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Employee appealing termination urges council to review his case; council schedules May 5 executive-session hearing
Summary
An employee who said he was terminated by text asked the Clay City Council for a full review; the council agreed to schedule an executive-session disciplinary hearing for May 5 and directed staff to distribute the backup packet in advance.
Hunter Marola, who identified himself during public comment, told the Clay City Council he is the employee appealing a termination and asked the council to consider the context before reaching a decision.
"I was terminated over a text message on my day off," Marola said during the public-comment period. He told the council that another employee had pulled a gun on a colleague and was allowed to resign rather than be terminated; Marola said he did not understand why his circumstances were treated differently.
Councilors discussed the timetable and procedure for an appeal hearing. Legal staff and the clerk clarified procedural requirements for executive-session hearings and decision deadlines: the council has 10 days after the hearing to render a decision, and a hearing scheduled in executive session may be appropriate unless the employee elects otherwise. The council discussed holding the hearing on May 5 at 7 p.m.; staff said the packet of backup materials that led to the charge would be provided to council members no later than next Tuesday.
The council did not take a public vote on the personnel merits; instead it set the procedural schedule and required staff to assemble and distribute the relevant documents. Members repeatedly noted that the hearing itself is likely to occur in executive session and that any final decision will be announced in public session in keeping with applicable law.
What happens next: staff/legal will circulate the backup packet to council members by the next Tuesday so members can review materials ahead of the May 5 hearing; the council expects to render a decision within 10 days after that hearing.
