KANSAS CITY, MO -
Kansas City City Manager Wayne Cauthen is officially out of a job, Mayor Mark Funkhouser confirmed on Friday, but the reason for Cauthen's firing is still unclear to a lot of people, including Cauthen himself.
Cauthen himself was surprised by the news, and Cauthen's attorney said his performance reviews were positive, showing improvement in his job requirements. Add to that, Cauthen was praised for his work in bringing the Sprint Center to Kansas City in 2007.
Mayor Funkhouser and city council members had their annual luncheon to discuss the city's state legislative agenda on Friday morning at Lydia's Restaurant in the Freighthouse District, just a day after Cauthen and his staffers were kicked out of City Hall. Some council members at the luncheon say that they still don't believe that Cauthen was treated fairly.
"I don't think Mr. Cauthen was treated with respect and dignity," said council member John Sharp, one of six council members who voted against Cauthen's removal.
Some city council members claimed they learned of the vote to kick Cauthen out only five minutes before the meeting.
"The way he was terminated and escorted out of the building, as if he were a criminal, I especially take an issue with that," said council member Melba Curls.
"It may have seemed fast to people but its something I've made very clear to the public and to my colleagues on the council for two years that I've wanted to do," Funkhouser told FOX 4 News.
"Some of the people who voted with me yesterday almost never vote with me, and some of the people who voted against me almost never vote against me," said Funkhouser. "They are people who have often voted with me. This was about putting together the votes that I absolutely, to the bottom of my heart, believed needed to happen for Kansas City."
At the luncheon, Funkhouser stood by his decision to remove Cauthen.
"It was not a coup," said Funkhouser. "We did not removed a king."
"I made a decision in '07 during the negotiation process, that this was not where KC needed to go and I've never wavered, never changed my mind," said Funkhouser.
The mayor received the six city council votes needed to remove Cauthen indefinitely from office on Thursday. Minutes later Cauthen, who served as city manager for the past six years, and his staff, were all escorted out of the building, leaving the future of their jobs in the air.
Mayfor Funkhouser said Troy Schulte has been named the new city manager, and staffing will be his responsibility.
Still, Cauthen is out of a job. He will still be paid $19,000 a month, at least for the next 15 months. Kansas City will also pay the new city manager, Troy Schulte, $14,000 a month, all this in addition to the $60 million budget shortfall expected for Kansas City in 2010.
Cauthen's attorney said they are now looking into taking legal action.
Cauthen himself was surprised by the news, and Cauthen's attorney said his performance reviews were positive, showing improvement in his job requirements. Add to that, Cauthen was praised for his work in bringing the Sprint Center to Kansas City in 2007.
Mayor Funkhouser and city council members had their annual luncheon to discuss the city's state legislative agenda on Friday morning at Lydia's Restaurant in the Freighthouse District, just a day after Cauthen and his staffers were kicked out of City Hall. Some council members at the luncheon say that they still don't believe that Cauthen was treated fairly.
"I don't think Mr. Cauthen was treated with respect and dignity," said council member John Sharp, one of six council members who voted against Cauthen's removal.
Some city council members claimed they learned of the vote to kick Cauthen out only five minutes before the meeting.
"The way he was terminated and escorted out of the building, as if he were a criminal, I especially take an issue with that," said council member Melba Curls.
"It may have seemed fast to people but its something I've made very clear to the public and to my colleagues on the council for two years that I've wanted to do," Funkhouser told FOX 4 News.
"Some of the people who voted with me yesterday almost never vote with me, and some of the people who voted against me almost never vote against me," said Funkhouser. "They are people who have often voted with me. This was about putting together the votes that I absolutely, to the bottom of my heart, believed needed to happen for Kansas City."
At the luncheon, Funkhouser stood by his decision to remove Cauthen.
"It was not a coup," said Funkhouser. "We did not removed a king."
"I made a decision in '07 during the negotiation process, that this was not where KC needed to go and I've never wavered, never changed my mind," said Funkhouser.
The mayor received the six city council votes needed to remove Cauthen indefinitely from office on Thursday. Minutes later Cauthen, who served as city manager for the past six years, and his staff, were all escorted out of the building, leaving the future of their jobs in the air.
Mayfor Funkhouser said Troy Schulte has been named the new city manager, and staffing will be his responsibility.
Still, Cauthen is out of a job. He will still be paid $19,000 a month, at least for the next 15 months. Kansas City will also pay the new city manager, Troy Schulte, $14,000 a month, all this in addition to the $60 million budget shortfall expected for Kansas City in 2010.
Cauthen's attorney said they are now looking into taking legal action.
