Mike McCord to fill interim position
By Bert Lehman
Clintonville Public Works Director Kray Brown resigned his position after less than three years on the job.
The Clintonville City Council met for more than an hour in closed session discussing two items on the meeting agenda: “Reviewing the Employment Performance of a City Employee” and “Interim Department Head Services.”
Neither item was included on the meeting’s original agenda released June 7, instead being placed on amended agenda published June 10.
During the closed session, Brown met with the council for 20 minutes.
Twenty-five minutes later, Jim Macy of Briesen & Roper, the city’s labor attorney, met with Brown for 20 minutes outside the council meeting.
When the council reconvened in open session, it unanimously accepted a resignation agreement with Brown. Alderman Chuck Manske was excused from the meeting.
No further details were given as to why Brown resigned or why there needed to be an agreement for his resignation.
The Clintonville Tribune-Gazette obtained a copy of Brown’s resignation letter and the resignation agreement with the city.
In Brown’s letter dated June 9, Brown stated: “Unfortunately, I Kray S. Brown, with unfortunate events, I must resign my position as Public Works Manager for the city of Clintonville effective immediately. I am writing to give notification with salary, vacation payout and health benefits paid for 90 days or until a permanent position is taken elsewhere. Until acceptance of this letter, I am requiring full compensation for salary and health benefits.”
In his resignation letter, Brown also requested a complete copy of his personnel file.
He concluded the letter by thanking those who supported him during his employment with the city.
According to the resignation agreement, Brown voluntarily resigned his employment and position with the city, effective end of day June 7. He is to “receive a payout of all of his salary and accumulated and unused vacation through the effective date of this agreement.” Payment is to be made within 14 days.
In the agreement, the city agreed to list Brown’s separation from the city as a “resignation” in his employment file.
The city also agreed not to contest a claim for unemployment compensation.
The agreement then stated, “For purposes of this paragraph only, the city agrees that Mr. Brown’s separation was not voluntary within the meaning of Sec. 108.04(7) (a), Wis. Stat.; was not for misconduct connected with his employment within the meaning of Sec. 108.04(5), Wis. Stat. or substantial fault within the meaning of Sec. 108.04(5g), Wis. Stat.”
The city also agreed to “pay the premiums for health insurance coverage for the first three months of COBRA health insurance coverage (July, August and September) or until Mr. Brown becomes eligible for other employer provided health insurance, whichever comes sooner.”
The agreement stipulates that Brown releases, waives and forever discharges the city from a variety of listed actions against the city. The agreement also stipulates that Brown never seek reemployment with the city of Clintonville.
After accepting the resignation agreement with Brown, the council, by an 8-0 vote, approved the Clintonville city administrator to sign a contract with Mike McCord for interim department head services for the public works department at $38.75 per hour.
McCord was the superintendent of the public works department for the city of Clintonville for 25 years before retiring in 2014.
Council President Mike Hankins abstained from the vote.