New GM not well-liked in former post

Attached are three articles by news reporter John Aguilar of the Daily Camera of Boulder, Colorado regarding Hot Spring Village’s in coming general manager Scott Randall. Aguilar’s writing is able to give a glimpse into Randall’s trouble’s back in Superior, Colorado.
Superior town manager leaves job over 'personality conflict'
By John Aguilar, Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 09/29/2010 12:46:49 PM MDT
A "personality conflict" was at the heart of Superior Town Manager Scott Randall's departure from his post this week, according to the mayor.
Randall, who had been the town's manager since February 2007, entered into a separation agreement with trustees Monday night after meeting with the board in a closed-door executive session.
Mayor Andrew Muckle described the departure as "mutually agreed upon" by Randall and the town's elected leaders.
"Like most things, there was a personality conflict," Muckle said. "His style was very matter-of-fact and full-steam-ahead when he's on a project."
Others said the resignation was the result of months of growing dissatisfaction with the way Randall was managing the town of 12,000.
Randall, who was previously manager of Auburn Hills, Mich., couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.
Longtime resident George Kupfner said he and other Superior residents had been trying for a while to get the board to oust Randall, whom he described as curt and short when dealing with the public.
"We wanted somebody in here who is not pushing us around," Kupfner said.
Trustee Elia Gourgouris said he was not allowed to speak at length about Randall's departure, but he said it's not unusual for there to be turnover in the town manager position.
"It's a high-pressure job with a lot of demands, and after a few years sometimes it's time to part ways," he said.
Former Town Manager Bruce Williams, who preceded Randall, held the post for 15 years. He was dismissed in August 2006 by trustees seeking a "different direction."
Williams died in a car crash five months later.
Muckle said some of the new trustees elected in April -- in addition to existing members of the board -- didn't get along with Randall. The board voted 6-1 to pass the separation agreement with Randall, who will receive nine months of his $126,000 annual salary plus health benefits for that time period.
The mayor said he cast the lone dissenting vote.
"Scott was a really highly qualified town manager," Muckle said.
He said Randall helped stabilize the town's finances and attracted economic development.
Several other trustees reached by the Camera deferred comment on the matter to the mayor.
Steve Smith, outgoing president of the 2,800-home Rock Creek Homeowners Association, said Wednesday that Randall was "not well-received" by the community.
"The treatment we got as citizens was horrendous," he said. "He was very bullying, very condescending -- he treated people like they were beneath him."
He cited Randall's efforts to take over Rock Creek's garbage contract with the Rock Creek HOA as one example of the town manager's bad leadership.
Matt Magley, Superior's assistant town manager, will take over as acting town manager while trustees figure out how to find a replacement for Randall.
Superior sacks town manager after 'separation agreement' falls apart
By John Aguilar Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 10/11/2010 10:24:34 PM MDT
SUPERIOR -- Two weeks after the town of Superior and its manager spelled out the terms of his departure from his leadership post, the Board of Trustees voted Monday night to fire him.
The board voted 5-2 to terminate Scott Randall -- who had served as Superior's town manager since early 2007 -- after meeting for nearly an hour in executive session.
Acting Town Manager Matt Magley said the board withdrew the separation agreement it voted to approve Sept. 27 with Randall because "the final terms couldn't be agreed on."
Though the board had approved that agreement, it hadn't been signed by all parties, Magley said.
"It's not fully executed until it is signed by the town and Mr. Randall," he said.
Magley didn't know whether the agreement fell apart because of objections registered by Randall or the board.
The agreement two weeks ago had called for Randall to receive nine months of his $126,000 annual salary plus health benefits for that time period.
It is not clear what compensation or benefits Randall will receive as the result of being fired, but those terms are spelled out in his contract. Magley said he didn't have access to personnel records after hours.
Mayor Andrew Muckle and Trustee Joe Cirelli cast the two dissenting votes Monday night.
Trustees leaving Town Hall after the vote declined to comment.
Several residents told the Camera last month that they had pushed for Randall's departure because of his abrasive nature. The mayor said a "personality conflict" contributed to Randall's exit.
Randall was not present for the vote Monday.
Three-year manager Scott Randall to receive $94,500 in a lump sum after being fired
By John Aguilar Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 10/12/2010 09:23:14 PM MDT
Several residents of Superior said Tuesday the town should be more careful hammering out contracts with its high-level employees after it was revealed that former Town Manager Scott Randall will receive nine months' worth of pay and benefits for being fired.
The Board of Trustees terminated Randall in a 5-2 vote Monday after negotiations broke down over the terms of a "separation agreement" drafted two weeks ago.
His compensation and benefits package is nearly identical to the one he would have received under the separation agreement -- nine months' worth of his $126,000 annual salary and health and life insurance coverage for the same period of time.
Acting Town Manager Matt Magley said Randall's contract stipulates that he receive his compensation -- equal to $94,500 -- in a lump sum as opposed to being paid over time, as proposed in the original agreement that was scuttled Monday after both sides couldn't agree to terms.
Rochelle Rittmaster, a 10-year resident of Superior and a member of its planning commission, said she had never heard of a fired private-sector employee getting such a generous farewell.
"I would ask the town to be more prudent with pay and fringe benefits in the future," she said. "Nine months of pay for 3 1/2 years of service is a very generous package and not in line with the common experience of residents here."
At the same time, she said, there's not much the town can do given that Randall's payout is spelled out in his contract.
"Good for him," Rittmaster said. "He negotiated a very lucrative package."
George Kupfner, who has lived in Superior most of his life, said he had never seen eye-to-eye with Randall since he was hired by the town in February 2007. He helped push for Randall's ouster, claiming that the town manager treated residents rudely and curtly. Kupfner said the town shouldn't be spending so much taxpayer money to get rid of its town manager.
"I don't think it's fair to the people to just hand someone a satchel of money," he said.
Attempts to reach Randall on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Mayor Andrew Muckle, who was one of two members of the board to vote against firing Randall, said the trustees will undoubtedly take a close look at the termination clause in the contract for the next town manager.
"I'm certain it's going to be a discussion point," he said.
He said compensation for municipal executives is usually determined through a comparison of pay rates for comparable positions in area towns and cities. But other portions of the contract -- such as the terms of termination -- are negotiable, Muckle said.
He said his impression is that termination packages for town managers are generous because turnover in the position is high, and the jobs are competitive.
Steve Smith, outgoing president of the Rock Creek Homeowners Association, said Superior's residents will be paying the consequences of "a poor contract negotiation."
Smith, who clashed with Randall over the last several years, said he has faith that Superior's current board will be more careful before finalizing a contract with Randall's successor.
"I think the board is far more diligent than it has been in the past," he said.