Henderson city manager’s possible firing and replacement on agenda

Any lingering questions about Mary Kay Peck's future as Henderson city manager should be answered soon.

On Tuesday, City Council members are scheduled to vote on whether to fire Peck and name someone to replace her.

The two action items appear at the end of the agenda for next week's meeting, which was released by the city Wednesday morning.

City spokeswoman Cindy Herman said the agenda item concerning Peck's "employment status" gives City Council members "an infinite number of possibilities" to consider on Tuesday. They can vote to fire Peck with cause or without, place her on administrative leave, approve a severance agreement if there is one, or accept her resignation if she submits one.

Herman said the second agenda item simply gives the council the ability to appoint a replacement for Peck right away if necessary "so the top position in the organization doesn't remain vacant."

"I still don't understand the rush to judgment," said attorney Norman Kirshman, who represents Peck.

City officials have declined to say what is prompting the action.

The City Council appointed Peck as Henderson's first female city manager in October 2007. She has been on paid leave since mid-March, when she agreed to take 30 days off and not have any contact with city employees while she was gone.

No potential successor has been named. Assistant City Manager Mark Calhoun has been filling in for Peck during her absence.

Kirshman said his client still wants to go back to work for the city. He added that he and Peck are scheduled to meet today with an attorney for the city in "an attempt to resolve this thing."

"If the city's position doesn't change, it could be very expensive for them," said Kirshman, who previously suggested that if Peck were fired the city would owe her the pay and benefits she would have made over the final 18 months of her contract.

According to city records, Peck draws a base salary of $225,000 a year.

Kirshman dismissed the possibility of his client being fired with cause, the very threat of which he considers a "negotiating ploy" by the city.

"I've been doing this longer than I care to admit, and I can tell you they don't have any cause. They don't come close," he said.

Peck is due to return to work on April 15, assuming she still has a job.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.