Turlock City Council Members Kurt Spycher, Mary Jackson, Vice Mayor Ted Howze, and Turlock Mayor John Lazar all respectfully returned calls inquiring about their vote to fire Turlock City Manager Tim Kerr.
Vice Mayor Ted Howze said “We all agreed that the Mayor would be the ONLY person authorized to speak on the issue.”
Council Members Kurt Spycher and Mary Jackson both nicely said that they wanted to respect a decision that was made in respects to authorizing only Mayor Lazar to comment on the entire Council’s behalf.
The Turlock City Council had a closed door session after their Tuesday, January 13, 2009 regular Turlock City Council Meeting. A performance evaluation of Tim Kerr was included on their agenda.
The Turlock City Council voted to fire Tim Kerr at about 11:30 pm. The voting details are unknown at this time.
Tim Kerr said that he was put on a 30 day paid administrative leave and then the city would honor his contract and will receive a severance package worth nine months of salary and benefits.
Mayor John Lazar commented on the decision saying “The City Council made significant management changes last night. We have scheduled a special meeting tomorrow (Thursday) to select an interim city manager. I can guarantee you as Mayor that the City Council will make sure we have the kind of leadership Turlock needs in these challenging times. The City Council must have one agenda and that’s Turlock’s agenda. I am committed to working toward this goal.”
Kerr said that he respects the Council’s decision and that firing him is their prerogative.
Tim Kerr is leaving, but not without having kind words to say about Turlock in general.
“I wish the Council and community all the best,” said Kerr. “Turlock is a great community and a fabulous organization. Turlock treated me very well.”
Tim Kerr is already fielding calls about some employment, considering which directions he go, but really just taking a brief time off.
Kerr has been the City Manager for Livingston, Ceres, and Turlock.
The Turlock City Council will have a closed session meeting today at 4pm to vote on possibly appointing Turlock Police Chief Gary Hampton as Interim City Manager.
