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Councilwoman weighs in on manager's firing
Thelma Grimes /San Pedro Valley News-Sun
When Benson City Councilwoman Lori McGoffin asked for the council to discuss former City Manager Martin Roush's contract on July 28, she said she never intended to terminate him.
McGoffin, in her third year on the council, said she had the issue put on the agenda because she wanted to discuss Roush's public relations issues and his temper.
"I have been trying to defend him for the last six months," she said. "When people have complained, I tell them I know he's arrogant, I know he has an ego, but he is working hard. I just wanted to discuss the issues, but it was what he did before the meeting that helped me decide."
McGoffin said Roush began what she described as a smear campaign, by telling people she wanted him fired because her husband, Troy McGoffin, didn't get a big enough salary increase with his promotion.
Roush said despite the accusations and being terminated he will not comment on McGoffin's statements and doesn't feel comfortable talking about an elected official.
Benson Police Chief Glenn Nichols, who is also the interim city manager, promoted McGoffin to police corporal.
McGoffin, who has served on the Benson Police Department for nearly 20 years, received a smaller pay increase than two other members of the department who also received promotions.
City Finance Director Jim Cox said McGoffin's hourly wages went from $28.12 an hour to $28.55 an hour, an increase of 2 percent.
Cox explained that McGoffin's salary has reached the maximum range in the department and he cannot exceed that salary range for that position.
Paul Moncada, also a longtime member of the department, was promoted to administrative corporal, and received a 5 percent increase, and Brian Williams was promoted to police corporal, which came with a 5 percent increase as well.
Councilwoman McGoffin said the increases are not an issue, and in being the deciding vote to terminate Roush, she doesn't feel she has violated state conflict of interest laws.
"When I realized there was a problem, I called the city attorney and asked what the best way to handle the situation would be," McGoffin said. "He advised me to put it on the agenda and discuss it in an executive session. He said I could vote on it, because it doesn't affect me financially. "
City Attorney Thomas Benavidez agreed that in her voting to terminate Roush she did not gain her anything financially.
"Generally, the law is concerned with financial or ownership interests, not sympathy or bias," he said. "In other words, for a councilmember to have a conflict of interest under the law, he or she, or a family member would have to have a financial interest in the city manager's contract. Mere speculation regarding the individual's interest defines a contingent or remote interest, which is not covered by the conflict of interest statute."
Councilwoman McGoffin said her husband's salary situation is not going to change because Roush is no longer serving as city manager. Joking, McGoffin said the situation may even get worse now that she is Nichols' direct supervisor.
"For me to be my husband's boss's boss," she said. "You never know what's going to happen."
Getting serious, though, McGoffin said beside Roush's tendency to create drama at City Hall and throughout the city, she couldn't believe the number of phone calls and people who urged her to fire him before the meeting.
While not mentioning names, McGoffin said a man involved in city business spoke with her for two hours about Roush's inability to manage a city. The council member noted that the man brought documentation to show her why not.
"With so many people speaking up on the issue, and after I gave it a lot of thought, I think the decision I made is the right one," McGoffin said.
McGoffin said she would have sided with Mayor Mark Fenn, Vice Mayor Toney King and Councilman Al Sacco before July 28, but she was nervous that the city would have a problem finding a new city manager.
Fenn, King and Sacco said months ago that they had no confidence in Roush. With Council members John Lodzinski, Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton supporting Roush, McGoffin was always the deciding vote.
Roush left the city making nearly $120,000 a year. McGoffin said at that price she is comfortable with the city's ability to find a new city manager that will be a better fit than Roush.
Benson's salary range is a lot higher than other municipalities of similar size. The city of Willcox started advertising for a new manager with the starting salary set at $65,000.
In terminating Roush, despite objections from Suagee who wanted to pay more, the council voted on a three-month severance package.
With his accrued vacation time, Cox said Roush received a $40,298 check on July 29. Roush had the option to be paid over time or in one lump sum.
Cox said Roush will receive the city's health benefits through Oct. 31.
Chief Nichols is not receiving extra pay to act as city manager at this time.
When Benson City Councilwoman Lori McGoffin asked for the council to discuss former City Manager Martin Roush's contract on July 28, she said she never intended to terminate him.
McGoffin, in her third year on the council, said she had the issue put on the agenda because she wanted to discuss Roush's public relations issues and his temper.
"I have been trying to defend him for the last six months," she said. "When people have complained, I tell them I know he's arrogant, I know he has an ego, but he is working hard. I just wanted to discuss the issues, but it was what he did before the meeting that helped me decide."
McGoffin said Roush began what she described as a smear campaign, by telling people she wanted him fired because her husband, Troy McGoffin, didn't get a big enough salary increase with his promotion.
Roush said despite the accusations and being terminated he will not comment on McGoffin's statements and doesn't feel comfortable talking about an elected official.
Benson Police Chief Glenn Nichols, who is also the interim city manager, promoted McGoffin to police corporal.
McGoffin, who has served on the Benson Police Department for nearly 20 years, received a smaller pay increase than two other members of the department who also received promotions.
City Finance Director Jim Cox said McGoffin's hourly wages went from $28.12 an hour to $28.55 an hour, an increase of 2 percent.
