NORWICH – Following the resignation of the City of Norwich's former acting DPW chief, Council President and Ward 1 Alderman Matthew Caldwell clarified the board's position Monday and said the process of investigating the issue was done by-the-book.

“I think we were very thorough, unbelievably thorough, exactly the way we should have done it,” said Caldwell of the process investigating former acting DPW supervisor George Carnrike, Jr. “I think we hired the right people to help us out, experts and professionals who know how this is exactly done.”

Caldwell said the board does not release details of investigations as a general rule of respect to employees. He said Carnrike's investigation was treated like every other investigation.

“Unless there is an exceptional reason, as a general rule it is not good practice to discuss those things, both for the city and the employees,” he said.

The common council accepted the resignation of the former acting superintendent of public works, Tuesday, over the objections of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike.

George Carnrike is the brother of the mayor.

Caldwell said the board was right to accept the resignation, “There are times we look back and you ask, 'Did we do the right thing?' I would say we absolutely did. That's my opinion.”

The city has never offered an explanation as to why the superintendent was placed on paid administrative leave on June 12.

The council made no public comment of the resignation at the meeting, but the mayor spoke about the issue and seemed to address some employees attending the public meeting on their own personal time, calling their attendance, “odd.”

“Coming out of executive session at 10:35 p.m. and finding city employees waiting out here, I find that a little odd,” she said. “In addition to that, right now I cannot comprehend the city council accepting the resignation of the employee number identified.”

The city made no mention of the resignation in its agenda before the meeting and those in the public would've had to wait 3 hours to hear about the resignation.

The mayor, who previously said she would not involve herself in making decision relating to her brother's employment status, spoke against accepting the resignation saying, “The council has discounted commendations for a strong work ethic combined with an unsurpassed dedication and commitment to the city and its taxpayers.”

The council president disagreed with some of the mayor's statements saying she had added her own commentary to what was suppose to be an announcement of fact. He also noted the contradiction of making a public statement involving a critical opinion of the council, right before telling members of the council they should not comment on the issue publicly.