James City Republicans fire Middaugh on split 3-2 vote

Nov. 27--JAMES CITY -- The Republican majority on the Board of Supervisors fired County Administrator Robert Middaugh without explanation Tuesday afternoon at the beginning of a work session. Democrats Jim Icenhour and John McGlennon dissented.

The supervisors went into closed session as the 4 p.m. meeting convened. After they emerged, Supervisor Mary Jones asked County Attorney Leo Rogers to read a motion taking a position of "no confidence" in Middaugh's leadership and terminating his employment. By 4:15 Middaugh had been fired on votes from Jones, Chairman Jim Kennedy and Michael Hipple.

The move could cost taxpayers nearly a quarter of a million dollars if Middaugh does not find a new job in the next twelve months. The figure includes Middaugh's full salary over that period, plus a $600 monthly car allowance for the first six months, and payments to cover his health and dental insurance, plus payments to the Virginia Retirement System.

Assistant County Administrator Doug Powell took Middaugh's spot on the dais and began presiding over the meeting.

McGlennon said that without a public explanation, the decision looked "arbitrary" and resembled a "pure power move" by the new Republican majority.

"The only vote of no confidence I could express is a vote of no confidence in the board," Icenhour said. "I can't understand how the public can accept this board as being transparent, above board and all the things you want to be and take an action like this without a clear explanation why."

Middaugh provided a written statement to the press.

"It is very disappointing that the new board has chosen not to allow me to demonstrate that I can work as effectively for them as I have for previous boards. I have been committed to the betterment of James City County and have beein privileged to work with one of the finest groups of employees that I have encountered in my 35-year career in local government. The quality of life in James City County is no accident, rather it is the result of hard work and dedicated employees. I wish the board and James City County the best."

Middaugh became an unwitting part of the November supervisor elections when furnishings he ordered for the remodeled Building D at the County Government Complex were the subject of a political mailer on behalf of Republican candidates Kevin Onizuk and Hipple. Middaugh was portrayed as extravagant for installing glass walls and 60-inch flat-screen TVs in the administration building.

Icenhour praised Middaugh as the "best damn administrator around here," and said he was being fired for having a code of ethics "that you can't tolerate.

"Everyone in the region is looking at us and saying, 'What are these idiots doing?'" Icenhour added.

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