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Elliott resigns, negotiated severance package awarded

Wednesday, 25 May 2011 13:43

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Lee Elliott, administrator for the City of Mount Vernon, resigned during an executive session of the city council Friday, May 20. The resignation was effective immediately.

The council awarded him a negotiated severance package valued at around $100,000.
Mr. Elliott cited philosophical differences with the impending change of council as the reason for the voluntary resignation. Council members elect Saundra Dunn, Jeff Briscoe and Kenneth Shelton were present for the meeting. Mrs. Dunn commented on the reason given for the resignation. “How does he know we have a difference in philosophy, he’s never talked to us,” she said. For more details on the action, see the May 26 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.

Comments

#1 MR — James Hamrick 2011-05-20 15:02

To the out going MV City Council SHAME on YOU, this is one of the reasons you were VOTED OUT, because of GREASE JOBS like this,

#2 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — concerned citizen 2011-05-20 17:21

GREAT! Glad to hear that he "resigned"...not happy at all that he gets a full year of salary and benefits. Too, bad this couldn't be presented before the new members of City Council....or, was this the ultimate plan. Hopefully, this guy has learned his lesson and will do a better job for the next town, if he gets a chance.

#3 great — UnKnown 2011-05-21 06:08

This is just what Mt. Vernon needed! Out with the old and in with the new!!!!!

#4 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — Lynn 2011-05-21 07:14

What a suprise, rather than stay and face the music he quit, but at least that way he was able to be paid for the next year and not work. SMART MOVE since he might have been fiired on a morals issue over the private use of public equipment and employees. Maybe the new council members will help hire someone who will actually talk to the citizens of our town that PAY THEIR SALARY.

#5 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — Anonymous 2011-05-21 09:08

I hope there is an immediate investigation into any and all of the inproprieties of the City Manager and the city council.
If they were willing to give city monies away like this, what
are they trying to hide?

#6 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — Anonymous 2011-05-21 15:38

GREAT NEWS! Maybe this new council can find someone decent!

#7 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — Baffled 2011-05-21 17:54

If monies are so tight in the City of Mt. Vernon that the horrible roads, etc., can't be fixed then why in the heck do we pay Mr. Elliott a year's salary just to get rid of him? Where are funds going to come from to pay the next city manager? Hopefully he won't be the only city employee to go....I think his yard mowing buddy needs to move on too.

#8 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — concerned citizen 2011-05-22 05:50

I think the Mayor should resign. He is not for the citizens of Mt.Vernon. I would be ashamed to call myself Mayor of Mt. Vernon.

#9 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — concerned citizen 2011-05-22 05:53

Great news

#10 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — Anonymous 2011-05-22 19:32

I have been very surprised about some of the things going around about our city council. I hope the three new members will be able to sort out what is truth and what is not. One thing that I know is true and that is that B F Hicks and Jasper Scott refused to vote when A motion was moved to pay the city manager a years salary. Why do we need you on the council if you are not going to stand up and be counted? I am very disappointed and surprised at that action. Shame on you both.

#11 ???? — Concerned 2011-05-22 20:33

Hopefully the 2 remaining members of the old council who are staying will be voted in the next electio since they both abstained from voting. Thats the same as voting aye (yes) there fellas!! This is a joke and the city council of Mt. Vernon ought to be ashamed. But, is this really surprising???

#12 thanks cm — concerned citizen 2011-05-22 21:09

I would like to say good job city council, mayor and cm elliott! Thanks for the 4 years of fixing what mike edwards, eddie turner and jim blanchard let fall apart. Unfortunatelly, the good ole boys overthrew you, and will continue to benefit from the tax payers, argh... now ken greer and bob mcfarland can monopolize and kill economic development, mike edwards, tom ramsay and richard hambrick want have to sue for oil, because their relatives are now on council!

#13 RE: Lee Elliott resigns, etc — Old Fart 2011-05-23 05:57

Let's be fair, Mr. Elliott brought a greater degree of professionalism than the previous city administrator. But after a while that wore thin. He stayed a year to long. Let's not be to hard on his yard mowing buddy. Andy is just a hard working guy, who does a good job with what he has to work with. Put a memo in his personnel file and go on. Don't get rid of good employee over a less than a smart move.

#14 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — James Hamrick 2011-05-23 09:36

Hey #12 reply Learn to spell use the phone book if you need to its HAMRICK, and we have NO RELATIVES on the city council. be a man and sign your name

#15 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — charley 2011-05-23 10:43

Wonder what else is going on that all us tax payers don't know?

#16 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — Concerned 2011-05-23 11:16

Quoting concerned citizen:

I would like to say good job city council, mayor and cm elliott! Thanks for the 4 years of fixing what mike edwards, eddie turner and jim blanchard let fall apart. Unfortunatelly, the good ole boys overthrew you, and will continue to benefit from the tax payers, argh... now ken greer and bob mcfarland can monopolize and kill economic development, mike edwards, tom ramsay and richard hambrick want have to sue for oil, because their relatives are now on council!

I dont think people are debating that fact, it is how this all went down. Mr. Elliott called this meeting himself, before the new council takes over this week, simply to try and get his (unearned) compensation. Is this right of him or the present council?? NO!! And the "old council" went along with all of this, including the Mayor. This should of been left up to the new members of the council to work out this situation with Mr. Elliott.

#17 RE: Elliott resigns as City Administrator — baffled 2011-05-25 07:53

get your facts right before commenting....eddie turner and mike edwards have not been in city government for well over 10 years....they had nothing to do with this. And who do you think Mr. Ramsay and Mr. Hamrick (since you can't even spell it right) are related to on the city council?

#18 RE: Elliott resigns, negotiated severance package awarded — Just a thought 2011-05-25 15:19

Wha tis going on in our City Government? Seems to me someone has the mentality that if I cant' play by my rules I will just take my bat and ball and go home.

#19 severance package — old fart 2011-05-28 22:41

The old council interpreted Elliot's contract as they saw fit. The new council can also interpret it as they see fit. They don't have to pay all of Elliott' contract, if he resigned, under the terms outlined. Don't pay him and see what happens. I would rather pay legal fees than blackmail!

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