MONROE — Nearly nine years after starting his role as city administrator in Monroe, Phil Rath has resigned from the position. His last day was Oct. 20.
“As you know, over the last six months, the Common Council and I have expressed political differences of opinion regarding processes, work assignments, and general direction regarding the City,” said Rath in a letter to Mayor Louis Armstrong that was also provided to the Times.
“Recently it became clear to me that those differences are beyond resolution,” he continued, adding that he believed resigning was the best option.
Armstrong told the Times later that Rath was not asked to resign.
At the city council meeting on Oct. 21, after about 10 minutes of closed session on a severance offer from Rath, the council voted to accept it and immediately adjourned.
Rath will receive a total of $59,637.76 from the city — $51,401.13 in wages, less taxes and deductions, and $8,236.63 in attorney fees.
Acceptance passed 7 to 1; alderman Michael Boyce was absent. The single dissenting vote was cast by Kelly Hermanson.
“I did not agree with the process in which the agreement came about,” Hermanson said.
Armstrong acknowledged the “institutional knowledge” Rath possessed and the difficulties that his absence would present.
“There’s a big void on all kinds of things — actions, activities, what he does, approves, oversees,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong said later that the city administrator position would be filled “as soon as we can.” In the meantime, he’s coordinating with staff at City Hall to delegate and split up Rath’s duties.
According to the City of Monroe’s website, duties of the City Administrator include supervising the performance of all City employees, overseeing and maintaining the annual budget, ensuring day-to-day activities/services are in compliance with all laws and ordinances, and more than two dozen more.
During the next six months, Rath’s separation agreement includes a provision for him to be available to city staff “at reasonable times” by phone and email for “periodic consultations regarding matters within [his] area of responsibility” to help with the transition. That will not include additional compensation.
In his resignation letter, Rath said that it had “been a pleasure to serve the City.”
Phil Rath was hired in October of 2010 as the city administrator for the City of Monroe, and started Dec. 6 of that year. He was the city’s second choice in a list of five finalists who applied for the position. Rath said at that time he chose to apply because of the “quality of life” the city had to offer his family of six children, particularly in the city’s parks and school district.
Rath started with a salary of $75,000, plus normal benefits of city employees. At his departure, he was making $104,442 annually. In early October, Rath was one of five finalists for the same position for the City of Baraboo, reported by the Baraboo News Republic, but was not selected.