Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

City manager claims job is in jeopardy

North Las Vegas City Manager Kurt Fritsch could be headed for a mid-July showdown with City Council members over his job.

Fritsch on Wednesday confirmed reports that he told top city administrators during a staff meeting last Thursday that some City Council members are "trying to push me out."

Fritsch said that during conversations with Councilwoman Shari Buck in April and May, the councilwoman told him she would try oust him.

"She said she wants change and she wants more power," Fritsch said.

Buck refused to comment on Fritsch's remarks, saying she did not want to respond to words she didn't hear firsthand.

Besides, she said, "It's a personnel issue and I can't comment on it."

If Fritsch is forced out, he would the second city manager to meet that fate in North Las Vegas in the past five years. Former City Manager Linda Hinson resigned in 1998 after the council voted 4-1 not to renew her contract.

Her successor, Pat Importuna, left the job in 2000 less than two years into a six-year contract. He took a similar job in California.

Fritsch, who is paid $150,000 a year, was promoted from assistant city manager to city manager in July 2000. His contract expires in July 2005.

The City Council will evaluate Fritsch's job performance on July 16, Buck and Councilman William Robinson said. Buck said that any comments she has about Fritsch's job performance will be made then.

Fritsch said he does not plan on resigning, and firing him would take a majority vote by the five-member council. Fritsch said Buck led him to believe she had the support to fire him.

Fritsch said he told his top staff members about his concerns in an effort to dispel rumors on the subject that had been circulating City Hall.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith said she was surprised to hear Fritsch was speaking out on the matter.

"I find it hard to believe he's saying things like that," Smith said. "Usually a city manager's more politically savvy than this."

Smith, who has consistently voted against Fritsch's contracts and raises in the past, refused to say whether she thinks Fritsch should be let go or whether she had any problems with his management of the city. She said those are personnel issues not to be made public.

Robinson refused to say anything other than to acknowledge that the council will give Fritsch a formal job evaluation on July 16. Robinson said he was worried about violating Fritsch's contract, which includes a provision that prohibits the council from acting on his employment for the 90 days following an election. Robinson and Buck both won re-election to the council in the April 8 primary.

Mayor Michael Montandon, who is recovering from surgery to remove a non-cancerous brain tumor, did not return telephone messages left Wednesday night.

Attempts to reach Councilman Robert Eliason at his home and on his cell phone were unsuccessful.

Fritsch said he has touched on the subject of his job performance in recent conversations with council members other than Buck, but he has not confronted them with direct questions on his future with the city.

"They were all real cautious," Fritsch said, mentioning the 90-day cooling off period following elections.

Fritsch said he believes his contract requires that if he is fired, it must for a specific cause.

He said council members have not previously expressed any dissatisfaction with his job performance.

Fritsch said he is proud of the job he has done for the city since taking over as the city manager. In North Las Vegas the city manager runs the government's day-to-day operations and reports to the mayor and council.

Fritsch said he is particularly proud of the quality of managers he has brought to City Hall, the development going on in the city and the improved relationship with the labor unions representing city workers.

Fritsch said he's not sure if the uncertainty of his tenure with the city is causing any problems with his staff.

But, he added, "I don't think it's good for any organization to be in constant turmoil."

archive