Just a few days after the Arroyo Grande City Council authorized city staff to negotiate with former City Manager Steve Adams regarding his request for severance pay, both parties have come to a resolution.
Interim City Manager Bob McFall announced at the council’s Jan. 27 meeting that the council has agreed to pay Adams $71,073 in severance—equal to about four months’ pay plus benefits.
Adams had initially requested a severance package of six months’ pay plus benefits—or roughly $107,000—in a letter sent by his attorney to City Attorney Tim Carmel on Dec. 29. In the letter, Adams’ attorney said he would consider filing a lawsuit if the city denied the request.
“It was an efficient negotiating process, and all parties were interested in bringing it to a rational and reasonable conclusion,” McFall told New Times. “We all want to do what’s right for the community.”
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 5, 2015.