Board agrees to work out contract details

“It?s imperative now that we start this process in an entirely different way,” said Patrick von Schlag, a board member representing River Hill who participated in the meeting Thursday via teleconference.

The board of directors has been split down the middle on the duration of Brown?s $183,000 contract, which expires April 30. Five members are pushing for a one-year extension, while the other five want a three-year contract, and tensions have been rising about the deal.

However, there are likely other aspects of the deal the members can agree on that have been lost in the growing animosity, von Schlag said.

“The only way to [make a decision on the contract] is to sit down together and hammer this thing out,” he said.

Board Chair Tom O?Connor called for the special meeting of the board operations committee for a full day, rather than force a vote. O?Connor floated Feb. 3 as the meeting date, but agreed to find a day that worked for most members to attend.

When board members questioned whether they would just discuss the duration of the contract, von Schlag said, “I?m not attending to talk about just one thing.”

Earlier in the meeting, Board Member Phil Marcus started the discussion of Brown?s contract by asking that the board postpone voting on a recommendation for a three-year contract. The board operations committee agreed last week to recommend a three-year term, a move some said was adding fuel to the fire.

Marcus said he wanted to consider recommendations on all aspects of the contract, not just the duration.

Once again, the board was split down the middle on this action. Marcus expressed frustration his motion was shut down and a new meeting proposed.

“Patrick wants to find common ground, but that is exactly what my motion would have done,” Marcus said. “That?s not a way to begin and generate trust.”

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