by Elissa Yount
Glen, you need to check the facts in your editorial.
Williams did not have grounds to win a suit because his “non-renewal” was done correctly at the the proper time and on attorney advice. He was paid all salary and benefits for six months. Even if he had been fired, he would not have had grounds for a suit.
Also, Williams waited until the last week of the statute of limitations to raise any issue. He never raised the issue while I sat on the council, only afterwards.
Next you need to check the minutes on City Attorney John Zollicoffer. He was offered the full time job of attorney with the city. We waited and waited for his answer and designed the job to fit his requirements. The closed minutes, which now should be open, are available for you to read. Zollicoffer did not take the job.
If [former City Attorney Billy] Strickland was allowed to write his own contract it was because [Council member Bernard Alston] and [former Henderson Mayor Clem] Seifert allowed him to. Look at who signed his contract. The minutes will show that Alston as head of the Human Resources committee (which [Council member Mare Emma] Evans resigned from) was to write his contract. In hindsight, I guess the council should have checked behind Alston because it does look like Strickland pulled this one over on him. However, the payout could have been avoided if this council had refused his resignation and made him work out the last months of his contract.
I feel you need to check these facts and correct the misinterpretation you have left with the public and you need to do it right away. Thank you.