Rainwater says he will sue the city for at least $350,000 if it does not ask him to resign.
Rainwater had said over the weekend he had cleaned out his office, saying his ten-month tenure had been unbearable because of friction between him and the mayor and other council members. If the council were to ask for his resignation, he would be entitled to a severance package.
Rainwater said in his letter that when he became city manager ten months ago "I was never told about the abysmal and outwardly hostile...state of affairs in the City."
Rainwater, if he leaves, will be the fourth city manager to do so in 19 months.
The letter asks that council hold an immediate special session to request Rainwater's resignation. Tuesday morning, city officials announced that a called meeting has been scheduled September 8 to be followed by the council's regular work session. Items on the agenda for the special meeting include an Executive Session, "if necessary," to consider unspecified "potential/pending litigation" and "personnel matters" as well as "land acquisition."
Rainwater -- who was hired in October -- says he will then resign and wants the severance package in his contract to be paid in one sum with NO taxes withheld.
He says he believes ``this is the least you can do'' given what he's been through.
His six-month severance is less than $45,000. He does not collect that amount if he quits or is fired from the $85,000-a-year job.
Rainwater was at work Monday but sent memos saying he will not attend council meetings because "because I have better things to do than...serve as target practice." He also cancelled weekly staff meetings. He also cancelled weekly staff meetings.
The letter is the latest development in a feud that has Mayor Bryan Puckette and Councilwoman Jan Smith suing the city and Rainwater to void his position. They contend the 1998 ordinance that created the job is illegal.
The meeting is at 6:00 Wednesday and the agenda calls for an executive session dealing with, among other things, potential and pending litigation and personnel matters.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/8/127194