Granite Shoals city manager fired after citizens’ complaints
GRANITE SHOALS — City council members have terminated the employment of City Manager Judy Miller and voted against a contract renewal following a string of citizens’ complaints.
“This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision,” said Granite Shoals Mayor Dennis Maier of the decision at a special meeting Jan. 3.
In May, Miller came under fire at council meetings by citizens who accused her of being uncooperative, inaccessible and creating an adversarial environment among city volunteers.
During the January special meeting, council members approved honoring the pay and benefits of Miller’s contract through Feb. 7.
Miller was asked to “immediately surrender” all city keys, equipment and resources by 5 p.m. Jan. 15, according to the termination letter obtained by The Picayune on Jan. 8.
Miller’s salary was about $86,000, plus medical benefits.
“We were required by her contract to inform her whether we were going to extend, renew or terminate,” Maier said. “We informed here we intended to terminate her contract at the end of its completion.”
Maier added he could not comment on the specifics of the personnel matter.
Director of Finance and Assistant City Manager Ken Nickel was appointed acting city manager by the council. Nickel has been with the city since December 2010.
“In the past, we’ve gone out and had a temporary city manager come in,” Nickel said. “We’ll do a search for a permanent replacement.”
Miller was hired by the Granite Shoals council in January 2011.
In April 2009, Miller announced her sudden retirement as the Marble Falls city manager after a lengthy closed-door session during a council meeting.
Attempts to reach Miller by phone were unsuccessful.
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