NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — On a 3-2 vote, the Hutchinson City Council terminated City Manager Kendal Francis on Tuesday for cause, citing sections of the employee handbook regarding horseplay and sexual harassment. Steve Garza and Stuart Conklin voted to retain Francis, Stacy Goss, Greg Fast and Jon Richardson voted to terminate Francis.
Francis spoke up in his defense before the council voted.
"What I was told was that I touched a cold can of pop to a female employee's cheek," Francis said. "I also, at a different time, pulled the name badge of the same employee that was on a retractable clip. I walked by and gave it a tug and let it go."
Francis spoke to an investigator regarding the events. He contends that the majority of the time spent did not have anything to do with the incidents cited as reasons for his dismissal.
"I spent two and a half hours visiting with that investigator," Francis said. "Approximately 20 minutes of that was questions revolving around those two incidents. The other two hours were spent chasing down rabbit holes, such as why did I move my office from one side of the building to the other? Why do I allow my dog to come to work? What is the morale in the police department? Please describe my working relationship with the HR Director and why did I not include him in the hiring of a community development director? Information was also brought forth from an executive session, or said to be from an executive session, pertaining to the termination of Chief Hooper and whether or not we offered a severance to him. Most concerning to me was the fact that I was questioned as to where my wife and family lived and why have they not moved to Hutchinson? You say that you've been able to not take those things into account, but clearly someone put the investigator down on those complaints."
Francis then explained that the information that had only been spoken about in executive session caused him to wonder who spoke to the investigator about what was said there.
"If it didn't come from you, it came from either [City Attorney] Paul Brown, myself, which it did not, or [HR Director] Tom Sanders," Francis said. "Because there were also complaints as to why I was not working with Tom Sanders in hiring a community development director, my guess is it came from Tom Sanders."
Mr. Sanders was not present at the council meeting. Mayor Jon Richardson commented on Francis assertions and agreed with his assessment on the time spent, however, that did not change his vote in the matter.
"The City Manager is expected to operate in a manner that is above reproach," Richardson said. "I have concerns in regard to how you manage employees. I know you've addressed this with a plan. After the bell has been rung, you can't unring it. I also have concerns for employees that, while it didn't rise to the level of unlawful sexual harassment, it is in direct violation of harassment in our employee handbook."
Francis's firing makes this the second straight May that Hutchinson will be looking for a City Manager after Jeff Cantrell's contract was not renewed in May of 2022. No word was given as to how the city will go forward from here.