Oak Hill replaces city manager amid controversy
August 1 2014 article taken from the Tennessean
The City of Oak Hill had one thing on the agenda Friday: replacing the city manager.
Mayor Ron Coles and Vice Mayor Heidi Campbell voted to accept Kevin Helms’ resignation in a special meeting before a full house Friday afternoon, but one commissioner says there is more to the story.
Commissioner Austin McMullen said the mayor and vice mayor forced Helms out, a claim they deny.
Helms agreed to a non-disparagement clause in his resignation and will receive about $59,000 in severance pay. McMullen pointed to that money as proof that Helms was forced out. He also questioned whether it makes financial sense given the city’s budget gap.
“If Mr. Helms were just resigning, he would just resign and there wouldn't be a $59,000 payment,” McMullen said. “If Mr. Helms were terminated with cause, then there is no severance that is due under his employment agreement.”
City Attorney Marshall Albritton said the city did not have to offer a severance package, but that they accepted the $59,000 offer without countering.
“It’s what he offered and it seemed fair,” Coles said.
Chuck Burgess, chairman of the citizen advisory committee, said the resignation relates to a plan to allow development in Oak Hill that spurred outrage in the small community and led to a record turnout election that put Coles and Campbell in office.
“It would have been very difficult for the city to move ahead with all the baggage he brought from the commercial development initiative,” Burgess said.
The Board of Commissioners unanimously chose M.C. Sparks, previously the assistant city manager, to serve as the interim city manager. Helms did not attend the meeting and could not be reached for comment.
The crowd applauded at the end of the meeting, but a few voiced their disapproval.
“It’s a sad day in Oak Hill,” one man called out as the meeting adjourned.
Jim Wyatt, jwyatt@tennessean.com
