Unable to reach an agreement, a lawsuit against the city of Moose Jaw continues.

Former City Manager Matt Noble filed a statement of claim in the spring that says he was constructively dismissed and forced to resign after his relationships became strained with city council following the election in October 2016, preventing him from performing his duties and undermined his position. The statement says that in February 2017, Noble raised his concerns with council and talked about their interactions with his administration, specifically unfair statements made in public forums, such as city council meetings. He also accuses the councillors of holding meetings without administration present.

A month after that meeting with council, the statement says the city clerk presented a report to council advising them to avoid personalizing debate by publicly criticizing administration or injuring their reputation. Court documents also show an apology letter was written by Mayor Fraser Tolmie, recognizing the tone towards administration had been tense, strained and at times disrespectful, pledging that the city would police itself with more professional language.

Despite this, the working environment did not change according to court documents, leading to the letter of resignation in November 2017.

The statement of claim wraps up by saying that the city did, without cause or reasonable notice, fundamentally changed the terms of his employment by failing to provide him with meaningful work from October 2016 onward. The employer created a hostile work environment preventing him from doing his job.

The city denies all claims, saying Noble left his position voluntarily and that's what Noble told us after leaving city hall in the winter of 2017.

In late October, lawyers for the two sides met to go over details of the lawsuit but were unable to reach an agreement and so the fill will continue. Noble's lawyer and the city's representative, will now prepare their affidavits and will then work to find a date when they can meet again.

The former manager is seeking damages for dismissal based on the remained of his contract through the summer of 2018, employee benefits as well as $35,000 for damages.