Town Manager Miller On The Outs

According to an agenda posted on the Secretary of State’s website, the Narragansett Town Council will meet Thursday night to discuss the job performance and potentially fire Town Manager Grady Miller.

See the attached PDF for details about the meeting.

The advertisement for executive session reads that the council will “review the job performance of the Town Manager and to review a potential separation agreement in accordance with RI general laws.”

Following executive session, the council will meet in open session to discuss a separation agreement with the town manager and to authorize the council president to sign it, suggesting that Miller’s fate is already sealed.

If the council doesn’t approve the separation agreement, there is a motion on the agenda to remove the town manager. If agenda item 1 or 2 is acted upon, then the council would then appoint an acting town manager.

In recent months, there has been friction between a three-member majority of the council and Miller over a budget maneuver he performed to allot $3,000 to the Narrow River Preservation Association for water testing.

In September 2011, before an impromptu performance review of Miller following a charter review commission.

In April, the council the allotment by a 3-2 vote. Councilors Glenna Hagopian, Alisa Trainor Fleet and David Crook Sr voted to investigate, with councilors Christopher Wilkens and Susan Cicilline-Buonanno voting against.

The voting breakdown was the same on May 7, when solicitor Mark McSally’s report about Miller’s actions was by a similar 3-2 vote. The South County Independent has a full story here, as well.

There could be something in the South County water, since Charlestown reached an agreement with its manager for his ouster in April. For more, read a story from The Westerly Sun here.

The agenda and supporting documents for Thursday’s meeting haven’t been posted on ClerkBase for Narragansett as of 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.