MEA manager stays at helm

PALMER -- Matanuska Electric Association's general manager will retain his seat, thanks to the MEA board members' 4-2 vote in favor of retaining him.

Wayne Carmony's contract was not on the agenda for renewal Monday. But in addition to numerous other items that were added to the agenda that afternoon, board member Linda Shattuck asked that a personnel matter concerning the general manager be added. When board members were asked to elaborate on the content of their additions, Shattuck had little to add.

"Until I make my motion, that's about as much as I can tell you," Shattuck said.

Shattuck's motion was just one of a few weighty issues to be tackled that evening by a new board. After newly elected member Scott Daugharty and winning incumbent Jim Hermon were seated at the board's 3 p.m. meeting Monday, the direction of the board changed considerably. Officers were elected and previous board president Bill Folsom handed the gavel to board member Larry DeVilbiss, who had been seated at the board's April 2 special meeting.

DeVilbiss was not the only suggestion for the president's chair. He narrowly beat board member Lois Lester, who received three votes for the seat. Then-president Folsom cast the deciding vote for DeVilbiss, who assumed the seat immediately. DeVilbiss, in turn, cast the deciding vote for Folsom to become vice president -- again beating Lester for the seat. The board also decided to divide the secretary/treasurer seat into two separate offices and elected Lester as secretary and Hermon as treasurer.

When the manager's contract came up for consideration, Shattuck said she believed a new course was necessary for MEA in its dealings with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547. The way to get on that new track, she said, was to terminate Carmony's contract.

"I believe that our membership, along with a significant number of our [board] members would like to see a significant overture to the IBEW," Shattuck said.

Shattuck said she was completely satisfied with Carmony's actions as a manager -- in fact, she had many flattering things to say about Carmony's record. The termination, she said, was simply a business decision.

"Relations between IBEW leadership and Mr. Carmony are strained," Shattuck said. "To those of you who may balk at this, wake up -- it's a business decision and nothing more. This motion is purely in the best interest of the co-op -- we all know the problems that we've had with the union in the past. The only way to [move forward] is to change general managers -- or for IBEW to do that."

Shattuck made it clear that her motion was a one-time shot. She said she would not entertain a similar motion in the future and would not support any amendments. Although she added that she required unanimous consent, she removed that caveat when told such a condition would be binding on the motion and, the motion would indeed fail if unanimous consent was not reached.

But an amendment was offered -- Lester moved that the decision be postponed until the board's May 13 meeting. She offered the amendment, she said, so she could have time to study Carmony's contract -- a contract she had not seen

in her three years on the board -- and better understand the decision she would be making.

Carmony's contract, according to MEA spokesman Mike Pauley, is considered a personnel matter and is confidential. The board, at its Oct. 8, 2001, meeting, voted to extend Carmony's contract an additional year. The document is considered an evergreen contract, Pauley said. The document is valid for five years, and each year the board extends that five-year period by one year -- the effect is that Carmony always holds a five-year contract.

Pauley said he could not confirm whether Carmony's contract was made available for board members to examine at the annual approval date. He added that board members are able to examine Carmony's contract upon request.

"I'm not aware of whether that request has been lodged," Pauley said.

Folsom, who reacted to the motion by flipping his pen and rocking in his chair, said he did not believe Carmony should be put through a month of torturous waiting.

"I'm not sure that I want to postpone this vote and put Mr. Carmony through turmoil," Folsom said. "I have full faith in Mr. Carmony … he has delivered on every avenue."

Hermon seconded Folsom's sentiments.

"I've been with Wayne ever since he came here and he has done everything we ask him to do," Hermon said. "I'm with Bill -- you can't put that pressure on a person -- he's under enough pressure."

Board member Michael Janecek said he agreed the decision was weighty, but that was more reason not to make it hastily.

"Give us a chance to look at the contract and then come back and debate the issue," Janecek said. "It would be my understanding that it would be a considerable amount of money -- our fiduciary responsibility requires us [to decide carefully]."

Although Carmony's present contract is considered a personnel matter and is not available for public perusal, a 1995 version of Carmony's contract states that, if he is terminated without cause, as Shattuck's motion stipulated, he "shall be paid, as severance pay, an amount equal to his salary for the remainder of the term of [the contract], plus an amount equal to the value of any accrued annual leave and all other normal benefits of which he would otherwise be deprived …"

Pauley said he could not confirm if that clause exists in Carmony's present contract.

"I can't comment on that because of the confidential nature of the document," Pauley said.

Daugharty moved to go into executive session to discuss the terms and conditions of the contract. When they returned, the motion to postpone the decision was defeated. Discussion turned to the main motion, whether Carmony's contract should be terminated.

There was little debate, and the motion failed, with Shattuck and Daugharty voting in favor of it.