PORT ANGELES — A majority of Port Angeles City Council members disputed departing City Manager Mark Madsen’s sharply worded memos about “actions and attitudes of concern” that led to his departure, suggesting his claims may be exaggerated.
In separate interviews Friday and Saturday in person and by phone, council members Dan Di Guilio, Don Perry, Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton, Mayor Gary Braun and Cherie Kidd took issue with various aspects of the two July 1 Madsen memos.
Did Madsen overreact?
“It’s been blown out of proportion,” Perry said Friday.
Di Guilio said, “I would agree” that Madsen’s claims were exaggerated, but he added that Madsen “had some legitimate issues.”
Wharton said in an interview: “I wouldn’t say we are at war with each other.”
Mayor Gary Braun said, “I do not see a lot of infighting.”
He added that he did not believe council members had acted inappropriately or improperly, certainly not in any legal sense.
“The key thing for council members is to take information [from residents] and say, ‘Let me get back to you. I need to talk to the city manager.'”
A week after writing the memos, Madsen resigned on July 9. His resignation is effective Sept. 1.
Though he has voluntarily resigned, his contract calls for at least $37,000 in severance.
