The Carmel City Council's ongoing evaluation of embattled City Administrator Rich Guillen may be a record breaker for the longest such process in history. The council assembled for at least its fifth closed door meeting on the issue Thursday, Sept. 23 and after two and a half hours, emerged once again with no decision.

Guillen was accused by Carmel's former Human Resources Manager Jane Miller of sexual harassment and age discrimination in a lawsuit that ended in July with a more than $600,000 settlement for Miller.  It is the fifth settlement to be paid to a senior employee under Guillen's watch, although it is the first to arise from a lawsuit, and many Carmelites say they are furious with the lavish outlay of cash and the nature of the charges.

More than 20 residents were on hand as the city councilmembers  took their seats in public before retreating behind closed doors. A decision was widely anticipated. City Attorney Don Freeman had hinted that one was imminent two days before when he emerged from the council's private meeting to ask an audience member to request that the group refrain from reacting to any council announcement.

On Sept. 23, however, as the council ended its deliberations, Freeman simply said there was nothing to report; no future meeting date was announced. City Councilman Ken Talmage is scheduled to leave town in the coming days, making it unlikely that the council will consider Guillen's fate before next month.

Guillen earns at least $150,000 per year, plus benefits; his contract entitles him to severance pay of half his annual salary. It also says that in case he is removed without cause, which requires a four member council majority, he must be given the opportunity to resign.