Late Wednesday, South Portland Claude Morgan confirmed speculation City
Manager Ted Jankowski resigned is position following a rocky eight
month tenure



Jankowski's status was unclear at the Sentry's press time on Wednesday

    Conflicting information circulated in and outside
South Portland City Hall beginning at least on Friday May 18 casting
doubt on Jankowski’s tenure following Morgan's call for a special
executive session of the City Council.

    When asked to comment on Tuesday about his continued
employment at City Hall, Jankowski would only say he would issue a
statement in “a day or so,” and “he has “not done anything yet.”

    When contacted Wednesday morning, Mayor Claude Morgan would not comment on the rumors.

    Jankowski, who with the support of several
councilors, sought to change the culture of within the city government,
has battled with staff and city councilors about his management style.
He has indicated growing disillusionment recently.

    Councilor James Soule has been openly critical of
Jankowski and openly questioned whether Jankowski was driving out long
time employees after three staff members left their jobs in quick
succession.

    A dispute with the city’s attorney, Mary Kahl,
spilled into the public following the release of a series of emails
that revealed both personal and professional animosity between
Jankowski and Kahl.

    Earlier this month Jankowski relented in a drawn out
disagreement with several councilors including Soule, Linda Boudreau
and Kay Loring over the timing and nature of a formal evaluation of his
tenure.

    Jankowski did not attend a City Council meeting on
Monday and was not at City Hall on Tuesday or Wednesday. Assistant City
Manager Jim Gailey, who answered the city manager’s phone on Wednesday
morning, said Jankowski was out sick.

    Jankowski resignation represents the third time he has left a job since 2005.

    In 2005 he abruptly resigned from the Greater Boston
Real Estate Board after 16 months in the position, according to a Feb.
23, 2005 Boston Business Journal article. In June 2006, Jankowski
resigned as Assistant City Manager in Worcester, Mass.