Acting city manager named as Rose exits early

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North Las Vegas Assistant City Manager Maryann Ustick was appointed acting city manager for an indefinite period of time during the Dec. 2 City Council meeting where, on a 4-1 vote, the council accepted the resignation of embattled City Manager Gregory Rose and approved a severance package of $337,040.

Ustick expressed her thanks to council members for their continued faith in her performance and ability to help the city through the days ahead.

"Don't thank us just yet," Councilman William Robinson joked. "We have a lot to get through. You may reconsider those thanks before all is said and done."

Rose, who had served as city manager since 2003 and has been on executive leave since Nov. 18, has declined to comment on his reasons for leaving. City officials also have been tight-lipped about his departure. Rose did not attend the meeting.

Councilman Richard Cherchio has said the city is looking to go in a new direction, but for legal reasons, he could not comment any further on the reasons for Rose's departure.

North Las Vegas City Attorney Nicholas Vaskov said during the meeting that he had spoken with Rose and his attorney, and that while the council had the choice of accepting the resignation or firing Rose, the money in his contract would need to be paid either way.

"I would advise this council to accept the resignation. Mr. Rose has agreed to the release of any and all claims against the city should the resignation and severance package be accepted," Vaskov said. "Which basically means that he cannot sue the city."

Under Rose's contract, the city agreed to pay him one year's salary plus accrued benefits along with vacation and sick time in the event he was terminated before the contract expired in September 2013.

Rose's annual salary was $202,060.

The agreement also stipulates that the city must pay the cost of health, dental and vision insurance premiums for Rose and his dependents for a year.

Mayor Shari Buck voted against the measure, citing the city's current economic struggles and imminent budget cutbacks as reasons for dissenting.

"I cannot support spending this kind of money in this economy for what I don't view as any good reasons," Buck said. "I'm not willing to do this on the backs of our taxpayers."

Councilman Robert Eliason said during the meeting that he took personal offense to Buck's comments, noting that she was the only person currently serving on the council who had voted for the upgraded severance package for Rose in a June 2 council meeting.

Both Eliason and Robinson voted against the June 2 contract extension measure, which was approved 3-2. Then-Mayor Mike Montandon, then-Councilwoman Stephanie Smith and Buck, who was a councilwoman at the time, voted in favor of the extension.

"There's two members of this council who did not allow that contract to be amended," Eliason said. "The record is very clear with how he got where he got with his contract."

Resident Beatrice Turner attended the meeting and spoke during the item's public comment portion.

"I just want to say what goes around comes around," she said. "Mr. Rose would come to meetings held by the Housing Authority and talk about how North Las Vegas don't want no poor people. He treated those people like they were nothing."

Rose's resignation will be effective Dec. 22.

Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.