Cda Council Fires Top City Administrator Ken Thompson Will Get $100,000 In Severance Pay

City Hall’s top administrator is out of a job after being ousted by the City Council during a three-hour closed-door meeting.

Ken Thompson, Coeur d’Alene’s city administrator for eight years, will get a $100,000 severance package, covering his $76,374 salary and benefits. His termination, approved by the council on Tuesday night, is effective immediately.

“Change is difficult for all of us, but sometimes it’s really needed,” said Thompson, who also served for eight years as the city’s finance director. “We all left on a friendly basis.”

Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Judy refused to comment on the reason for Thompson’s termination, calling it a “mutual agreement of separation.”

He said he and Thompson “worked hard to get along with each other.”

The move was announced on the day of the first public hearing on the future of downtown Coeur d’Alene and two weeks before city employees vote on a collective bargaining agreement. Judy would not attribute either of those developments to Thompson’s termination.

“The city’s grown a tremendous amount in the 16 years Ken has been here,” Judy said. “It was time for a change.”

Thompson’s termination adds to an unprecedented list of job openings at City Hall, a place one human resources administrator says usually has a low turnover rate. There are openings for two city attorneys, the mayor’s administrative assistant, an associate planner, a survey party chief and a cemetery grounds maintenance worker.

Judy hopes to select a new city administrator through a national search in two months. Until then, Wendy Hague will fill the position. Hague has served as Thompson’s assistant for eight years.

“It’s terrifying,” Hague said Wednesday, her first day on the job. “He was very well-respected and he did a great job. His shoes are going to be difficult to fill.”

Former Mayor Al Hassell disagrees with the move to end Thompson’s contract.

“It wouldn’t happen if I were there,” Hassell said. “In my administration, I fostered people coming forward with ideas, even if they conflict with my own. I felt that always made for much better decisions for the community.”

City Council President Nancy Sue Wallace also lamented Thompson’s departure.

“I have never worked with anyone more professional in my life,” Wallace said. “I have nothing but fabulous things to say about him.”

Judy would not say what qualities he’s looking for in the next city administrator. Those criteria will be outlined largely by other city employees, he said.

He is certain that the next administrator’s contract will be for a set length of time. Thompson’s was an endless contract; it specified no date for termination or renewal.

“That’s not something we’ll do in the future,” Judy said.

As for Thompson, he’s now looking for a job in city government or another field. He said he’s most proud of his efforts to expand city parks, improve streets and build school gymnasiums for city use.

“I’ve had a real good time here,” Thompson said. “I’d like to think we made some positive changes.

“This community has been really good to me.”

Staff writer Ken Olsen contributed to this report.