Shuler getting 11 weeks of severance pay

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City Council voted 3-2 Thursday morning to give former City Manager Bryan Shuler 11 weeks of severance pay.

The payout represents one week's pay for each year Shuler served the city.

Controversy has swirled around the question of severance pay since it became known that, when he resigned Nov. 13, Shuler was on paid administrative leave as the result of allegations of sexual harassment involving at least one female city employee.

Shuler said at the time that he was stepping down to take care of his aging parents in South Carolina and to eventually seek employment opportunities elsewhere.

Those in favor of the severance package included Mayor Myrtle Figueras, George Wangemann and Danny Dunagan, who made the motion to award Shuler 11 weeks' severance.

"Bryan served our city very well for 11 years and he did an excellent job," Dunagan said.

Those opposing the move were Ruth Bruner and Bob Hamrick.

The severance, which totals $28,520.80, does not include retirement or car allowance payment and will be paid as a lump sum.

Before Dunagan's motion, Bruner made a motion to award Shuler six months' severance, which is what was stated in Shuler's contract.

"When you give your word I think your word should mean something," Bruner said. "I think that when the council says, 'this is what we're going to do,' and it was communicated to him (Shuler) that way, my feeling is that we should do what we said we were going to do."

Bruner's motion died for lack of a second.

Following the vote, Mayor Myrtle Figueras said she felt like it was the right thing to do. "Although Mr. Shuler resigned voluntarily, he was a good City Manager and we offer this severance as a gesture of good faith," she said.