Meridian CAO Richie McAlister is currently on personal FMLA leave.

Mayor Percy Bland confirmed McAlister's absence to Newscenter 11 Thursday and says Public Safety Director Doug Stevens is currently assisting the mayor’s office with McAlister’s daily tasks. Mayor Bland made it clear Stevens is NOT acting CAO, but only helping with McAlister's duties.

McAlister released a statement Thursday evening saying: “I’m currently on family medical leave being this is the fifth time in 11 months the Council has attempted to remove my salary. I am on FMLA due to the declining health of myself and my family.”

This information comes after McAlister was absent from a city council work session earlier this week where the council discussed a recording of McAlister allegedly threatening Ward 5 Councilman Weston Lindemann.

The council discussed the topic of a hostile work environment at that meeting.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bland commented on the alleged recording of McAlister and released this statement: "I have reprimanded Mr. McAlister for using the language spoken during a private conversation with an individual whom he considered a friend. Mr. McAlister has apologized to me and accepts full responsibility for the language used. I am unable to comment on any other topic due to pending litigation."

Mayor Bland would not say whether McAlister was in the process of either officially stepping down or being terminated.