$100k to ousted city manager may not be legal, Mayor addresses speculations
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — The possible separation payment of over $100,000 to former city manager Kevin Cowper is uncertain after commissioners voted unanimously to remove the possible payment that was under another agenda item that eventually was approved.
The idea of giving the former city manager a possible separation payment stemmed from conversations among city administration and collectively they thought they had a solution moving forward until the last minute.
“We found out there was a section of state legislative law that could have some bearing on us on our ability to pay after a contract has expired so we wanted to make sure we are legally doing things,” Mayor Mark Saliba said.
Before the setback, the city was set to vote on giving Cowper $104,000 — that’s equaled up to six months of his salary. This comes after last month when commissioners voted 4-3 to not renew his contract.
Mayor Saliba says the separation payment is simply to end Cowper’s time with the city on good terms because it’s a rare move. The city does not have many turnovers in that position and if a city manager leaves because of a new job or was fired, there is usually something in place before it happens.
The municipal judge and the city manager are the only two contracted employees.
“There was nothing to specify on his contract or hers that says if the contract expires what happens so maybe that’s something we need to look at before we hire the next city manager,” He said.
Although it’s not known if they can or can’t give the payment, mayor Saliba says the payment is not to keep Cowper from suing the city.
He says they are mindful of it because Dothan appears to be a target for lawsuits.
“We have to be careful we try to cover all of our bases if we can,” He added.
Mayor Saliba also addressed speculation about the payment to Cowper being taxpayer’s dollars used for ‘hush money’ and how it was hidden in the fine print of another agenda item, which he says is routine and where it was supposed to go.
“I understand conspiracies and good ole boy politics but that’s not here we are transparent and none of that was what was going on or will go on,” He said.
The city expects to have answers from legal services about if they can or cannot do the separation payment at the end of this week and then they will move forward.
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