At least two city councilmembers want to keep the story of former City manager Tai Jaiyeoba suddenly resigning front and center in the news.
Councilmembers Goldie Wells and Sharon Hightower have called for a special closed session of the City Council on Thursday, March 14 at 1 p.m.
According to the letter from Wells and Hightower to their fellow members of the City Council, “The subjects of discussion are (1) a breach of The Separation Agreement and General Release dated March 5, 2024 and (2) the combined vote.”
There appears to be a problem with the reasons for the closed session. By law in North Carolina all meetings of the public bodies, such as the Greensboro City Council, are required to be open to the public. The law lists 10 exceptions for which a public body may hold a close session.
None of those exceptions are to discuss a motion made and voted on at a previous meeting, which is number 2. The “combined vote” is reportedly the decision to vote on accepting Jaiyeoba’s resignation and providing a severance package of three months of salary and benefits with one vote.
The City Council actually didn’t have to vote on accepting Jaiyeoba’s resignation, and like everything else about this whole situation, that vote was somewhat unique. When employees resign, the employer doesn’t have the option of accepting or denying the resignation. When an employee resigns, they resign. Neither the City Council nor any other employer can force a person to continue working at a job after they resign.
The vote the City Council took on March 5 was actually on whether to offer Jaiyeoba a severance package of three months salary and benefits or not.
Item 1 also does not appear to be something that can be discussed in closed session. It appears that Wells and Hightower believe that someone violated the terms of the separation agreement. If they want to accuse Mayor Nancy Vaughan or one of their fellow councilmembers of violating the terms of the agreement, they are free to do so, but there is no exception in the Open Meetings Law for accusing fellow elected officials of bad behavior.
It is possible that the councilmembers are planning to use the attorney-client privilege loophole to justify holding this discussion in closed session. But in the portion of the law that deals with closing a meeting to protect attorney-client privilege, it states, “… nothing herein shall be construed to permit a public body to close a meeting that otherwise would be open merely because an attorney employed or retained by the public body is a participant.”
Usually votes to go into closed session are pro forma. The vote on Thursday may not be.
LMAO! the same folks keep voting these two embarrassments into office. Go to work and figure out how to cut tax wasted dollars so a tax decrease can be issued instead of spending money on your/members pet projects.
Maybe it was a “secret” separation agreement with a non-disclosure provision on the part of the City Council members. Is that even legal? Anyway, as far as I know the only other party to the separation agreement is the manager who resigned, so I doubt they plan to discuss a breach by him. Maybe if it was a “secret” agreement it would justify a closed (secret) meeting to discuss the secrecy violation…
Aaaaaaaaand….the Sh&% Show continues!!! Man oh man, Greensboro has been blessed with an intelligent, forward, progressive thinking City Council! Enjoy the train wreck City voters!!
Simply two children throwing a tantrum. As Malcom Forbes once said “IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE WRONG, BE WRONG IN A LOUD VOICE “
If the guy did something wrong, why is there a severance package?
Because he got on, and went along.
The city needs to get to the bottom of this….what was the reason for paying any severance pay ?????? The Employee resigned for policy violation among other things.
I still have heart burn over terminating the city leaf service without any input from the taxpayers. I don’t believe the taxpayers will accept it.
Is this article implying Goldie Wells and Sharon Hightower are objecting to other council persons speaking out after the resignation and release from the “City of Greensboro”’press release thereafter?
The slogan “Democracy dies in darkness” is on the Washington Post at the top.
So much for democrats being the defenders of democracy.
I believe the citizens of Greensboro should hold this council accountable for their actions and challenge this closed session. You do not get to hide things just because you want to.
C’mon John do you really think those two idiots understand the finer points of law…hardeeharhar
The wagons are circulating in different camps on the council. . .who will win? So much for open government. They will determine what you “need to know” vs the truth, unless they signed an agreement not to reveal the truth about the former city mgr.
Remember this next issue in the upcoming election cycle. The current council wants you to know only what they want you to know. See how this works?
Marikay I know you read this. You need to pick the right side on this. You appear to be the swing vote. Swing the right way.
Have your city attorney review NC Supreme Court case -Leete VS County of Warren- did the city have a contract with this individual prior to employment, if not I strongly suggest to refer this case to your city attorney. No severance.
You’re right, DTF.
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What say you, Marikay?
This could have been so simple, but our world champions city council attempted, yet, another cover up.
The reason for the resignation/firing was never really made public but a lot of folks knew about the alleged inappropriate relationship and the players involved even though they were not in the room.
Someone who was in the room spoke!.
