Town Council votes to terminate Mekarski’s employment contract

At the Feb. 14 Purcellville Town Council meeting, a clarification was made to the Feb. 10 meeting concerning the resignation of Town Manager David Mekarski. 

Vice Mayor Chris Bertaut said that since the last meeting where the Town Council voted to accept Mekarski’s resignation, both the Town and Mekarski had failed to reach an agreement regarding the terms.

“It has come to our attention that the parties did not have a mutual understanding of the terms,” Bertaut stated. “Therefore, further action is required because the Town Council does not wish to accept the conditions that were attached to the Town Manager’s proffered resignation.”

“The Town Council instead will terminate the Town Manager’s employment contract in accordance with its terms dated March 13, 2018.”

Mekarski received a 60-day written notice period commencing Feb. 14 and extending through April 15, 2023, with paid administrative leave.

According to his contract, Mekarski will receive a lump sum payment paid by the Town after the administrative leave ends. This will include severance pay equal to six months of the Town Manager’s current annual base salary, plus a payout of 157 hours of accumulated annual leave to be paid at the Town Manager’s current base salary.

He will get dual coverage health insurance from Feb. 14 to April 30, 2023. The Town will pay COBRA continuation coverage from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2023. 

The motion to terminate Mekarski’s contract passed 7-0.