Fired Town Manager Receives $175K in Settlement

A former St. Johnsbury, Vermont, town manager who was fired in 2012 and sued for wrongful termination has agreed to a $175,000 settlement.

Both Ralph Nelson and town officials tell Vermont Public Radio they were prepared to go to trial. Nelson, a former Major League Baseball executive, left to become St. Johnsbury manager in 2010. He was fired after 19 months.

The case reached the Vermont Supreme Court, which ruled a select board must show cause for removing a manager at will. The case was sent back to a judge for trial.

Nelson said his challenge helped clarify a statute.

Select board chair Kevin Oddy was on the board that fired Nelson. He still stands by that decision, but said the settlement allows the town to move forward without more expensive litigation.