Compton City Manager Charles Evans fired
Emily Henry | 9-8-2010 | Comments |
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When Compton city council members returned from closed session last night at 1:38 am, they announced the decision to fire City Manager Charles Evans and replace him with City Controller Willie Norfleet. Agenda items 15 and 16 were listed as the "discipline/dismissal/release" of a public employee and the appointment of a new city manager.
The sudden re-organization, however, is not unfamiliar territory for the Compton City Council. In June 2007, Evans' predecessor former City Manager Barbara Kilroy was also unanimously voted out of a job.
Evans — a Compton native —was officially appointed as city manager in July 2008 after a year serving as interim city manager. His career at City Hall spanned 28 years, beginning in the Risk Management office until he was promoted to assistant city manager in September 2004.
Compton residents attending council meetings have complained of Evans' lack of action with regard to tasks appointed by the council or requests made by members of the public. Compton resident Robert Ray says the decision to fire Evans may have been due to a personal vendetta on Mayor Eric Perrodin's part.
"It is a habit with Perrodin that if he doesn't like the city manager, [he will] fire him/her," wrote Ray on HubCityLivin,com. "In this case, it is going to cost the city a ton of money as they have to buy out his contract and also give him his full retirement. If he gets fired he will probably get more money than he is while employed. As to whether this move would help the city, I have my doubts."
More information on this story will be published here as it becomes available.