MILL CREEK — The City Council voted to remove City Manager Timothy Burns and put him on paid administrative leave until May 25.
The council unanimously passed three resolutions last week that set in motion Burns’s termination.
The first removes Burns from his job, the second places Burns on leave for a month, and the third appoints an acting city manager.
None of those resolutions details why Burns is being terminated.
The vote was made after the council reviewed the city manager’s performance during an executive session, Councilman Bart Masterson said.
The reason for putting Burns on leave was leadership issues, he said.
“We felt there was a need for a change in leadership,” he said.
Masterson declined to give more details. He described the process as “amicable.”
The city has to follow proper protocol for firing the city manager, thus the 30 days of paid leave before his termination, said Tom Gathmann, the acting city manager and public works director.
That time is set aside so Burns can make an appeal.
The city manager is selected by the City Council and is responsible for directing all city operations and projects, including the city budget. He serves as chief adviser to the City Council, makes reports and recommendations to the City Council, and implements policies.
Burns was appointed to the position in 2007. Before accepting the position, he served as the city’s public works director.
He is a retired U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer.
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