COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach has voiced opposition over Memorial Health System's decision to grant outgoing CEO Dr. Larry McEvoy a separation agreement totaling more than $1.1 million.
According to a letter Bach sent to City Council President Scott Hente, McEvoy's 18-month severance of more than $1 million, plus other separation agreements, violates his employment agreement of a six-month severance.
Bach also said in the letter that city council has had a longstanding policy that senior managers in city government shall get no more than six months of severance.
Memorial's Board of Trustees has given preliminary approval to McEvoy's separation agreement. He agreed to step down last week.
In Bach's letter to Hente, which was released by city officials over the weekend, he asks Hente to contact the board to put a hold on the agreement, as well as conduct as session to help "give the board direction" on the issue.
Bach goes on to say that if the board does not reply with council's request, then he wants council to terminate the entire board, act as the board themselves and reduce the severance to no more than six months.
"It is essential to the success of our City that Council and I do everything possible to rebuild citizens' trust in our municipal government," Bach states in his letter. "Council's swift, resolute action on this matter is important toward that end. While I understand that MHS reports through its Board to Council, not to the Mayor, my thanks to your colleagues and you for considering my counsel.
The hospital board has agreed to meet privately Monday afternoon to discuss the issue.
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