That in itself may be costly but is already embarrassing.
A city council member or staff member leaked the info. The rest of council was ill equipped intellectually to know how to react to it, so they panicked and the debacle continues.
Finally, congratulations to the most excellent city attorney’s office who allegedly authored the really really stupid press release as Carla Banks simply does not have the authority to issue such statements.
Indeed. Sexual harassment is a federal crime…a felony…do they not understand this. They rewarded him for it
Ben Holder #1
Yes Mr. Robert because citizens, taxpayers, employees who have to watch or tolerate this behavior are tired of it.
Borrowing money to buy leaf cans is ludicrous. I did the math. The city borrowed $3 million when the 2023-24 budget was 751.3 million dollars. That is equivalent to a person making $100,000 having to borrow $300. In the real world that person would find $300 in their budget or use savings. In the monopoly world of government they refuse to do that. And I don’t have many leaves and do not really care about that issue.
Always wondered if anyone on the council was related to (directly or indirectly) to the company who got the contract for the leaf cans. As Channel 2 says. . . .”2 wants to know”
Many of us that knew of the Manager’s past at Charlotte tried our best to tell Council. They wouldn’t listen. Compensation after a resignation, for potential sexual harassment and misconduct? Hmm. That’s a lawsuit in itself for the citizens. Rewarding such behavior is just outrageous. Why didn’t Council listen. Some of us have our connections and ear to the ground always. We told them. Let it drop. He was bad news. He was a cheat,mae liar and obviously other things. Federal law protects sexual harassment. And he got a severance package for breaking federal law……again. Next time Council do ALL the homework or let those of us still out ther help you. Shame on Council for supporting sexual harassment. What else I’d going on at City Hall
And the council voted themselves salaries with benefits, not just a flat salary . . .which is what they should be getting. Would be interesting to know if they get other benefits such as leave time, 401k contributions, etc.
Time to wake up people! Vote all of them out except those who voted against the Council’s decision. My guess is “east Greensboro” wanted to give him something. . .which is your money. Next time you vote, remember this.
They have to have benefits because most of them do not have jobs that provide benefits.
Everyone is assuming this is a one or the other thing. This is Greensboro. My money is that the manager had a consensual yet inappropriate relationship with a subordinate AND he sent harassing texts and emails to that or other subordinates. Then on top of that, you still have the domestic issue. If you’re going to go, go big, I guess.
Throw the bums out! Recall ’em early or toss ’em at the next election.
The Council has gone from protecting their image to confirming it.
One other question…..who else was the ex city manager poking or harassing?
Taxpayers get ready! When all is said and done, the 3 months severance will be a drop in the bucket in this fiasco. Lawsuits will be filed by multiple parties and the city will pay them all because that’s what the city always does. They should put a sign over their office door that says “you sue, we settle” All of Council should be very proud of how much this is going to cost us taxpayers
According to the article in today’s fish wrap the manager’s contract stated no severance for Mia conduct, 1 of which is violation of any city policy that would subject other city employees to dismissal kinda interesting thing is 3 of those listed are dishonesty, act of moral turpitude and insubordination. I think he qualified for all 3. Also it states he would NOT receive severance if HE submits a resignation notice to the mayor and council and it also includes a 60 day notice for him to end the contract. Maybe all 9 council should READ and understand the terms of his hiring contract. What a bunch of clowns.
Yes Rebel, but you fail to understand the racial cohesion of African-Americans. For them, race is all. The rights & wrongs of the situation are irrelevant.
Race trumps everything, so the most African of African-Americans (Nigerian!) must be showered with taxpayer money, regardless of his malfeasance and turpitude.
Let’s not forget the initial crime of NOT releasing the BWC videos of the “encounter” at the DEI hires place of residence. I believe it will show him in his true form. One that MOST citizens will find appalling and definitely criminal.
The resignation may be due to his inability to keep it in his pants while city officials also are unable to restrain themselves from spending tax dollars for idiotic cause such as this. Will they find a way to make this entire situation worse?
COUNT ON IT!!!
Maybe the “breach” is on the part of the ex city manager and Hightower wants a revote to rescind the financial separation lol.
Their political cover might be that the settlement was less than the cost of a potential lawsuit for firing him. But I also believe Sharon and Goldie, et al, might have heard the overwhelming pushback from women who work for the city that rewarding him for his behavior is outrageous. This situation certainly is a mess and, in my view, is the result of consistent feckless leadership from the current regime.
Continuing to drag this out only highlights the incompetence of the city leadership. And even if it goes on for months there is certainly not going to be any greater transparency.