Former MEA managers offered $50,000 each

PALMER — The Matanuska Electric Association voted Tuesday to offer $50,000 to each of two upper-management employees fired during the run up to General Manager Wayne Carmony’s ouster.

In April, the co-op’s board of directors ordered Carmony to fire Information Technology Director Bruce Scott and Assistant General Manager Tuckerman Babcock without cause. Carmony’s own turn on the chopping block came in mid-June

In early June, Babcock and Scott sued the co-op. According to the suit, Carmony had the ability to fire either man for any reason without having to pay either of them severance pay.

But the question raised in the suit was whether Carmony was acting at his own discretion. If he wasn’t, Babcock and Scott claimed, then they should get the severance pay as outlined in their contracts as due to them if they were fired without cause.

That number totals out at greater than $100,000 but the exact figure isn’t made clear in the lawsuit. Statistics MEA released in May 2008 set the yearly salary of the utility’s information technology director at $127,363. The statistics list two assistant general managers, one making $126,310, the other making $140,061. The statistics did not make clear which salary was Babcock’s.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the board said precious little in open session, moving right into closed-door discussions and coming out just long enough to direct its attorney, Robin Brena, to offer Scott and Babcock $50,000 each.

David Glines was the only director who had anything to say.

“I just want to state for the record I’m having a little bit of trouble with it. I understand the basic philosophy behind it and I’m willing to vote positively,” Glines said. “I don’t understand some things that went on, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to discuss it.”

Glines eventually decided to vote against the settlement. So did director Larry DeVilbiss. The measure passed, however, with directors Peter Burchell, Kit Jones, Katie Hurley, Janet Kincaid and Lois Lester in favor.