Mayor had positive experiences with CEO
The Green River Chamber of Commerce’s Board Directors fired former CEO Irene Parsons after a closed meeting was hosted to discuss her job performance.
The chamber issued a press release stating Parsons would no longer be employed with the chamber Dec. 21.
The Green River Star requested emails sent and received by Allan Wilson, a Green River City Councilman who serves on the chamber’s board. According to those emails, the board hosted an executive session, to discuss Parson’s job performance.
An executive session is a closed-door discussion that is permissible under Wyoming’s public meetings law. Subjects applicable to executive sessions include potential litigation, property purchases and, in the chamber board’s case, employee performance.
An email sent to the 10 board members Dec. 21, from Angela Shutran, president of the chamber board, states the executive board, which consists of four members, met to discuss the state of affairs at the chamber after receiving direction from the board members present at the executive session.
“After careful consideration, the decision was made to terminate employment relations with the current Chamber CEO Irene Parsons. This staffing change will be effective immediately,” Shutran’s email states.
Shutran wrote that board members could ask the executive board questions or make comments to them, but requested all inquiries be “respectfully answered by the simple statement ‘The Green River Chamber Board has determined that Irene Parsons was not an appropriate fit for the Green River Chamber and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.”’
Another email sent from Shutran Dec. 26, with a subject titled “FW: RE: Meeting 12/20” included an email from Green River Mayor Pete Rust regarding Parson’s termination.
Rust wrote he and City Administrator Reed Clevenger agreed that their experience was nothing but positive, saying the two were very pleased with her performance.
“This is in no way meant to question or disrespect or take issue with the board’s decision, just a candid comment on our experience,” Rust wrote in his email, before thanking the board for their service.
Lisa Herrera, the finance and membership manager for the Chamber, was appointed to be the Chamber’s interim CEO following parson’s termination.
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