AURORA | Despite the Aurora City Council meeting in executive session with City Manager Skip Noe for two hours Monday night, officials made no announcement of Noe’s fate after a contingent of city lawmakers said they would press for his retirement.
Five city council members, all women, said Noe has treated them dismissively and been critical of his performance. Noe has denied the claims that he treats the women lawmakers differently than others. Other council members have defended the top city administrator, who has held the position since 2010.
“We need to talk more. We need more time,” said Councilwoman Sally Mounier, following a closed session with the entire city council. “It’s a good thing.”
Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said after the closed meeting that council members were unanimous in their decision to talk further before making any decisions about Noe’s future with the city. In February, Councilwomen Mounier and Barb Cleland both said they were so unhappy with how Noe had treated them that they wanted him to retire.
They did not bring up Noe or his retirement at Monday’s study session or regular council meeting.
“We have all come to the agreement that this is not something we can figure out in an hour,” Hogan said. He said the next time council will meet about Noe has not yet been decided.
Noe, who from the meeting proceeded to talk about potential changes to city council committees in a study session that followed, declined to comment on what happened during the private meeting.
According to Hogan, Noe and the council members had a facilitator present during the meeting. The closed session started at 4:30 p.m. and went on until a little after 6:30 p.m.
For nearly a month controversy has been brewing between Noe and five Aurora councilwomen, with some insisting that Noe leave the job. In January, five councilwomen that include Barb Cleland, Renie Peterson, Molly Markert, Sally Mounier and Marsha Berzins pushed forward a vote of no confidence for Noe on the regular agenda that failed.
I would have loved to have sat in on this particular executive session. Good thing a facilitator was present to compel the five disgruntled council members to act like adults.
And what makes you think that the five council members weren’t
acting like adults Joe?
Perhaps the fact that they threw a temper tantrum in public, but when asked for details they clammed up, other than to throw down the sexism charge?
Perhaps because the game of “do you think he likes me?” is juvenile?
Because Noe takes direction from approved full-Council initiatives and doesn’t play Cleland’s grade school games?
why are Aurora Citizens prohibited from sitting in on a meeting like this? It isn’t like it’s anything to do with his mortgage, dues, healthcare, or whatever. I do not like closed executive sessions…..smacks of oligarchy
you can watch all study sessions as well as the Aurora city council
meetings on Channel 8 if you have comcast.
Executive sessions to discuss personnel matters are not uncommon.
Goodbye Skip! The good old boys club is over!
Step down and do the right thing for once.
Maybe we can hire a new city manager from out of town like we do police chiefs.
Noe came from Corpus Christi, Oates came from Michigan, and Metz comes from Seattle.