A one-year extension for City Attorney Helene Leichter
’s contract is on Wedneday’s City Council agenda. Her contract
now expires on Sept. 1, 2005, and would be extended to Sept. 1,
2006, if the item recommended by Mayor Dennis Kennedy is
approved.
A one-year extension for City Attorney Helene Leichter’s contract is on Wedneday’s City Council agenda.
Her contract now expires on Sept. 1, 2005, and would be extended to Sept. 1, 2006, if the item recommended by Mayor Dennis Kennedy is approved.
Leichter settled with the city last week in an agreement that paid her $25,000, her attorneys $15,000 and gave her seven additional weeks’ vacation plus the option to work from home two days a week.
By signing the agreement Leichter agreed not to sue the city over the way Council handled Councilwoman Hedy Chang allegedly accusing Leichter of having an affair with City Manager Ed Tewes, which they both deny. City Human Resources Director Mary Kaye Fisher said Monday that the extension request was a surprise to her; the Human Resources office was not involved at this point.
Councilman Steve Tate said it is normally automatic that a contract extension is discussed during a management employee’s annual performance review.
“We didn’t get to discuss that last December when we were doing her review so it is being done now,” Tate said. He said the upcoming election that could replace three of five council members had nothing to do with the extension.
“We are happy with her performance,” Tate said.
Councilman Greg Sellers said he, too, was happy with Leichter’s performance but that she is an “at-will” employee as is everyone else at City Hall. At-will means that, normally, either employer or employee can end the job at any time.
Also on the agenda is a lease extension that will allow the California Youth Soccer Association to continue regional soccer matches in Morgan Hill after the lease on Condit Road fields runs out in December and before new fields open at Sobrato High School.
The regional soccer fields will become Morgan Hill’s $2.4 million outdoor sports complex after CYSA leaves.
A fourth item asks for council approval beginning the process of selling bonds to cover water-related projects. Finance Director Jack Dilles said the city wants to sell bonds worth $7.52 million in bonds at 4.75 percent interest to cover $6.5m in capital improvement projects.
Dilles said the list includes no perchlorate-related projects since they are paid for by a 5 percent – 10 percent starting January 2005 – surcharge on water bills.
The list includes well construction, new reservoirs and 2003’s upgrade in radio telemetry.
Council meets 7pm at City Hall, 17555 Peak Ave. Broadcast live on cable Channel 17; www.morganhill.ca.gov or 779-7271.
