The Mayor called the closed session to order at 8:48 p.m.
Attending: Mayor Foy; Council Members Czajkowski, Easthom, Greene, Harrison, Kleinschmidt, Strom, and Ward; Town Manager Stancil; Town Attorney Karpinos; and Transit Director Stephen Spade.
Ralph Karpinos explained that North Carolina personnel privacy law provided that most matters in an employee’s personnel record were confidential and that, in relation to the bus fatality on October 27, 2008, the Manager and Attorney were asking the Town Council to consider the report of the incident from Steve Spade and to consider authorizing release of limited additional information to the public.
After hearing from the Transit Director, the Chapel Hill Town Council, upon recommendation of the Town Manager, pursuant to N.C. G.S. 160A-168(c)(7), concurred with the Town Manager and determined that it is essential to maintaining public confidence in the administration of Town services and the level and quality of Town services to release the following information to the public:
Effective November 3, 2008, James Orr, Transit Operator II was terminated as an employee of the Town of Chapel Hill following an internal Transportation Department investigation and evaluation of the accident on October 27, 2008, in which a pedestrian was killed by a Chapel Hill Transit bus operated by Mr. Orr.
Under the Town’s ordinances and policies, Mr. Orr has an opportunity to seek review of this decision by filing an appeal with the Town Manager.
The Council vote was unanimous.
The Closed Session ended and the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.