EAST LONGMEADOW – The Town Council recently signed an agreement with former Police Chief Douglas Mellis to pay him more than a year’s salary due to a breach of contract made by the now defunct Board of Selectmen.

The board controversially decided to advertise for Mellis’ job at its Jan. 12 meeting, citing high police overtime budgets during recent years as the reason for starting a search for a new chief.

Additionally, former Town Administrator Gregory Neffinger sent a letter to Mellis on March 15 that stated Mellis’ attendance of an Appropriations Committee meeting was insubordination and the former chief used the meeting as a means to criticize the selectmen.

At the time, Mellis’ lawyer Austin Joyce stated the letter could have been the foundation of a lawsuit regarding the violation of Mellis’ First Amendment civil rights.

Town Council President Kevin Manley told Reminder Publications the agreement, which was signed on Sept. 2, includes a clause that Mellis not pursue additional legal action against East Longmeadow for his separation.

According to Mellis’ contract, if the chief is not reappointed or terminated by the town for any reason other than just cause, “the town agrees to pay the chief a lump sum severance equal to the balance of any term of appointment but in no event less than 12 months of salary benefits.”

Manley said Mellis’ severance would be higher than $135,900 which was Mellis’ salary while employed by the town. It would also include compensation for Mellis’ unused sick time.

“We negotiated his salary and his contract,” he added. “There was some disputed figures on sick time. That was all kind of wrapped into the settlement agreement.”

When asked what the total severance amount was, Manley declined to comment on the matter, but stated he believes it is “well within certainly acceptable ranges.”

He added the funds would likely be appropriated during the council’s Sept. 13 meeting. The funding source would probably come from free cash or the town’s general fund.

“Right now, it’s looking like it’s going to be a one lump sum payment, subject obviously to the appropriation … I think we’re all in agreement to the fact that it’s actually a fair settlement between the town and the chief, in my opinion,” he added.

Manley said he believes no one in the town wanted to prolong the decision to give Mellis his severance.

“I think it actually took a little bit longer than what we wanted it to take to get the settlement,” he added. “We did want something that was certainly fair to the chief given that his contract wasn’t renewed and we could have faced certain legal challenges with that.”

He said he believes Mellis was “rightfully entitled” to the severance.

“It puts the town in a good place to put the entire mess behind us,” he explained.