City manager Ann Mitchell has been officially terminated from her role and cut off the cities payroll following an early morning council meeting.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Medicine Hat city council unanimously passed a motion Friday to officially terminate the employment of city manager Ann Mitchell and remove her off the pay role.
At the conclusion of a 50-minute closed session, a motion brought forward by Coun. Alison Van Dyke said that Mitchell, the former CAO, was found in violation of policy No. 8047, Respectful Workplace.
“Move that city manager’s Ann Mitchell’s employment is terminated and her appointment as city manager of the City of Medicine Hat is hereby revoked with cause, effective immediately,” recited the motion by Van Dyke in a brief open session following the closed session.
“Move that city council shall issue a letter to city manager Ann Mitchell providing reasons for the decision to revoke her appointment and to terminate her employment and to provide reasons for concluding city manager Ann Mitchell’s violated policy number 8047, respectful workplace,” finished Van Dyke.
Council began the process of official termination on Sept. 29. Councillors voted to send Mitchell an official letter of notice of her termination, although she remained on a paid leave of absence.
Friday’s motion officially terminates her role and ceases leave of absence pay, and was the last motion to be passed by this current sitting council.
A dispute between Mayor Linnsie Clark and Mitchell began in August 2023 and led to a council decision to sanction Clark from her duties, prompting her to request a judicial review. Those sanctions were dropped following a judge’s decision, but the breach of code of conduct by the mayor was upheld.
Mitchell started her role as city manager at the beginning of 2023 and had previously worked as the chief administrative officer of Lethbridge County since 2018.
