The fate of embattled Board of Elections Executive Director Robert Kando hung in the balance Wednesday evening as the board met in closed session just 48 hours away from Kando’s potential dismissal. Last September, the board took an unusual step. It voted to fire Kando in 120 days — a timeline that concludes Friday — unless the longtime director drastically improved all areas of his job performance, including the broad requirement that he “understand the role of the executive director.” The board could, as it did once before, vote to undo the pending termination or put it off until a later date.
On Wednesday night, the board convened for a heated meeting, including an executive session, that would all but certainly mark its last chance to keep Kando in his $143,131 post. The 17th item on the board’s packed agenda referenced an executive session meeting on a “personnel matter.” That same language has been used in the past when the board has discussed Kando’s job performance. As of 9:30 p.m., the board was still meeting behind closed doors.
Kando’s tenure at the Board of Elections has been one marked by controversy and confusion since he was first chosen for the post in 2005 even though he did not have the requisite experience in running elections.
Full Article: Deadline nears on whether R.I. elections chief gets to keep job – News – providencejournal.com – Providence, RI.