Rumors circling City Hall for weeks became reality at the April 23 City Council meeting, as Mayor Joe Sack announced that City Manager Scott Pickup had resigned effective April 23 at 11:59 p.m.
By Tom McDermott
Rumors circling City Hall for weeks became reality at the April 23 City Council meeting, as Mayor Joe Sack announced that City Manager Scott Pickup had resigned effective April 23 at 11:59 p.m. Sack also announced the City’s intention to enter into an Employee Separation Agreement with Pickup.
Sack said that the resignation and separation agreement avoid a process that would have been longer and potentially been a more painful experience for the City. “Now is the appropriate time for Mr. Pickup and the City to part ways,” commented the Mayor.
Pickup will remain employed as Assistant City Manager to help with a transition until July 10, or until the New York State Employee Retirement System confirms him as a 20 year employee, but no later than July 24.
At the same time, Sack announced the City’s intention to enter into an Employee Agreement with former City Manager Frank Culross. He will becomes City Manager effective April 24 for an undetermined period.
The development echoes a similar change that took place in 2009, when Culross came off the bench to replace Paul Shew after a long, arduous process. Pickup was Assistant City Manager at that time, and became City Manager in 2010.
The City will continue to pay Pickup according to his current $177, 500 salary, and will pay him a one-time severance of $59,375. Mr. Culross will be paid the same salary he received in 2009, $198,000 annually, but since he is already a retiree in the NYS system, the City will not have to contribute to his retirement fund or health benefits.
Both resolutions passed unanimously. There was little public discussion of these agreements among Council members at the meeting and little comment from residents in attendance. That stood in marked contrast to months of rancor over the City Manager’s performance, especially his role in the financial fiasco at Rye Golf Club.
Sack was Pickup’s biggest and most consistent critic on the last Council, questioning the City Manager’s truthfulness on several occasions. In that role, he repeatedly clashed with former mayor Doug French and others about Pickup’s performance.
As these announcements were being made, a White Plains grand jury was hearing the District Attorney’s case against former Rye Golf Club general manager Scott Yandrasevich. The DA has accused Yandrasevich of stealing $271,000 from the club, although the City’s insurance claim is for over $2,000,000.
