PORT ANGELES — Former City Manager Mark Madsen walked away from City Hall with about $55,000, which included severance and unused vacation time, after his resignation took effect last month.
Madsen received $37,008 in severance and $17,920 for general leave hours that were not used, said Bob Coons, city human resources manager.
All vacation and personal days are grouped in a category called general leave, Coons said.
Madsen had accrued a total of 251.8 hours of general leave that he hadn’t used, Coons said.
His contract called for the amount to be paid in a lump sum.
Madsen announced his resignation on July 9, citing “untenable, hostile work conditions” created by certain City Council members toward him and the city staff.
Mayor Gary Braun said he hadn’t heard the final figure on how much Madsen received including vacation time.
“He’s entitled to that vacation time of course, and with the rest of it was in that contract that he would get something if he quit,” Braun said.
“When you set it up that way, you live by it.
“When you get a bill, you have to pay it.”
He said that although some people agreed with the expenses of the severance package and some disagreed, he didn’t want to comment on whether it was a good use of city funds.
Madsen will also get paid $160 per hour for consulting with the city throughout the coming months on issues ranging from the city budget to the Rayonier mill site cleanup.
The consulting contract — negotiated with Madsen by City Council member Dan Di Guilio — outlined four specific duties for Madsen and included an “other” category.
The contract includes payment of up to $31,200 for 195 hours of work between September and Feb. 28, 2009.
Travel expenses also will be reimbursed if they are pre-approved by the city, the contract reads.
Any hours in excess of the 195 would be billed at $225 per hour, the contract reads.
The City Council approved the consulting contract Sept. 2 on a 6-1 vote, with City Council member Cherie Kidd opposing it.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
