But at the Saturday, Oct. 10, town meeting, many Dewey citizens appeared surprised to discover Town Manager Gordon Elliott was losing his job.

“I think the majority of people don’t know,” said former Commissioner Dale Cooke. “The ones who do know wonder: How the hell was it done, and why was it done?”

Commissioner Marty Seitz told the crowd he’d placed ads in The Washington Post and The Wilmington News Journal, and has posted the position on carreerbuilder.com.

When asked when the council voted to place the ads, Commissioner Diane Hanson responded: “It wasn’t a vote. It was an agreement.” Some members of the crowd burst into protest.

“Where’s the transparency?” shouted Albert Genemans, roads committee member.

The discussion to form a search committee was pushed back to a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 26.

Speaking after the meeting, Commissioner Marc Appelbaum said he’s not sure when the council decided not to renew Elliott’s contract, or if a decision was made.

“Gordon’s contract expires in December, obviously, and we obviously need a town manager,” Appelbaum said. “I think we decided in the July or August meeting. I don’t believe it was a formal vote.”

Hanson said she thought the move to form a search committee was an obvious and necessary progression.

“If you have a vacancy, you’re going to put out ads to fill that position. I don’t know why it’s a big deal.”

Hanson said she wouldn’t answer questions about when or if a vote was taken not to renew Elliott’s contract.

She said she misspoke at the council meeting.

“I should have said consensus rather than agreement,” she said, explaining that an agreement is contractual in nature.

Elliott said he couldn’t say whether or not a vote was taken regarding his contract – he wasn’t included in the discussion.

“They put me out of executive session,” he said, declining to further elaborate.

Mandalas wrote in an email that because Elliott’s contract was set to automatically expire on Dec. 10, no vote was needed. Mandalas said he wrote a letter notifying Gordon of the termination without direction from the commissioners.

“I prepared the letter because I thought it in the best interest of the town to provide notice to the town manager that his employment agreement will expire in December,” Mandalas wrote.

Seitz said the town will spend about $2,000 on advertising for a town manager. Mandalas said the money would come from the legal ads line item in the 2009 budget.

Seitz said Elliott is considered a prime candidate for the job. The town hasn’t decided to fire Elliott, he said – they’re simply exploring other options.

“There’s no decision that has been made,” Seitz said. “There are no options on the table that have not been there last week or last month.”

Commissioners will convene at the Lifesaving Station at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, to pursue the formation of a search committee. Elliott agreed to attend the meeting as he would any other – though, he said, it’s getting a bit uncomfortable.

“Do I feel awkward?” he said. “I think anybody would.”