CLAREMONT — The City Council voted 9-0 to fire City Manager Yoshi Manale after a nearly 90-minute, non-public session Monday evening.

The council cited four areas — honesty, lack of information in council packets, lack of follow-up communication with the council, and lack of departmental control and accountability — as the reasons for terminating Manale, who was hired in October 2022, according to a Tuesday morning email from Mayor Dale Girard.

“The council has noted and brought to the city manager’s attention a pattern of inconsistent communication with councilors, including discrepancies in answers given to different council members regarding the same questions,” said Girard’s statement, which was drafted by the city’s attorney, Drummond and Woodson of Lebanon. “This inconsistency undermines transparency and trust.”

In an emailed statement about his departure, Manale did not address the council’s critique.

“It has been a pleasure and learning experience to serve the city of Claremont,” he wrote. “This city is filled with dedicated public servants and passionate residents who care deeply about Claremont’s future. Together, we’ve built a strong foundation for continued growth, resilience and opportunity.”

Manale, who was hired with a salary of $130,000, was earning $147,000 after a second pay raise last October. He will receive 16 weeks severance as part of his contract, Girard said.

Girard said Manale has already left city hall.

“In accordance with his contract, the City will provide 30 days notice and place him on administrative leave,” the news release read.

Manale’s was the city’s third manager since February 2017, following the 15-year tenure of Guy Santagate, who retired in 2016.

The City Council hired Manale after an aborted formal search for a city manager that did not yield an applicant that satisfied the council, Girard told the Valley News at the time.

Shortly before coming to Claremont, Manale had resigned from the position of town manager in Brattleboro, Vt., which he had held for only about five months.

Manale faced significant community backlash in Brattleboro after a controversy involving the town’s ambulance contract. The Brattleboro Reformer reported at the time that the backlash included a package containing feces that was mailed to Manale’s office.

In Claremont, Manale replaced former City Manager Ed Morris, who resigned in 2022 to become Enfield’s town manager. Morris had been Weathersfield town manager before being hired in Claremont in 2019.

Morris replaced Ryan McNutt, who was hired in 2017 and fired after two years.

The council’s Tuesday statement began with a section of the city charter dealing with the role of the city manager, including the responsibility to “keep the council informed of the condition and needs of the city and shall make such reports as may be required by law, this charter or ordinance, or may be requested by the council.”

Girard said Manale was required to provide reliable, accurate and timely information regarding city affairs to the council.

“Despite having deficiencies in this regard brought to his attention, both formally and informally, the city manager has failed or refused to produce information as requested,” the statement said.

For example, Manale failed to respond adequately to repeated requests for more detailed council packets to ensure thorough review of agenda items, Girard said. The packets had “gaps in critical information,” including details needed for a proper evaluation of the issues, Girard said.

Girard also faulted Manale for inconsistencies in communication with councilors.

“To promote clarity and efficiency, the City Manager was directed to share his responses to such inquiries with the entire city council,” Girard wrote. “However, he had failed or refused to consistently follow this directive, resulting in a lack of shared understanding of city affairs that interferes with the council’s ability to effectively perform its duties.”

Finally, Girard said the council had asked Manale to improve oversight and communication with departments and to “assess and improve departmental management and performance,” but the council had “seen little to no measurable improvement.

“The council has observed that city departments under the direction of the City Manager proceed with projects without appropriate planning or adherence to established processes,” the mayor concluded.

The council thanked Manale for his 30 months with the city, stating “the city has made continued progress on infrastructure improvements and other important initiatives.”

The city has appointed Finance Director Nancy Bates and Police Chief Brent Wilmot as interim, co-city managers.

The City Council has not yet determined how a permanent replacement will be chosen, Girard said.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.