Former Pooler city manager's severance agreement under review
During Pooler City Council's first meeting of the year, there was a lengthy discussion about approving the minutes from the Dec. 18 city council meeting.
The minutes from the Dec. 4 meeting, when former Pooler City Manager Robert Byrd resigned from the position he's held for 21 years, were amended during the Dec. 18 meeting, and are now under review, according to City Attorney Craig Call.
On Dec. 4, Byrd tendered his separation agreement during the executive session, which was then approved and signed by former Mayor Rebecca Benton, former councilmember Stevie Wall and current councilmember John Wilcher. The agreement defined the terms of Byrd's severance, which includes him receiving his $254,744.11 for the next two years. His final day was Dec. 31, 2023. This agreement, specifically, is what is now under review.
Newly-elected Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Higgins attempted to postpone, (until the next meeting), the approval of the meeting minutes from the Dec. 18 meeting, but new members Michae'l Carpenter, Wesley Bashlor and Tom Hutcherson were not present for that meeting, and had to abstain from voting. This left only Higgins, and councilmembers Shannon Valim and John Wilcher able to vote. The motion failed the first time, with no second from Valim or Wilcher, who were confused about why the approval was being postponed.
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Valim motioned for the minutes to be approved, with a second from Wilcher, but the vote failed because Higgins voted nay.
Attorney Craig Call recommended the minutes not be approved until after the review process was complete. Valim asked why Wilcher, Hutcherson and Bashlor couldn't vote to approve the minutes or not, given that they were in the executive session on Jan. 11 when the council gave Call permission to review the agreement. Call said "they were not present for these meetings" and "it's two completely separate issues."
Since both votes failed, the issue will be addressed at a next meeting, and will be on the agenda until the review is the complete and the meeting minutes can be approved.
Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Former Pooler city manager's severance agreement under review
