It’s been nearly a week since Mayor Dennis Hession fired Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch, whose last official day is today. Clearly, Hession doesn’t intend to explain the behind-the-scenes turmoil that led to the long, drawn-out termination.

But he owes the public an explanation.

He can lash out at rumors, but he should recognize by now that his fealty to long-standing practices of secrecy at City Hall has fostered an environment where gossip and speculation fill the information gap.

Plus, there are the considerable matters of honesty and public trust at stake.

In early January, the mayor said he hadn’t been planning any staff shake-ups. “I don’t know where that comes from,” he told The Spokeman-Review. Last Friday he said he encouraged Lynch to retire five or six months ago.

Hession defended that contradiction by saying it was a personnel issue. Apparently that means that anything goes – even misdirection – in the service of keeping personnel matters a secret.

Councilman Bob Apple and former Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers have noted that terminations are typically handled that way.

“It’s common practice at City Hall to put somebody on medical leave before they’re shown the door,” Apple said.

Rodgers noted, “It’s an established pattern in Spokane city government never to publicly fire anybody.”

This wasn’t just anyone. It was the deputy mayor.

When Jack Lynch first came to town, he said that he didn’t run for a third term as chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow County, because, “It’s a grind. Long hours, loss of privacy.”

It’s absurd to think that a man who was to oversee all departments and wield so much power had such high expectations for privacy.

Lynch was absent for at least eight weeks since September. The mayor seemingly was taken by surprise every time the medical leaves were extended.

The deputy mayor missed many important events. For instance, he wasn’t around when new Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick first came aboard or for much of the discussion about citizen oversight of police matters. He was also gone while the city prepared the release of the major report on possible changes at City Hall.

His absences mattered.

The mayor needs to make it clear that extended absences in the future are unacceptable, regardless of the reason. He hires staff at-will. Staff can be fired at-will. No more lengthy stretches of passive-aggressive management.

The business of the city is more important than making sure an official on the way out has a soft landing or is spared public embarrassment. Insider issues cannot be allowed to supersede the interests of the public.

In finally jettisoning Lynch, Hession said, “I have a need for somebody who was operating at a higher level than Jack was.”

The public has the same need in its strong mayor. He can start by trusting the public with the truth.