Theft Case Prompts Clayton Policy Review

is reviewing its payout policy for terminated employees following the recent sentencing of a former St. Louis official for theft.

City Manager Craig Owens said during Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting that he has consulted the city's labor attorney, who is reviewing personnel rules and regulations.

The decision follows the , the former Brentwood city administrator who from the city and and vacation time.

Also during Tuesday's meeting, Ward II Alderman Cynthia Garnholz suggested the city put controls in place to keep such payouts from happening in the event that an employee were to be terminated in connection with a crime. Her comments and those of Owens followed that Mayor Linda Goldstein requested.

Ward II Alderman Michelle Harris said she alerted aldermen and city officials about payouts after reading Bill McClellan's column on the issue in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"'We can't have this happen in Pleasantville,'" Harris said she recalls thinking. She said that it's important for people to know Clayton is paying attention and that the city might make policy changes based on the labor attorney's findings.