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Former Cambridge HRA director files lawsuit against city

Posted Online: 11/19/02

By Evelyn Puffer

Former executive director of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Cambridge, Sandy Tischer, filed suit last week in 10th District court seeking in excess of $50,000 for breach of a contract awarded her by the former HRA board shortly before 11 p.m. April 15.

The new HRA board, now comprised solely of Cambridge City Council members, hasn't recognized that contract negotiated with the former HRA board and signed by then HRA President, Bob Theis.

Tischer had been working without a contract for 18 months at the time the Cambridge City Council abolished the HRA (April 15) and shifted its duties to the city's Economic Development Authority (EDA).

Theis called an emergency meeting of the HRA board just before the city council adjourned that evening and against the advice of city attorney Charlie LeFevere who didn't believe the situation qualified as an emergency meeting under the state's open meeting regulations. HRA board members Marlys Palmer and Bob Shogren didn't attend that meeting.

That was when Tischer's two-year contract was signed stating she was to receive $3,000 per month compensation until 11 p.m. April 15, 2004. In addition to the $3,000 monthly salary, Tischer, under the April 15 contract, was to receive payment for accumulated sick and vacation time.

Since that time, non-council HRA board members Bob Theis, Ray Magnuson and Todd West have resigned from the board.

Expecting to disband the HRA board by year's end, the present board has not filled the vacant positions.

The lawsuit was the subject of a closed HRA meeting Monday morning, Nov. 18 and discussed further during a closed session following the Nov. 18 city council meeting.

Tischer is being represented by the Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. law firm in the Twin Cities.