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A performance evaluation of Gaylord City Administrator Lonny Johnson escalated into a heated discussion among City officials last week.

“Absolute pandemonium.”

That is how Johnson described the hour-long meeting which included the entire City Council, Mayor Doug Quast, Police Chief Dale Roiger, former Lakeview Administrator John Berger and former Gaylord Mayor John Schwartz.

According to Johnson, Mayor Quast requested a work shop meeting in early July. This workshop turned into a City Administrator performance evaluation, Johnson explained.

Performance evaluations of City employees are typically conducted behind close doors. Johnson agreed to make this evaluation open to the public. It was recorded on audio tape.

When the meeting continued last week it began with the review of the performance evaluations completed by Mayor Quast and each council member.

Quast and council member Carl Wetzel feel Johnson’s performance needs improvement. Council members Brenda Pautsch, Dale Breuer and Roger Bruellman appeared satisfied with Johnson’s work. Council member Sue Jacobson graded Johnson’s work as “excellent.”

“What are the expectations of the City Administrator?” That was a common concern of council members during the review of the evaluations.

Mayor Quast said the City needs to establish expectations for Johnson. He is hoping that is the end result of Johnson’s performance evaluation.

Bruellman agreed and believes all parties involved need to accept some of the responsibility. There is a need to look at the City Administrator’s job description so everyone can get on the same page, Bruellman explained. He also feels Mayor Quast and City Administrator Johnson need to make a better effort to work together.

Wetzel expressed concern about the amount of time Johnson spends away from the City office. He also feels there needs to be better notification when Johnson is going to be absent.

Pautsch explained that the Council “gets a lot of emails” announcing when Johnson is going to be absent from work. She also believes the issue is determining what is expected of the City Administrator. “What is the appropriate arrangement,” Pautsch said. “I’m not sure I know.”

An argument began to escalate about Johnson’s performance. Council member Bruellman eventually walked out of the meeting, apparently upset at a comment made by Jacobson. That was followed by more arguing which included, as described by Johnson, “a heated confrontation” between Wetzel and Berger.

Arguing continued for another 20 minutes between council members, the Mayor, Police Chief Roiger and members of the audience. The meeting eventually dissolved.

Quast and Bruellman later offered up apologies at the City Council meeting.

We all have different expectations, Quast explained. He said it is not all Lonny’s fault and believes the City Council has not enforced his responsibilities.

According to Johnson, Quast would like him to run the City like a business with unlimited responsibilities and unlimited accountability. Johnson said he agrees but that is apparently not the wish of the City Council.

Johnson, who was hired by the City in March of 2001, believes he does need to improve in the area of public relations. He also feels he may micro manage too much.

In August of 2003, the City Council extended Johnson’s contract until August of 2010. He is a salaried employee receiving $75,919 per year.