ROCKLAND, Maine — City Manager James Chaousis has asked the City Council to terminate the contract of the city attorney and suggested that two councilors are trying to undermine the city manager’s authority.

Chaousis sent a letter to councilors on Monday, expressing his frustration at what he said was the council’s inaction on his December recommendation to fire City Attorney Kevin Beal. Councilors, however, defended Beal on Wednesday, with the mayor issuing a statement in support of him.

In Monday’s letter, Chaousis references the claims he made to the council in December that the city attorney had demonstrated insubordination and participated in unethical and illegal activities. The city manager did not elaborate and no details about any allegations against the city attorney have ever been made public.

The letter also reveals that Chaousis recommended to the council in December that it terminate the city attorney’s contract.

When that didn’t happen, the city manager in April proposed a 2016-2017 city budget that eliminated the full-time staff attorney position and called for contracting out the services.

Then two weeks ago, the council asked that the money be put back into the budget for the full-time attorney position.

The council will vote later this month on that proposed budget.

“Inaction regarding this issue has put a great deal of strain on the City Council/City Manager relationship, my confidence in job security, and diminished my authority to perform my duties effectively,” Chaousis stated in the letter he sent to councilors Monday.

The city manager, who was hired in January 2015, said if the council condones the attorney’s actions, then “continuing my employment contract may not be the best option.”

On Wednesday morning, Chaousis said, the councilors had not yet responded to him about his letter. He said he did not consider the letter an ultimatum but simply a statement about how he feels and what the relevant city laws are.

In his letter, he pointed out a city ordinance that specifies how the “daily activities of the city attorney shall be under the direction and supervision of the city manager.”

Attorney Daniel Nuzzi, who represents the city attorney, issued a statement Wednesday defending Beal. He said Beal has worked effectively and responsibly for the past seven years and has worked collaboratively with all prior city managers.

“It is unfortunate that Mr. Chaousis has taken it on himself to personally attack Mr. Beal with false and defamatory comments to improve his own leverage and maintain his job security,” Nuzzi said.

Beal denies any improper actions, Nuzzi said.

“Mr. Chaousis’ divisive actions speak for themselves,” Nuzzi said.

Councilor Larry Pritchett said Wednesday that for all his time on the council, city staff, prior managers and councilors have functioned with the understanding that the ultimate authority in terms of hiring and supervising the city attorney lies with the council.

“To me as a resident and as a council member, the manager’s arguments in this letter are flawed. It is at best highly selective in the language it cites. To me this would appear to be another example of the city manager acting in ways that, or making claims that, exceed the manager’s authority,” Pritchett said.

Pritchett said he also was deeply troubled by the manager’s comments regarding the city attorney.

“To me, the manager’s language seems like a totally unwarranted personal and professional attack on the work of the city’s long-serving city attorney,” Pritchett concluded.

Councilor Valli Geiger also said Wednesday that her opinion of the city attorney could not be more different than the city manager’s.

“Kevin is an excellent lawyer and my relationship with him has been nothing but extremely positive. I have worked with him for close to six years now and have found him to be professional, incredibly hardworking, responsive and loyal to this city,” Geiger said.

Then late Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Louise MacLellan-Ruf issued a statement on behalf of the council.

“The council and city attorney have been working collaboratively on an amicable and respectful basis,” the statement reads. “The city manager’s letter was not solicited by the council and is not relevant to these collaborative efforts. The council wants to be clear that we value Kevin Beal’s service and all of his positive contributions. Rockland is in a much different place as a result of his work.”

Chaousis said in early January that he was conducting an investigation into multiple city employees and had gone through their computers as part of that probe. Among the computers examined were one used by the city attorney.

The following month the city manager fired Rockland Harbor Master Ed Glaser for a variety of reasons, including inappropriate use of his city computer.

Also in January, the city council hired attorney Linda McGill of Portland, who specializes in labor issues, and met with her in a closed-door session. The council would only say that the meeting concerned multiple personnel matters.

Following that meeting, Nuzzi said that city attorney Beal was not under investigation. McGill confirmed that Beal was not under investigation.

In his letter to councilors Monday, Chaousis said that the end goal of the city attorney was to diminish the manager’s authority.

“This may be the ultimate goal of some individual city councilors. Despite the references of Charter and Code, Councilor Geiger has repeatedly stated that the city attorney’s responsibility includes ‘checking’ the manager. Councilor Pritchett repeatedly accesses the administrative services through channels outside the manager.”

While some city councilors would like to have access to the city attorney without going through the city manager, that is not how the city’s charter and ordinances work, he said.

“It is the responsibility of the city council to supervise and direct the city manager. Not the city attorney,” Chaousis’ letter states.

Chaousis said in the past six months he has represented the city professionally and has remained steadfast in retaining a positive public perspective of the events that have transpired with the city attorney.

“I believe that it is in the best interest of the city to make my recommendation regarding the city attorney public but I fear that would lead to termination of my contract. If the city council condones the activities of the city attorney, and I am responsible for directing and supervising his activities, continuing my employment contract may not be the best option,” he stated.

“I am requesting that the city council update me regarding this situation or consider a separation agreement regarding my position. Further delays in addressing this issue will only aggravate the relationship further,” Chaousis concluded.

The council and Chaousis are next scheduled to meet for a budget review at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8.