Offering only vague explanations, the Clark County council voted on Friday in a hastily arranged and emotion-laden meeting to terminate County Manager Mark McCauley.
In a unanimous vote, the council voted to not renew McCauley’s contract, which runs until December. In a subsequent vote, the council voted 4-1 to immediately terminate him and appoint Deputy County Manager Bob Stevens as acting county manager. Councilor Jeanne Stewart, citing hesitations about succession and an “abrupt end” to McCauley’s tenure, voted against the motion.
Council Chair Marc Boldt allowed no public comment. The hearing room was overflowing with spectators. Members of the council expressed their gratitude to McCauley, 61, and gave no specific reasons for his termination, only describing an unspecified desire for a change in “direction.”
“The council participated in a long and thorough evaluation process and, as a result of that process, I believe it’s in the best interest long-term for the county that we move in a different direction with regard to management and leadership,” said Councilor Julie Olson, who teared up as she thanked McCauley for his leadership during a “difficult period.”
Boldt noted the council didn’t take the action lightly and said that “We will really have limited specific information going forward.”
After the meeting, Boldt declined to give further details but said the council based its decision on the last two performance reviews of McCauley, which occurred during executive session, a closed-door meeting where councilors can discuss personnel matters.
“I have no idea what happened,” McCauley said of his dismissal. “Someone got to (the council) and assassinated my character.”
McCauley said that he will “be anxious to see the direction (the councilors) are intent on pursuing.” He hasn’t retained a lawyer, he said, and is looking for a job. He said that he will spend the weekend with his family.
McCauley confirmed that he made a now-deleted post to a Facebook page that’s centered on Clark County politics.
“The reasons for my dismissal were trumped up and made illegally in an executive session by Marc Boldt, with the others sitting idly by, rather than in an open public meeting,” the post read. “As is typical with Marc discerning the reasons for his actions and deciphering his language is tough if not impossible. A kangaroo court has found its victim!”
In June of last year, the council made McCauley, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who first came to work for the county in 2001 as a finance manager, the first county manager under Clark County’s Home Rule Charter, which was passed by voters in 2014.
McCauley, who received an annual salary of $169,460 and is entitled to six months of severance pay under his contract, came to the position as the county grappled with implementing the charter, which critics have said gives too much executive power to an unelected official. As manager, McCauley crafted the county’s first budget under the charter, launched an effort to improve employee morale and clashed with former Councilors David Madore, who lost re-election last year, and Tom Mielke, who retired.
McCauley’s contract required either party to give notice in June if they intended not to renew it. Boldt explained that members of the council would be traveling next week and wanted to promptly resolve the contract. Boldt said that he initially thought the meeting would be in executive session so he told CVTV, which broadcasts council hearings, to not come. When he realized the meeting wouldn’t be in executive session, he said he told CVTV to come, but there wasn’t enough time to broadcast it so it will be posted online later.
The affection between McCauley and the county workforce was on full display on his last day of work. In a heartfelt farewell email sent to county staff, McCauley praised county employees for their dedication, professionalism and grace.
“Thank you for making the workforce side of my job a pleasure,” he wrote. “Thank you for your friendship. I will hold dear my time with you and all you have done for me, taught me and given me.”
After the meeting, county employees, elected officials and other community members formed a long line to hug
McCauley and express their good wishes. Holley Gilbert, the county’s public information officer, placed a box of tissues next to McCauley as he teared up.
As McCauley said his goodbyes, Sam Kim, county chief information officer, said that so many county employees were responding to his farewell email that it was slowing down the county network.
“This is one IT incident we’re not going to stop,” Kim said.