Cox explained that McGoffin's salary has reached the maximum range in the department and he cannot exceed that salary range for that position.
Paul Moncada, also a longtime member of the department, was promoted to administrative corporal, and received a 5 percent increase, and Brian Williams was promoted to police corporal, which came with a 5 percent increase as well.
Councilwoman McGoffin said the increases are not an issue, and in being the deciding vote to terminate Roush, she doesn't feel she has violated state conflict of interest laws.
"When I realized there was a problem, I called the city attorney and asked what the best way to handle the situation would be," McGoffin said. "He advised me to put it on the agenda and discuss it in an executive session. He said I could vote on it, because it doesn't affect me financially. "
City Attorney Thomas Benavidez agreed that in her voting to terminate Roush she did not gain her anything financially.
"Generally, the law is concerned with financial or ownership interests, not sympathy or bias," he said. "In other words, for a councilmember to have a conflict of interest under the law, he or she, or a family member would have to have a financial interest in the city manager's contract. Mere speculation regarding the individual's interest defines a contingent or remote interest, which is not covered by the conflict of interest statute."
Councilwoman McGoffin said her husband's salary situation is not going to change because Roush is no longer serving as city manager. Joking, McGoffin said the situation may even get worse now that she is Nichols' direct supervisor.
"For me to be my husband's boss's boss," she said. "You never know what's going to happen."
Getting serious, though, McGoffin said beside Roush's tendency to create drama at City Hall and throughout the city, she couldn't believe the number of phone calls and people who urged her to fire him before the meeting.
While not mentioning names, McGoffin said a man involved in city business spoke with her for two hours about Roush's inability to manage a city. The council member noted that the man brought documentation to show her why not.
"With so many people speaking up on the issue, and after I gave it a lot of thought, I think the decision I made is the right one," McGoffin said.
McGoffin said she would have sided with Mayor Mark Fenn, Vice Mayor Toney King and Councilman Al Sacco before July 28, but she was nervous that the city would have a problem finding a new city manager.
Fenn, King and Sacco said months ago that they had no confidence in Roush. With Council members John Lodzinski, Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton supporting Roush, McGoffin was always the deciding vote.
Roush left the city making nearly $120,000 a year. McGoffin said at that price she is comfortable with the city's ability to find a new city manager that will be a better fit than Roush.
Benson's salary range is a lot higher than other municipalities of similar size. The city of Willcox started advertising for a new manager with the starting salary set at $65,000.
In terminating Roush, despite objections from Suagee who wanted to pay more, the council voted on a three-month severance package.
With his accrued vacation time, Cox said Roush received a $40,298 check on July 29. Roush had the option to be paid over time or in one lump sum.
Cox said Roush will receive the city's health benefits through Oct. 31.
Chief Nichols is not receiving extra pay to act as city manager at this time.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
cindy wrote on Aug 20, 2008 7:54 PM:
" Mcgoffin said that Roush began a smear campaign, is she sure that is true? Did she ask Roush if he had said anything negative about her? If not, does she always make decisions based on rumors and/or lies? If so, that doesn't seem to be very responsible or professional. "
jeff wrote on Aug 20, 2008 8:52 PM:
" Hasn't McGoffin gained financially, in the past, by being a council member and voting to give her husband a raise? Didn't SHE gain financially, or does she and her husband keep their money separate? Maybe she didn't gain anything financially be firing Mr Roush, but it seems to me she has some ethical issues in regard to her being a council member. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all vote on whether or not to give our wife or husband a raise? "
a voter wrote on Aug 20, 2008 9:17 PM:
" I will definitely not be voting to re-elect Lori McGoffin. I don't think she is a good representative of Benson, mostly because of a comment she made about being "nervous". She said she would have fired Roush, "before July 28, but she was nervous that the city would have a problem finding a new city manager". Can Benson really afford to have a council person who's too nervous to do their job. If Roush needed to be fired before July 28, then she should have done her job and fired him.
I think she should resign so we can get someone on council who will represent Benson in a professional manner and not be an embarrassment. "
I think she should resign so we can get someone on council who will represent Benson in a professional manner and not be an embarrassment. "
winter-visitor wrote on Aug 23, 2008 6:31 PM:
" Is being nervous the reason L. knits during some council meetings? "
TKR wrote on Aug 23, 2008 7:15 PM:
" Hey have any of you that have made comments about McGoffin, ever been to a council meeting. You are all upset about comments made in this article but have you watched her respond to issues or vote on things for the city. I have been attending meetings for several months now and I have yet to see Lori NOT represent our city. Keep working Lori, we have a long way to go still. "
concerned citizen wrote on Aug 20, 2008 7:16 PM:
It seems to me that Mrs. McGoffin has contradicted herself in the interview. She first stated that she had no intention of terminating Mr. Roush and that she had been defending him for the last six months. She then states that he did something right before the meeting, which helped her decide to terminate him. Yet later, she states that she had wanted to fire Mr. Roush since before July 28. So, Mrs. McGoffin, which is it?
Do you even know what the definition of honesty is? How can you expect anyone to trust you, given YOUR history? You are a JOKE!!!! "