Multiple residents and two local attorneys used the commission’s public comment period to challenge the process that led to the termination of former City Manager Vicky Gaynor and to warn of potential legal action.

Attorney Alvin Peters said the city’s “rush to judgment” in firing Gaynor was “abrupt, severe, and discriminatory,” and warned the commission that the city had been exposed to potential liability. “Your actions exposed the city to potential liability, and this matter is not going away quietly,” Peters said.

Peterson Schoon attorney Cecile Schoon told the commission Gaynor was not given notice that her employment would be discussed at the July 14 special meeting and argued the commission conducted “a perfunctory 2 or 3 witness interview” and then proceeded to terminate Gaynor without an independent investigation. “We wanna get rid of this lady right away,” Schoon said, quoting the earlier meeting record, and added that the changes Gaynor made to bid documents “benefited the city by cutting out subs.”

Why it matters: public commenters compared Gaynor’s treatment to the earlier handling of a different former city manager, Michael White, who was suspended with pay pending investigation in 2019 and allowed to resign with a severance package. Schoon argued the difference in treatment could support a disparate-treatment claim because of protected characteristics.

Related litigation updates: separately, the city attorney reported that a federal lawsuit brought by Gordon and Associates against the city was dismissed without prejudice yesterday and is likely to be refiled in state court as required by the contract’s venue clause; depositions for City Manager Lightfoot and another employee were set for late September.

Commission response and next steps: speakers asked the commission to consider due-process protections and independent investigations; commissioners did not take action during public comment. The comments were followed later by a staff legal update that identified the dismissed Gordon and Associates suit and scheduled depositions.

Ending: Commenters said they planned to pursue remedies and the commission heard criticism about its conduct; no formal action on Gaynor’s termination was taken at the meeting.