LAKEPORT ? The Lakeport city manager who has been on military leave for more than a year resigned Thursday because he”s unsure when he”ll be released from his duties and the hospital.
Jerry Gillham intended to return to Lakeport, but remains on active duty in a military hospital recovering from injuries he received in late 2008 in Iraq, according to a city press release. Lakeport has accepted his resignation.
The city will give Gillham $20,000 and a vehicle valued at $14,805 for severance pay, according to the city. Gillham”s term would have ended in September 2010.
“This amount is less than the stated severance amount that would normally be owed in Mr. Gillham”s existing contract,” the city reported. “The amount of severance was agreed to after negotiations, and is based upon what the city can afford and Gillham”s interest in not placing the city in a worsened economic position.”
The city hired Gillham as the city manager in May 2007, according to the release. The Army National Guard activated and deployed Gillham in summer 2008.
“Gillham returned to the United States as a wounded warrior after being injured in Iraq in late 2008,” according to the release.
Doctors thought Gillham might have recovered months ago, but his recovery has been slower than expected, the city reported. At that time Gillham and the city started discussing his resignation.
“Mr. Gillham has made it clear throughout the process that he would like to return to the city of Lakeport, but did not want to leave the city without a permanent city manager with so much uncertainty regarding his hoped-for return,” according to the release.
The city will immediately advertise and recruit for a permanent replacement, according to the release.
“The city of Lakeport would like to thank Mr. Gillham for his service to the city and to our nation, and we wish him a full recovery from his injuries,” the city reported.
