Megan Rhyne, director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said that if there had been a basic employment agreement, it would be public information.

“If there is an employment dispute, the contract settling that dispute could be withheld,” she said. “But, the underlying contract — the one in place before the dispute — should be disclosed, in my opinion.”

Wheeler said he wasn’t sure how Thomas is being paid or if he still receives benefits.

During a public hearing last year, former Charlottesville City Manager Maurice Jones said Thomas volunteered to step down from the position. He had served in the role for about 18 months.

Jones, who took a post as town manager of Chapel Hill, North Carolina after City Council decided not to renew his contract this year, did not respond to a call for comment Monday.

Thomas’ departure came two weeks after a review by former federal prosecutor Tim Heaphy, who is now UVa’s chief counsel. According to Heaphy’s report, Thomas attempted to hide material from investigators and allowed fighting to continue during the rally so that an unlawful assembly could be declared.