Perryville city administrator thinks job could be in danger

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The city administrator of Perryville said he is unsure whether he will keep his job, following a closed-session meeting at city hall Wednesday night.

Bill Lewis, city administrator, interim public works director and manager of Perryville's airport, said he was not at the meeting but received a letter Thursday saying the board would discuss the issue with him at the next city council meeting.

Lewis, who has served as city administrator for the past six years, said the issue first came up about three meetings ago, when he learned the city planned to hire an outside consultant to evaluate his performance.

Lewis said he has nothing to hide about the situation and at this point believes his job could be in jeopardy.

Robert Sweeney, attorney for Lewis, declined to speculate as to the possible reasons for the evaluation or the closed meeting.

"This is a very odd situation," Sweeney said.

Perryville Mayor Debbie Gahan declined to comment on what was discussed during the closed session, listed on the agenda as a personnel matter. Missouri's Sunshine Law requires the city council to release information about decisions made in closed sessions 72 hours after the meeting is held.

Gahan said the meeting lasted about two hours and 45 minutes.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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