Council to Vote on Removing Village Manager From Office

The village council will vote on removing Village Manager Ken Gabbert from office in two week's time, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn said at a special public meeting held Tuesday.

The council is working to "develop a consensus" to "smoothly transition" the village manager's office, Aronsohn said. Because negotiations on the "transition" are ongoing and involve personnel, details were not offered Tuesday night. A resolution vote to end his employment will come Aug. 14 at a public meeting where more details will be offered, the mayor said.

Aronsohn declined to answer questions as to the reasons for Gabbert's expected departure or possible severance pay. He did not address who would take over managerial duties in an interim capacity. 

It's not the first time some on the council have wished to depose the village manager. A vote to oust Gabbert in February failed, with the council issuing only a vague statement that it would establish an "evaluation process" for the embattled manager.

Aronsohn and Gabbert have feuded over the manager's raise in 2011 and his management of the Halloween snowstorm later that year.

Gabbert could request a public hearing detailing cause for his removal. He declined to comment Tuesday. Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh, who along with Tom Riche has been a supporter of Gabbert, was not in attendance Tuesday.

Though officials have not indicated who will take over Gabbert's duties on an interim basis, Village Clerk Heather Mailander has in the past served as an interim village manager. Mailander was appointed the interim village manager following the resignation of Jim Ten Hoeve, about five months before Gabbert was hired.