City council hires and fires city manager; speculation on residency

For the fourth time in seven years, the City of Guthrie will be searching for a city manager after the city council unanimously agreed to terminate City Manager Bruce Johnson late Tuesday night.

Vice Mayor John Wood made the motion by saying, “I move that the city manager be terminated for cause and breach of contract.” Council member Brian Bothroyd made a quick second. After no discussion, six yes votes were cast by council members Wood, Bothroyd, Sharyl Padgett, Jeff Taylor, Ed Wood and Mayor Steve Gentling (watch the video). Councilman Z Thomas sat in the executive session, but left prior to the final vote.

The same seven council members selected Johnson to the top City position just 13 months ago.

Following the Sept. 6 council meeting, which Johnson shared stern sentiments toward the council’s commitment to the upcoming budget and capital improvements during the council meeting (watch the video), speculation began to center around Johnson’s residency.

According to the contract between the City and Johnson, section 14 states “employee agrees to maintain a residence within the Guthrie city limits within six months and maintain during the term of his employment.”

The contract was dated and signed on March 1, 2016. Online records through the Logan County Assessor’s Office do not show a residence for Johnson in the county.

In the nine page contract, the employer agreed to pay an amount not to exceed $5,000 for expenses associated with moving from Tulsa to Guthrie. Related article: City council extends contract with City Manager Bruce Johnson

City officials did not elaborate on the cause for termination.

“It’s a personnel matter,” City Attorney Randel Shadid said. “He was terminated for cause and breach of contract. That’s all we can say about it.”

City council will now seek to find an interim city manager. That announcement could come as early as Friday.

During the executive session, City Clerk Kim Biggs was asked to join the council members and remained in the conference room for several minutes. Out of executive session, the council approved (6-0) the budget for fiscal year 2017 with Biggs receiving a “five percent pay raise and discuss a commensurate pay raise for reflected change in job duties.”

Former City Clerk Wanda Calvert served as the interim city manager between the tenures of Matt Mueller and Sereniah Breland.

With the termination of Johnson, the City has seen seven city managers in 16 years not including interim city managers. Dating back to 1990, Glen Hayes (2003-07) has served the longest tenure by serving three years, six months and 29 days.

Johnson served 13 months and 19 days. Only other city managers to serve less time since 1990 was Steve Beck, Joseph Portugal and James Bishop.

During Johnson’s tenure in Guthrie, he helped negotiate a settlement in the 10-plus year lawsuit with Rural Water District No. 1 as well as help pass a three-quarter cent capital improvement city sales tax, which the City had not seen in decades (1979).