By Clark Natalie

In a special meeting on Thursday May 11, Kim Hugger and her attorney, Teresa Ayling, listened to the Harris City Council pass a motion to terminate her employment. The only council member not voting to dismiss Hugger as an employee was Councilman Wayne Buisman.

Mayor Rick Smisson opened the meeting with a review of some of what he called factual allegations against Hugger. Most dealt with Huggerís ability to complete the tasks assigned to her, her willingness to learn new systems that had been implemented, and her follow up on issues the council felt were important.

Smisson said former councilman Dan Walton, along with sitting council members Doug Chaffee and Kathy Olson had spoken to Smisson about how Hugger was complaining to them about being overworked.

Smisson reiterated things he had said about Huggerís work at a special meeting May 5. Councilwoman Olson talked about what she had observed on one day and other issues.

Huggerís attorney requested that Hugger be allowed to respond to new allegations that were being made against her.

The mayor pointed out that these were not new allegations, but a summary of the ìfactual allegationsî that had been made at a prior employment status review meeting.

Ayling then pointed out specific allegations that had not been made before, and not been provided to Hugger or herself.

Smisson said input on the issue had been closed at the prior meeting, that the record stands and there was no purpose to open it again.

The council then was presented with a motion that Hugger ìbe dismissed as an employee immediately after being given a written copy of the findings.î During discussion Buisman was concerned about the lack of progressive discipline as laid out in the cityís policies. City Attorney Peter Grundhoefer said the council has the authority to terminate employment and stepped-up discipline need not be done first.

Hugger was then given an opportunity to respond. Hugger indicated that no council member had ever discussed her performance with her, only the mayor. That when Excel and QuickBooks were implemented, no offer of training was made and she was never asked to look into any other training except what the mayor had done.

The council then voted and the motion passed 4-0, Buisman abstained.