CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Former Cabarrus County Manager Mike Downs is suing the county, claiming they owe him more than $488,000 for breaking his contract.
There were fireworks at Monday night’s Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners meeting over the hiring of the new county manager.
“I don’t trust you; I gave you a second chance and this is what you did to me,” said Commissioner Kenny Wortman to other members of the board.
But the fireworks were ignited back in January when the former county manager was let go.
“I’ll make the motion to terminate the county manager’s employment contract with just cause effective immediately,” said Commissioner Laura Blackwell Lindsey during that January meeting.
Downs’ firing passed with a vote of 3-1 by the commission. The county attorney also was terminated.
Downs was the Cabarrus County manager for around 13 years and had worked for the county for almost 40 years. But in just minutes, he was fired by commissioners.
“It’s devastating not only to Mike but also to his wife,” Downs’ attorney Mark Stafford told Queen City News Anchor Robin Kanady in an exclusive interview.
The county commission chair, Chris Measmer, claims Downs was fired over the purchase of the ACN building in Concord. The county bought it for $42 million, but it was only valued in the lower appraisal at just over half of that — $24 million.
In Downs’ termination letter, Measmer claims Downs didn’t tell anyone about the lower appraisal, but Downs’ attorney says he did.
“They just didn’t like the fact that the building was being purchased but they owe him the money with or without cause,” said Stafford.
In a lawsuit that was filed Wednesday, Downs’ contract says regardless of whether county commissioners have a reason to fire him, the county still must pay up.
The original agreement was severance for nine months, but it was amended to 18 months.
With salary plus benefits and a bonus, that all totals just under half-a-million dollars that Downs and Stafford claim Downs is owed by the county.
“This was so unwarranted, and the money is being held hostage in total violation of a contract,” said Stafford.
Kanady reached out to the new Cabarrus County attorney for comment on the lawsuit Thursday, but did not hear back.
