South Burlington, Vermont - August 15, 2011
Chuck Hafter served as the city manager for South Burlington for 21 years, stepping down in 2010. Hafter was not present at Monday night's city council meeting, but questions into his pension plan and other agreements were open for discussion.
Hafter was given a $40,000 zero-interest loan from the city to buy a house on Barrett Street, at the time valued at $122,000. That money represented 32 percent of the cost of the house.
The agreement then said he would then pay the city back that same percent of the home's increased value which was recently reappraised at $286,000, bringing the total amount of the loan he owes the city to $93,000.
But a previous board forgave him $25,000 of that, and so far he's paid a tiny fraction.
City Councilor Sandra Dooley said, "In terms of what he actually paid back it was $15,000."
Hafter has been collecting from the International City Managers Association pension program, and now his attorneys are looking into whether he has the right to the city pension as well.
South Burlington's Attorney Joe McNeil says, "The question is under the terms of his employment contract if he was entitled to membership in both, or simply in one."
The council is inquiring into whether or not taxpayers were supposed to pay the premiums for Hafter's supplement medical insurance since he picked up the policy in 2004 totaling to this day at $61,400.
McNeil added, "The issue before the council, which will be discussed at the next meeting, is whether the council agreed to such a bargain."
Hafter was invited to Monday night's meeting. Councilors expect most of the arguments will continue behind closed doors.
Molly Smith - WCAX News
