Reyer announces resignation from Shenandoah Interim city administrator cites new job opportunity closer to family
Shenandoah interim City Administrator Kathie Reyer resigned Wednesday night and withdrew from consideration to become the next city administrator.
“I must announce my resignation tonight,” Reyer said near the end of Wednesday night’s council meeting. “I was offered a director position in the Austin area.”
Previously city clerk, Reyer has been with the city for 11 years. She was appointed as interim city administrator last August after Greg Smith resignation. She recently had been named a finalist for the job out of a field of more than 20 applicants.
Reyer told council members that her daughter lives in the Austin area and the new job would allow her and her husband to move closer to their extended family. Her last day of work will be March 31.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know each one of you,” Reyer said to the council, which was missing Mayor Ritch Wheeler who was out of town for spring break.
After Reyer’s announcement several people in attendance gasped in surprise and began crying.
One resident, Theresa Danz, used the public comment portion of the
meeting to thank Reyer for her service while also insulting former council member Gary Henson, who was in attendance at the meeting.
Henson, who is running against Wheeler for the mayor’s seat in the upcoming municipal election, has been critical of Reyer, others on the city staff, Wheeler and various council members since he lost his bid for re-election in 2017.
Reyer was the subject of a complaint made by Henson and former mayor Garry Watts that was filed in November 2017. The complaint alleged wrongdoing in regard to the resignation of the city’s former finance director Jennifer Calvert. The complaint alleged Reyer failed to comply with city ordinances when she was alleged to have “ended the employment of senior management employee Jennifer Calvert on Sept. 15, 2017.”
Calvert was not terminated from her position and had actually given several weeks notice of her resignation before voluntarily leaving her position.
After several months of investigation by several law enforcement agencies, Reyer was completely cleared of any wrongdoing by Montgomery County officials.
Danz, who cried during her comments, directed some of her frustration sat Hen son.
“I will do everything I can to make sure you never get on the council,” Danz said of Henson, who was sitting about 10 yards behind her during the comments.