Polson city manager suit settled for $35,000
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POLSON —As minutes were being approved at the June 3 Polson City Commissioners meeting, former Polson City Engineer Bob Fulton questioned Mayor Pat DeVries and the city commissioners about the amount of the settlement of Todd Crossett’s lawsuit against the city.
Mayor DeVries called upon Polson City Attorney James Raymond, who said the total amount was $35,000.
Crossett filed a suit against the City of Polson in March, alleging the city owed him $10,390 as a wage from May 2011 through March 2013.
The city had been paying Crossett $472.28, or 7.07 percent of his salary per month, in lieu of a contribution to the Public Employees Retirement System. That payment was stopped in May 2011. Crossett’s lawsuit also asked for severance pay. The suit was settled out of court.
During city manager comments, Interim Polson City Manager Karen Sargeant congratulated Polson Police Clerk Joan Hart, new president of the Montana Information and Records Association and Assistant Polson Police Chief Clint Cottle, secretary treasurer of the executive board, for their election to state offices.
Sargeant reported that the Skyline Drive project is a week behind, due the loss of Highway Technologies as the traffic control company. Sargeant said a new traffic control company is on board. Weather permitting, the project will be back on schedule since LC Jensen, the contractor on the project, worked last Saturday and planned to work this Saturday to make up time.
Sargeant also updated commissioners on the Donegan house fire at 511 Fifth Avenue, Polson, on April 2 that destroyed the structure and was electrical in nature. The house wasn’t insured, and now neighbors are complaining about the smell and unsightliness of the burnt-out shell. The fire department worries that it’s a safety hazard.
The Donegans contracted with Jensen Backhoe to remove the house, but the building has vermiculite insulation, which may or may not contain asbestos. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Environmental Protection Agency also is concerned about asbestos, if it’s present. Sargeant said TetraTech can test the insulation for asbestos. If it does contain asbestos, the rubble must be hauled to Missoula for abatement. If not the Lake County Transfer Station will accept the remains. Sargeant said she would bring the issue back to the city commissioners if the insulation does contain asbestos.
In another update, Sargeant said the top of the old city dock has been removed and safety buoys are in place. The Polson Redevelopment Agency will meet June 6 at 9 a.m. to discuss the final design and costs, which will be presented to the commission at the June 17 meeting.
In other business, the commission approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 664, to ban alcohol in Polson City Parks. Sargeant said the ordinance contains a permitting system so people can apply for a one-time use for $40 and a seasonal permit for $100.
Polson Police Chief Wade Nash spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying the Polson Police Department “supported it 110 percent.” Nash said he had spoken with CSKT Council and Law Enforcement Chief Craige Couture, and they agree.
“Once we get it up and going, they’ll sign off on it,” Nash said.
Commissioners set a meeting for June 10 meeting with Prothman, a Northwest based consulting firm that specializes in national and regional executive recruitment services, interim staffing and organizational consulting. Prothman is handing the search for a new city manager.
Commissioners also passed a memorandum of understanding to pay Sargeant an additional $10.50 per hour for taking on the role of interim city manager, bringing her salary to roughly $28 per hour.
The MOU also specified the agreement was for 90 days or until a new city manager was hired and outlined other job parameters.
The meeting was adjourned, and the commission went into executive session on litigation and personnel.
The next comissioners meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 17 in council chambers at Polson City Hall.
