Oak Ridge North city manager fired in surprise vote

In this Villager file photo from August, 2018, former Oak Ridge North city manager Richard Derr is shown with his wife and former city Mayor Jim Kuykendall. Derr was fired from his role as city manager on July 22. He was replaced on July 29 by Heather Neeley, who will act as interim city manager until a permanent replacement is found. less In this Villager file photo from August, 2018, former Oak Ridge North city manager Richard Derr is shown with his wife and former city Mayor Jim Kuykendall. Derr was fired from his role as city manager on July ... more Photo: Photographed By Marialuisa Rincon Photo: Photographed By Marialuisa Rincon Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Oak Ridge North city manager fired in surprise vote 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The Oak Ridge North City Council voted unanimously to terminate the employment of Richard Derr, the city manager of the more than 3,000-resident enclave on the east side of Interstate 45.

There was no reason given for Derr’s sudden termination on Monday after the council discussed employee matters in a closed executive session.

City Secretary Elizabeth Harrell confirmed on Tuesday that Derr had been let go, but she deferred all comments on the issue to recently appointed Mayor Paul Bond. The city had scheduled a special meeting of the council for Monday, July 29, to possibly appoint a new city manager to replace Derr. That meeting was after the Villager’s deadline for the Wednesday issue.

On Tuesday evening, Bond sent an email to The Villager with brief details on the termination of Derr.

“Richard was released from his city manager duties last night. Council concluded Richard was not a good fit for the city, so we are both moving forward in different directions,” Bond wrote. “I wish Richard the very best and appreciate his service to the city over the past several months. Heather Neeley is the assistant city manager and will take on additional tasks as necessary.”

Derr’s termination comes six weeks after the long-time mayor of Oak Ridge North — Jim Kuykendall — suddenly resigned with no explanation and almost a year left on his term.

Hired to the position in August, 2018, to replace retiring city manager Vicky Rudy, Derr began his second tenure at Oak Ridge North on Sept. 4, 2018. He previously worked for the city as city administrator from 1989 to 1994 before shifting to an executive position with The Woodlands Development Company. Derr worked at that job for more than two decades before applying to replace Rudy in June, 2018, eventually being chosen to replace her during an August council meeting.

Derr said on July 24 in a text message to The Villager that he enjoyed working at the city and will be moving on to new ventures.

“My contract was coming up for renewal. We decided that I was not the best fit for the city,” Derr said in his text message. “So, it was decided that we would go our separate ways. I was honored to have to have been able to serve the city during my time there and wish them all the very best in the time ahead.”

Related: Oak Ridge North announces new city manager

The next in command at the small city is Heather Neely, assistant city manager. Neely was not in the office on July 23 and attempts to reach her for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful. In his email, Bond indicated Neely would assume the duties of the city manager until the council appoints a new person to fill Derr’s job.

The city has had significant turnover at the council level and in city administration recently. In addition to Kuykendall’s sudden departure in June, City Council Member Michelle Casio also tendered a surprise resignation in October 2018, citing a need to focus her time and efforts on a family-owned business. Casio was replaced by Dawn Candy. Bond, who was a city council member, was appointed as mayor in June when Kuykendall announced his sudden retirement.

Related: Oak Ridge North officials accept council member’s resignation

In August of 2018, Rudy retired from her role as city manager, a move that was followed by the retirement of long-time city police chief Andy Walters, who stepped down and moved to an Indian reservation in Oklahoma.

Kuykendall said in an email to The Villager on July 24 that he did not believe his retirement was “sudden,” and said city staff and members of the council had been aware of his desire to retire early for more than eight months before his departure. He said he waited to leave the mayor’s seat until replacements for Rudy and Walters were hired, however those two positions were filled in August and October of 2018, nearly seven months before he resigned.

jeff.forward@chron.com