facts in this case for us.
Lynn Hall should not be making the final decision it will be council .Wasn’t that part of Greens problem where she made all the decisions and council was left guessing.
Cheers
Next up!! IPG!
Drop that crap in the toilet where it belongs.
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