Salem City Manager Thomas Christie has taken a settlement offer from the city council and will resign on November 30th. In addition to the three months severance pay included in his contract, Christie will receive an additional three months of pay for agreeing to release all claims against the city. After the council accepted the agreement without debate, City Attorney Mike Jones outlined the terms. "He will withdraw his pending claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and release all claims under federal and state law he may have against the city. In exchange, the city has agreed to pay the city manager a severance package consisting of his salary and benefits through May 31st, 2012," said Jones. Christie will also be paid for half of his accumulated sick leave, amounting to about another month of salary. Like other city employees, he'll also be paid for unused vacation time. As a result of those payments, Christie will continue to receive a pay check from the city through September first. Christie estimated the value of the settlement above the terms of termination in his contract about about $30,000. Christie says the previously undisclosed EEO complaint is a retaliation claim. He indicated the claim came in the aftermath of an EEO complaint filed by Economic Development Director Tracey McDaneld that is still pending. Christie confirms he has applied for other jobs as city manager, but says he hasn't decided if he will pursue that avenue or retire. As part of the agreement, both sides agreed not to make disparaging remarks against the other. Raymer says after the council decided they wanted to make a change in the city manager's position more than a month ago, the attorney's worked out the details of the actual agreement. - http://goo.gl/gW2ae
