Some of Martin Cole’s colleagues remain perplexed today over how he could walk away from an almost $200,000 salary in marginal economic times.
While one of his two titles – assistant city manager – was removed in early spring, sources say Mr. Cole could have remained on the City Hall payroll as city clerk, a position he had held since2005.
“Half the titles but no loss in pay, sounds like a terrific deal to me,” said one City Hall veteran.
“Did he leave over a case of hurt feelings?” she wondered. “For $200,000 a year, they can wound my ego at least once every week.”
The entire three-step Martin Cole matter is a conundrum wrapped in a mystery, as someone once said.
First, his always-vague assistant city manager duties were subtracted. Next, Mr. Cole, the most visible City Hall staffer throughout April’s almost daily City Council election process, vanished from public view. Fled the scene, trailed by rumors that he had filed a Workman’s Comp case. Finally, Mr. Cole and the city divorced last week.
He turns 50 years old in two months. If he had stayed on five more years, he could have retired at 75 percent of his highest salary, a city official noted.
For the record, no one is talking. Mr. Cole’s seemingly abstract responsibilities as assistant city manager long mystified City Hall observers.
He sat in the city manager’s chair at City Council meetings when John Nachbar was unavailable.
Otherwise, when sources were questioned both about Mr. Cole’s duties and motives for leaving, their shoulders curled into shrugs.
And there the case seems destined to lie permanently.
