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City pays Leone $69,000

New London, former city manager signed resignation agreement

By Robert Cloud


Leone

Former City Administrator Lou Leone was replaced by Chad Hoerth during a May 21 Finance and Personnel Committee meeting.

At that meeting, Mayor Mark Herter would answer no questions regarding the removal of Leone, Finance Director Judy Radtke and Human Resources Coordinator Jill Maus.

A week later, the city council voted to rescind the city attorney’s authorization to offer severance packages to the finance director and human resources manager.

It also voted to place Radtke and Maus on unpaid leave for one month and ordered them to obtain anger management counseling.

On May 26, Herter accepted Leone’s resignation.

According to Leone’s “Voluntary Resignation Agreement, Waiver and Release,” the city agrees to pay Leone $69,187 in severance, which is equivalent to nine months’ salary.

The city will also continue paying its share of Leone’s health insurance premiums for nine months after his resignation.

Under the agreement, Leone agrees to waive all legal claims against the city or any elected officials or city staff.

There is also a “no admission of liability” clause in the agreement. The city is not admitting to any wrongdoing in regard to Leone.

“Employee agrees not to make any negative or derogatory statements or remarks, verbally or in writing, to any person or entity regarding employer or any of the released parties,” the agreement said.

Leone cannot seek or be reinstated as an employee or contractor with the city of New London.

The mayor also agreed to write a letter of reference for Leone.

Leone’s future

Although Leone currently remains in New London, he is looking for another administrative job.

“When we moved up here from Kansas, we bought a house,” Leone said.

Noting his son is a junior and his daughter a freshman this year, Leone said he hopes both will graduate from New London High School.

“Depending on where my job is, I might have to start living apart from my family,” Leone said.

Leone began working as New London’s city administrator on July 8, 2019, after working as city administrator in Kiowa, Kansas since 2015.

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