Dear Mayor Braun:
By this letter I hereby formally declare my intent to resign from service to the City and community as City Manager of the City of Port Angeles.
I am willing to work with the City during a transition period, not to exceed September 1, 2008; although I will need to be away from the office several times as I prepare to move my family out of the community before school starts in the fall.
Working with the City’s Staff for the past three-plus years has been very enjoyable and rewarding. The same has been generally true of my working relationship with members of the City Council.
My time at the city has been professionally satisfying, and together we have accomplished many positive and important things for the community and within the City organization.
However, since early in 2008, the situation has changed drastically, especially over the past two months.
The conduct of certain individual council members in relation to fellow council members, City Staff, members of the community and other entities in the community have materially and significantly impaired the ability of the City Manager to manage the affairs of the City, and have created an untenable, hostile work environment.
In a special session of City Council held Monday, June 30, I and Staff stood before Council and elucidated our concerns with the hope that Council would appropriately address the attitudes and behaviors underlying the rift among council members.
Now, two weeks later, I regrettably remain convinced that the majority of council do not comprehend the gravity of this situation nor are they committed to correcting the attitudes and resolving the resultant internal council conflicts and impacts on staff and the City Manager.
These concerns are not mine alone, but are shared by Department Heads and Staff.
It is my recommendation that the City Council deal with the underlying attitudes and resolve its own internal conflicts before proceeding with the recruitment and selection of a new city manager.
Submitted with my sincere regrets and hopes for the future of Port Angeles.
Mark E. Madsen
