"I don't think there's any desire at all," Brewster said Thursday. "Personally, I would have been surprised if there had been, but you never know."

On Wednesday, Bauer sent Brewster another e-mail, and even included a proposed employment contract that spells out the terms for his return to the city.

Bauer said he still believes he can do the job, despite his contentious history with former Police Chief Ron Tussing, who was elected mayor last month. Tussing resigned from the city last May following a 15-month employment dispute with Bauer.

"The reality is, I did a good job," Bauer said Thursday. "I've gotten positive feedback. I'm frustrated that I'm not able to finish what I had started."

"Ron Tussing as mayor is no longer accountable to me," Bauer said. "It was a problem of his from the very beginning, but I'm no longer responsible for his beliefs or actions or inactions. Given that situation, I don't think I would have any problem working with him."

The $160,000 settlement Tussing signed when he resigned as police chief included the requirement that Tussing wouldn't seek employment with the city of Billings or anyplace else where Bauer or then-Deputy City Administrator Tina Volek is employed. Volek continues to work as interim administrator following Bauer's resignation in June.

Some council members have said Tussing should have to pay back the settlement because being elected mayor is the same as seeking employment. Tussing says he hasn't violated the agreement because being elected is different from applying for a job as a truck driver or police officer.

Mayor Chuck Tooley said Bauer is free to submit an application to the city at the appropriate time, but he doesn't think it's a good idea to try to bypass the normal process for hiring a new administrator.

"The council has already made a decision to wait to decide on a process and to not hire an administrator at this time," said Tooley, whose term ends on Dec. 31. "I just don't think it would be a good idea."

Ward 3 Councilman Chris "Shoots" Veis said hiring Bauer, especially through such an unorthodox process, would be like pouring gasoline on the fire. "I'm not interested," he said.

"I think we need to move forward," said Ward 5 Councilman Don Jones. "I think we need to drop the rambling about the (Tussing contract) and get to work. The bigger picture now is who on the City Council can start working together."

"Kristoff is extremely capable and he's a good person," said Ward 1 Councilwoman Peggie Gaghen. But she worried that Bauer's past issues with Tussing would be insurmountable.

"I think he's the most qualified person in the city at the moment," Brown said. "On the other hand, I don't think very many people want him back."

Brown, an avid pool player, said he told some of his pool-playing friends that Bauer had made overtures about trying to go back to work for the city.

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