HAYDEN - Following a close but failed vote earlier this month to terminate his employment contract, Hayden City Administrator Stefan Chatwin says he now is exploring his options.

Three city council members are critical of some of his travel expenses last year; they don't feel they're being kept in the loop on some city business; they have concerns about his "arrogance," and they're concerned about the "fear" some city staff members have of him.

Chatwin said he's looking at all options now because he has a responsibility to make sure he can provide for his family, which includes four children.

"While I'm here, I'm professional, I do my job as best I can," he said Tuesday.

Resigning is definitely one option, he said. Council members Roger Saterfiel, Jeri DeLange and Nancy Lowery voted for his termination on June 14.

The vote had to be unanimous as it didn't have the support of Mayor Ron McIntire. Council member Dick Panabaker also wants Chatwin to stay put.

McIntire told The Press he was shocked by the effort to oust Chatwin.

"Sometimes people don't like the person that's in there" as administrator, McIntire said. "There's obviously something in their craw."

He praised Chatwin's work.

DeLange declined to comment on her vote because it's a personnel issue. Saterfiel didn't return messages seeking comment.

Lowery, however, said Chatwin's travel expenditures for the last fiscal year are of primary concern.

"If somebody finds this out, how do I explain this (the travel expenditures) to them," Lowery said. "These are tough times for a lot of people."

She added, "His expenditures don't reflect well on the city."

She said he did pay the city back for renting a Cadillac at the Spokane airport for a trip to Portland on city business, but only after he was confronted about the expense. A copy of a check for $312.65 from Chatwin's bank account to the city of Hayden was provided to The Press, along with other city documents related to his travel expenses.

Of that money, $309.65 covered the car rental and the remainder covered parking for Chatwin's personal car.

Chatwin's base salary is $101,000, and more than $130,000 when benefits are included, Lowery said.

McIntire said, "I personally have no problem with" the travel expenses. He said he had authorized them.

He said the timing of the vote is bad, as the city is asking Chatwin to work on the city's budget for next year while most members of the city council want him gone.

According to Chatwin, his travel expenses for the past two years have totaled less than $2,400, after the Cadillac rental was subtracted.

The city has paid for two flights, one to Boise for a conference, and another to Seattle for a meeting the mayor wanted him to attend, Chatwin said.

He has rented two other cars during his time at the city. He rented cars during stays in Seattle and Boise.

As to the Cadillac rental, he said the agency didn't have the full-size car he had reserved, so he was offered a Cadillac.

He thought it would be a free upgrade, and it wasn't. He said he should have paid closer attention to the rental agreement.

"It looks bad," he said. "It was my mistake. But I didn't go in there planning to rent a Cadillac."

He believed the car rental for the Portland trip would have saved the city money. Airfare and a car rental there would have totaled more than $400, he said.

As to the other complaints, he said he'll be working harder to keep the council in the loop better on city business.

Communication "is a legitimate concern," he said.

He has vowed to listen to the council and be more understanding of what they are directing him to do.

As far as city staff fearing him, he said in an interview he has seen no evidence of that.

He said the mayor must agree on any employee discipline or termination.

Two department heads have left office since he was appointed. He has reorganized the city from nine department heads to four.

In an email to the council on June 15, he acknowledged being "quick to 'draw my gun' as one department head has put it."

He wrote, "I believe that the staff's reluctance and/or fear of me is largely contributed to that. We've said at times that it is partly due to the number of terminations and other employee actions I've been involved with, but I think I've used that as an excuse when the real issue is my being much more approachable as a leader."

He continued, "When sitting in a staff meeting and concerns over a specific group in our community are discussed, I too quickly allow the frustration to get the better of me and begin a tirade of preachy lectures on whatever issue came up."

The staff, he said, has always been patient.

"What they need is a confidence in their leader that he/she can maintain dignity and poise while dealing with those issues," he wrote.

He said he can correct the issue quickly.

As for arrogance, he wrote, "I firmly believe that overcoming my own arrogance will lead to greater patience, indulgence, forgiveness, listening, seeking to understand, open-mindedness, acceptance, accountability, and compassion."

In another email, he told the council to expect "significant" change in his behavior, followed by continued improvement.