ROCKLAND, Maine — Embattled City Manager James Chaousis has resigned, citing recent surgery that caused him to reassess his priorities.
“I recently underwent successful surgery for a brain tumor, which has caused me to really consider the toll this job has had on me,” Chaousis said in the letter of resignation he submitted Wednesday to Mayor Louise MacLellan-Ruf.
“This life-changing experience has caused me to focus on the aspects of my life which are most important to me, and therefore, I offer my resignation,” he said in the letter.
Chaousis told the Bangor Daily News late Wednesday afternoon that he was giving the city 60 days notice as called for in his contract. A copy of that contract shows that he would forfeit any accumulated vacation time if he resigned with less than 30 days notice.
He said he has a few career opportunities but has not accepted another post. Last week, he said he had rented a place in Falmouth.
Chaousis was hired as city manager in Rockland in March 2015, coming from Boothbay, where he served as town manager. He succeeded Tom Luttrell, who had been interim manager but who was passed over by the council, which hired a recruitment firm for $17,000 to find a manager.
“I leave knowing that the city is better for the work we accomplished,” Chaousis said in his resignation letter. “We had some solid success bringing professional integrity, fiscal responsibility and strategic thinking to Rockland: We no longer tolerate inappropriate conduct by city employees, we brought in talented new blood at harbormaster, we hired a much needed fire chief, and crafted an honest budget with an eye towards long-term investment.
“Rockland must invest in itself to spur economic growth,” he continued. “I hope the city will commit to continuing this positive trajectory, rather than revert back to the status quo which has resulted in seven city managers in seven years.”
Chaousis added that it has been an honor to serve the community and that he “will especially miss the dedicated and hardworking team that came together while I was here.”
His term in Rockland has not been without controversy.
Three months after he began the Rockland job, Boothbay announced that Chaousis had improperly billed the town for an oil delivery to his home and for his family’s cellphone bills. Boothbay officials asked Chaouis to repay the town $5,098, which he did in June 2015.
There was considerable personnel turnover during his 16 months as manager in Rockland.
Greg Blackwell, the city’s longtime public works director resigned in April 2015. The city manager said Blackwell resigned after being informed that his position of public works director was being discontinued and that he would have to apply for the new, expanded position of public services director.
In September 2015, Luttrell, who twice served as interim city manager, accepted a job with Rockland Savings Bank. His successor, Virginia Lindsey, stayed for five months before accepting the finance director position in Camden in April.
Also in September 2015, the City Council gave final approval to an operating agreement with the Penobscot Bay YMCA to have that organization take over the city’s recreation department. That move eliminated some city positions, including that of Recreation Director Rene Dorr.
In January, Chaousis fired longtime harbor master Ed Glaser, saying Glaser violated the city’s policies concerning the use of the internet and emails, employee harassment, and City Council and city manager directives. He also cited Glaser’s “demonstrated lack of judgment regarding professional conduct and colluding with other public officials.” An appeals panel upheld the firing later in January.
The manager also proposed in April eliminating the full-time staff attorney position, held by Kevin Beal, from the 2016-17 budget. The council will decide on that question on Monday night when the budget is enacted.
Then, Chaousis sent the mayor a letter two weeks ago calling for the council to terminate Beal’s contract. The manager said if the council would not follow through on his recommendation, councilors should consider a separation agreement with him.
The council held a closed-door meeting last Thursday, but no agreement was reached after that session.
Chaousis’ pay when he was hired was $92,000. If the city had released him without cause, he would have been entitled to three months pay.
MacLellan-Ruf did not immediately respond Wednesday to an email and telephone message seeking comment on the resignation.