Janell Howard | From LinkedIn

Janell Howard’s role as Brookings city manager is in question again.

At their first meeting of the new year Tuesday, a new City Council unanimously directed the city attorney to begin negotiating a separation agreement with Howard, supporting a motion Council President Andy Martin made.

Martin asked his colleagues to give City Attorney Lori Cooper until their regular meeting on Jan. 8 to conduct those negotiations. He also called for an executive session, or closed meeting, to be held prior to Jan. 8.

The City Council had also discussed Howard’s future with the city at a Dec. 21 executive session meeting, Martin told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Wednesday.

This discussion comes about a year after Howard pleaded no contest to a violation of theft in the third degree. That reduced charge came after she was caught shoplifting from the Brookings Fred Meyer store on July 4, 2022.

Howard’s reinstatement as city manager on Jan. 30, 2023 also led to a successful recall effort in November against those who voted in favor of her new contract — former mayor Ron Hedenskog and councilors Ed Schreiber and Michelle Morosky.

On May 8, 2023, Martin had unsuccessfully called for Howard’s termination. When that motion failed, Martin asked his colleagues to direct the city attorney draft a separation agreement with Howard that would have taken effect June 16, 2023.

On Wednesday, Martin said he couldn’t go into detail about what was discussed during the Dec. 21 executive session. However, he said that contrary to what many believe, the contract with Howard that was approved last January didn’t include a raise, apart from an annual cost of living adjustment.

Martin’s colleague, Isaac Hodges, had supported his first motion to terminate Howard and second motion to draft a separation agreement between the city and the city manager in May 2023.

Hodges was appointed Brookings mayor on Dec. 5, 2023.

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