Treasurer’s Firing Sparks Calls for Change

At least two council members are calling for new “checks and balances” after the city manager’s controversial decision last month to fire the city treasurer.

Councilman Shawn Boyd has asked the city attorney to study whether the city charter allows the council to appoint a future city treasurer--a power previously exercised by the city manager. But Councilwoman Patty Campbell wants to go further: She wants the City Council to oversee all hirings and firings from now on.

At a town hall meeting last week, the Sept. 10 firing of former City Treasurer Elizabeth Stoddard was also the main topic of discussion.

“There has been a fairly healthy public outcry over the situation,” Boyd said.

Just days after receiving a national award for excellence in financial reporting, Stoddard was dismissed by City Manager Keith Till. She has since filed a claim, alleging wrongful termination and emotional distress. She is also demanding her job back.

Stoddard alleges that her firing was politically motivated. She said she was dismissed after raising questions about the tax status of interest payments on a $75,000 loan from the city to Till.

Till has declined to comment on the situation except to say that Stoddard was fired over “philosophical differences.”

The current charter gives the city manager too much authority, Campbell said.

But others on the council, such as Mayor Paul Yost, disagreed.

“I don’t think you should politicize the position,” said Yost, who said giving the City Council power to appoint the treasurer would subject city employees to “cronyism and corruption.”

City Atty. Quinn Barrow will deliver his report to the council--the majority of which supports Till--at its first meeting in November.