Lansing mayor defends $160K payout for former city attorney

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Lansing’s mayor is defending his handling of a separation agreement with a former city attorney who left her job last month with payout of more than $160,000.

Mayor Virg Bernero, who’s up for re-election next year, offered a challenge Tuesday to taxpayers who are frustrated with a lack of transparency over the agreement, The Lansing State Journal (https://on.lsj.com/22c3QmU ) reported.

“If you think I messed up here, there will be an election and you can vote against me,” Bernero said during an editorial board meeting with the newspaper. “I’m telling you, I did what was in the best interests of the city.”

On Feb. 25, Bernero signed a separation agreement with former City Attorney Janene McIntyre in which she received payments of about $127,567 and $33,095.

Despite pressure from city officials and the public, Bernero and McIntyre have repeatedly declined to comment on why McIntyre left her job.

Bernero on Tuesday described the separation agreement as “poor politics, but good business.” He added that it’s not uncommon for Lansing to have “personnel matters.”

“This is a high profile one, so I understand your interest,” Bernero said of McIntyre’s departure. “But I can tell you we have a lot of personnel matters and some that are settled for higher amounts than this that you don’t ask about — or I guess that you don’t know about.”

The City Council, which didn’t see or vote on the settlement agreement before it was signed, plans to discuss a potential ordinance that would require its approval for all separation agreements over $50,000.

The separation agreement between McIntyre and the city of Lansing included pledges from both parties not to take legal action against each other and a non-disparagement clause that includes a $10,000 financial penalty for any communication that could damage the other side’s reputation and “goodwill.”

Bernero appointed McIntyre as city attorney in 2013.

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Information from: Lansing State Journal, https://www.lansingstatejournal.com