COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs City council met for a special session Tuesday to discuss Memorial Health System CEO Dr. Larry McEvoy's severance payout.
On Monday, Memorial's board of trustees held a special meeting of their own to revisit McEvoy's severance agreement.
In the end, they voted to uphold the outgoing CEO's payout, which totals more than $1 million.
Upset with the proposed severance payout for McEvoy, Mayor Steve Bach sent an email to Council President Scott Hente asking him to hold an impromptu meeting to discuss the separation package, and the board.
After almost two hours of discussion behind closed doors, city council voted in favor of a motion to remove Memorial Health System's board by Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Those who do not resign, council said they will remove.
The vote brought in applause from most of the audience.
"What I think happened is the community spoke, and it worked," Councilwoman Angela Dougan said. "I appreciate it because this is something they should be worried about."
Dougan, who has been strongly opposed to the severance deal from the beginning, said she is proud of her colleagues.
"It just gave me back trust and belief in the system, and the system works," Dougan said.
There was also a second motion by council for a legal review by the city attorney of McEvoy's term sheet and separation agreement.
"We have a lot of questions, what has already been agreed to and what are the legal ramifications of what has already been agreed to," Council President Scott Hente said. "Also, is there anything we can do, any avenues to negate whatever has been signed."
Hente said his team will be briefed on the severance in two weeks.
He added if anything, the discussion over McEvoy's payout has brought to light an important question.
"If we want to have autonomous boards, we have to look at the fact that occasionally the board is going to make a decision that is unpopular, so what is our choice going to be," Hente said.
City Council will appoint a new board on Friday at 9 a.m. during a special meeting.