PORTSMOUTH — The city Police Commission unanimously approved a $90,000 payment to dispatch supervisor Kelly McGrenaghan and announced it’s to resolve "issues raised by Ms. McGrenaghan that involve Police Chief (Robert) Merner."

The settlement agreement states McGrenaghan will resign her job as communications supervisor and contains an anti-disparagement clause barring the parties from speaking ill of each other. Merner said Thursday he could not comment because it’s a personnel matter being handled by the Police Commission.

A joint statement, which Police Commissioners Joe Onosko, Stefany Shaheen and Tom Hart told the Portsmouth Herald they endorsed, reads as follows: "The Portsmouth Police Commission has approved and finalized a severance agreement with Kelly McGrenaghan. This severance agreement was precipitated by personnel matters and other issues raised by Ms. McGrenaghan that involve Police Chief Merner. The commission determined that there are not urgent or immediate risks to the department, but intends to inquire into and respond to these matters as soon as possible. Given the current reality of COVID-19 and the fact that all of the Portsmouth Police Department’s resources must be devoted to dealing with the pandemic, this inquiry and response will take time. Chief Merner has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the investigation."

Onosko said Thursday the investigation will be conducted by an outside independent person selected by the Police Commission. He said that will occur when City Hall reopens and should not take long.

Onosko said he could not cite or characterize the nature of the underlying dispute.

Asked why the Police Commission agreed to pay McGrenaghan before an investigation, Onosko said everyone has agreed not to comment further at this time. He said the agreement to keep details confidential, until an investigation is complete, is one agreed upon by all parties.

The Portsmouth Herald filed a Right-to-Know request with City Attorney Robert Sullivan for all documents in the city’s possession that pertain to the unspecified allegations and payout.

McGrenaghan, through her lawyer Benjamin King said, "I am grateful for the opportunity I have had over the past 17-plus years to work alongside the men and women of the Portsmouth Police Department in serving the Portsmouth community. I look forward to the next chapter in my professional life and wish the Portsmouth Police Department well."

King said he could only confirm McGrenaghan raised concerns related to the police chief and, "as a result of those concerns the parties mutually decided to separate per terms of the separation agreement." King said McGrenaghan was proud of her service to the Police Department.

McGrenaghan’s lawyer said the settlement was not preceded by any legal proceeding.

The $90,000 settlement is being paid by Primex, the city’s liability insurance provider, Onosko said.

The agreement, signed April 14 by Onosko and McGrenaghan, states her resignation date was April 9. It also reports $30,000 of the payout is for wages, $30,000 for her attorney and the balance for no cited reason. It states the Police Department agrees to report she resigned in good standing in response to future requests for professional references.

The only police commissioner to sign the agreement was Onosko. The other commissioners said it was approved by unanimous vote, but they did not sign it due to health precautions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

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