Parkano city manager agrees to resign for 91,000 euros

Parkano City Manager Aki Viitasaari has agreed to resign in exchange for about 91,000 euros, Yle reports. The city’s executive board is due to consider the resignation agreement on Thursday.

Executive board chair Susanne Talonen-Seppälä said the city and Viitasaari had concluded that there were not sufficient grounds to continue working together. She did not give further details, and Yle was unable to reach Viitasaari for comment.

The proposed compensation equals nine months of Viitasaari’s salary and is set out in his employment agreement with the city. He would also receive pay for his notice period and payments related to unused leave.

The agreement has not yet been approved. If the executive board accepts it, Viitasaari’s resignation will take effect. His two-month notice period is due to begin on November 19. The draft says both parties will refrain from publicly commenting on the agreement, the resignation or the reasons behind it.

Viitasaari began his appointment in June 2023 under a seven-year fixed-term contract, which was expected to run until summer 2030. He is no longer carrying out the city manager’s duties; administrative and finance director Aleksi Saukkoriipi is handling them.

Under the city’s agreement with Viitasaari, a loss of confidence in the city manager is meant to be addressed through negotiations. The agreement also says the executive board should vote on a possible loss of confidence and submit the matter to the city council. Talonen-Seppälä said the board would not follow that process in this case, and that the council would be informed of the resignation after it is signed.

Viitasaari was dismissed as city manager of Akaa in 2017 over a loss of confidence. The Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the council had been entitled to dismiss him. Akaa was later ordered to pay him more than 97,000 euros, plus interest, and cover his legal costs.