Council should know: Lack of trust is real issue

To the editor:

I think the majority of the new city council is missing the point about Mr. Bagby's agreement. It is not about the legality of the agreement. As a 34-year-city employee, now retired, I either worked under a written agreement or administered one. If the majority of the city council reneges on an agreement that was entered into, in good faith by both parties, it will have long term negative affects on all city employee's as well as any future applicants for the position of city manager. If they can renege on one agreement, when will they decide to do the same on the current city employees agreements. If the cities work force starts having doubts about their agreements being honored, and why shouldn't they, the ripple affect can be long lasting and demoralizing. How do you know when you can take them at their word? You couldn't and what person would want to apply for the city manager's position if they know that the city backed out on a good faith agreement already, especially to a long-term employee like Mr. Bagby?

As I said before, the legality of the agreement is not the issue. The trust, or lack there of, in the majority of the city council is the real issue!

Randy Hastings

Poplar Bluff, Mo.