ARCHIVE

Police chief resigns

Contract could allow Mayfield to be next police chief

Staff reporter

After more than an hour of executive sessions for personnel reasons and the appointments of six of the eight city-appointed positions, Marion City Council accepted the resignation of Marion Police Chief Michel Soyez Monday evening and tabled the reappointment of city administrator David Mayfield for another two weeks.

On Tuesday, the Marion County Record obtained a copy of the Employment Contract between Mayfield and the city.

In that contract, there is the following clause:

"If either party elects to terminate this appointment as city administrator, it is expressly understood that employee, David Mayfield, shall be immediately re-appointed to the position of chief of police at the then current salary for the position of chief of police."

The following clause states: "It is expressly understood that this appointment or subsequent reappointment shall not limit the scope of disciplinary actions available to the city under its employee procedure manual including termination if such action is appropriate due to actions of employee."

Compensation at the time of the contract was $45,000 per year.

The contract also stated that the appointment of Mayfield may be terminated without cause by either party upon written notice stating that the termination will occur within 10 days after receipt of notification. However, the parties could agree to a shorter time period.

During Monday night's meeting, the executive sessions involved the council and different appointees that included city administrator David Mayfield, attorney Dan Baldwin, Soyez, city clerk Angela Lange, and assistant city clerk/treasurer Becky Makovec.

When Marion Mayor Mary Olson made the motion to accept Soyez's resignation, there was an audible gasp from the thinned crowd.

It was standing room only when the council meeting began at 5:30 p.m. but by 9:15, when the executive sessions ended and the regular meeting reconvened, the majority of the constituents had left the building.

It was obvious to the 15 or so in the council room that something was going to happen when councilman Bill Holdeman made the motion to review each appointment separately. Stacey Collett seconded the motion and it carried, 5-0.

Olson then skipped over the appointments of city administrator and police chief and made the motion to reappoint Baldwin as city attorney. Holdeman seconded the motion and it passed, 4-1 with Collett voting against.

The other appointments followed suit with Olson making the motion and councilmen taking turns seconding the motion and passing, 5-0, except for fire chief when Collett abstained because he is a volunteer fireman.

Appointments that were approved were Lange as city clerk and court clerk, Makovec as assistant city clerk and city treasurer, Mike Regnier as fire chief, and Bryson Mills as municipal court judge.

Following the last appointment, Olson said the council had received a letter of resignation from Soyez. With that, Holdeman made the motion to accept the resignation, followed by Collett with a second, and the motion passed, 5-0.

Soyez will remain in the position for 10 days or until the next city council meeting May 7.

Olson then made the motion to table the decision regarding the re-appointment of Mayfield until the May 7 meeting, Collett seconded, and the motion carried, 5-0.

Soyez was contacted Tuesday morning for comment. The only comment he made was that he was willing to remain in the position for a couple of weeks to give the city sufficient time to appoint an interim police chief.

Quantcast