Sullard leaves manager’s post ahead of schedule

Dan Kulin

Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 10:16 a.m.

Boulder City Manager John Sullard's last day on the job was supposed to be Feb. 26, but Sullard actually worked his last day at City Hall last week and is now on paid administrative leave until his official departure.

Exactly who told Sullard to take leave was unclear Thursday.

Mayor Bob Ferraro, Councilman Roger Tobler, City Attorney Dave Olsen and City Clerk Vicki Mayes, who was named interim city manager in Sullard's absence, all said they did not know who decided Sullard should take a leave of absence instead of working through the end of the month.

Sullard confirmed he was placed on administrative leave, but referred all other questions regarding his leave to Olsen.

Sullard said his last working day for the city was last week, either Wednesday or Thursday. He said he has returned to City Hall since then, but only to clear out his office.

Before leaving, Sullard named Mayes as interim city manager. Mayes said the City Council is expected to officially appoint an acting city manager on Feb. 10.

Olsen, who said he did not make the decision, said Sullard's administrative leave in part was to "enhance the integrity" of an exit audit that will ensure that Sullard has returned any city equipment he's used and that all other equipment is accounted for. The audit was part of the separation agreement the council approved last month and was suggested by Sullard so he could leave with a clean slate, Olsen said.

On Jan. 27 the council approved a "separation agreement" with Sullard, under which the city manager will receive $88,284 in severance pay. His last day on the job was supposed to be Feb. 26.

The severance pay is equal to six months of his $128,024-a-year salary plus pay for unused vacation time.

Sullard was pushed out of the job he held for more than six years by a council that said he had lost the confidence of the community and did a poor job of overseeing the city-owned Boulder Creek Golf Club.

Tobler said he thinks it's better Sullard left soon after the council vote because he wouldn't have been an effective boss as a lame-duck city manager.

Ferraro said he's OK with Sullard taking leave, but would have rather made Sullard's last day with the city the day of the vote to end his employment.