Walker will get severance pay, benefits

By Jimmy LaRoue

Published: May 29, 2008

City Manager Doug Walker will walk away from his job next month with a lump-sum payment covering a half-year’s salary, benefits and deferred compensation under the contract originally negotiated after his hiring five years ago.
Walker, whose resignation has kindled controversy in the city, is paid $125,000 annually. His last day is June 30.
The contract stipulates that Walker receive the severance pay if he is either fired or asked to quit by the City Council. Councilman Tim Williams told Walker earlier this month that he could either resign or be fired after a new majority takes over the council July 1.
Lucente to declined comment on whether he gave Walker other options in lieu of resigning by July 1. 
Walker’s contract also states he will receive compensation “for all earned sick leave, vacation, holidays, compensatory time and other accrued benefits to date.”
Under his contract, Walker, as a result of his forced ouster, also could accept up to $5,000 for outplacement services. His original contract, signed Nov. 20, 2002, awarded him a base salary of $105,000.
His term will end slightly more than a year under the average city manager’s term.
According to the International City/County Management Association, the average term for a city manager or county administrator is 7.2 years.
That number represents a slight increase from the 6.9-year average in a 2000 survey by the group. The average administrator or manager, ICMA found in its 2002 survey, has been in local government for 18.5 years.
Mary Jo Fields, the Virginia Municipal League’s director of research, said city managers typically leave for two reasons.
“It’s almost a forced leave, or they’ll pick up another job,” Fields said.