At a called meeting last week Union City council members reversed their Feb. 15 decision to refuse separation pay to former city administrator Alan Grindstaff, who had been terminated for cause over a Jan. 5 incident involving himself and another city employee. After the executive session portion of the meeting, Grindstaff's termination was changed to a "without cause" designation by a 3-2 vote with the result of providing him with six months separation pay. No explanation for the reversal was offered.

Council member Shirley Jackson made the motion to change the designation to "termination without cause," with Alisa King providing the second for the motion. The subsequent vote was split, with Jackson and King voting for the without cause designation and council members Helen Turner and Barbara Bohannon opposing. Mayor Ralph Moore broke the tie, voting for the motion.

The Feb. 15 vote to terminate Grindstaff and return Utility Billing Coordinator Glenda Norton to her position at city hall came after the council received the results of an independent investigation relating to a Jan. 5 incident between the two.

In the council's Feb. 15 meeting, Turner made the motion that Grindstaff be fired "for cause." Bohannon seconded the motion, followed by a unanimous vote in favor of the motion. A "for cause" termination negated the council's need to provide four months separation pay.

Interim city administrator Ski Saxby said Monday the reason for the difference in the terms of the separation pay, from four months to six months, was based on contract specifications.