Tom Barry fired as Minot City Manager

A sudden and perhaps shocking change has rocked Minot city leadership.

The city council voting unanimously Monday to City Manager Tom Barry during a special meeting.

Barry's firing comes after the council received a final report Monday morning, regarding accusations he created a hostile work environment.

Barry was hired in late 2016.

The city's finance director David Lakefield will serve as interim.

The move to fire Barry came amid an emotional council meeting, that saw some aldermen on the verge of tears.

Patricia Monson, the outside investigator, came to the conclusion that “termination is the only appropriate solution.”

A special meeting Monday in the Minot City Council Chambers quickly became emotional, as the aldermen weighed their options amid a final report filed against Tom Barry, the now-former City Manager.

“The report is probably the most distressing thing that I've read in all of the total of 20 years I've served on the council,” said Alderman Stephan Podrygula.

“The facts that Ms. Monson, again, is the result of an independent, very thorough investigation, are very disturbing and are very damaging, and I think that's, to be honest with you, the best way out to have a parting of the ways,” he added.

The council was able to discuss findings including potential violations of employee constitutional rights including free speech and association, as well as potential violations of state law.

Patricia Monson, the special investigator, did recommend termination as a solution.

“Her final comment is, quote, termination is the only appropriate solution, close quote,” said Podrygula.

Council members did offer other face-saving alternatives, including to table taking action for ten days and offering Barry the chance to resign rather than being terminated.

When given the chance to speak before the council, Barry said there were no formal grievances filed, and he was given an excellent review for work performance, along with a five-year extension to his contract

Barry also said he never had the chance to respond to the accusations against him.

“I stand before you again, disturbed greatly by the fact that I was never provided the feedback that I'm getting today. Nor was I ever provided the opportunity to correct it,” said Barry.

Ultimately, aldermen Shannon Straight successfully moved to have Barry terminated.

“We have the fiduciary responsibility in my opinion that we have to act now. I move the city council follow the recommendation of our independent council and terminate the city managers employment with the City of Minot for cause effective immediately,” said Straight.

An abrupt change, near the top of the city's leadership.

The public can read the full report attached to this story on our website.

The Minot City Council has voted to terminate City Manager Tom Barry's employment as City Manager, after the city received a final report regarding accusations against Barry regarding a hostile work environment.

The council and Mayor Shaun Sipma voted unanimously by a 7-0 vote.

According to Alderman Stephan Podrygula at Monday's meeting, the report from the special investigator goes back to 2017, and that some of the accusations could amount to a violation of state law, in terms of treatment of employees.

In the report, the special investigator made the conclusion that "termination is the only appropriate solution," according to Podrygula.

When given the chance to speak before the council, Barry said there were no formal grievances filed, and he was given an excellent review for work performance, along with a five-year extension to his contract.

"This is a broken relationship, and I don't know if it can be fixed," said Alderman Paul Pitner.

Earlier in the meeting, the council voted unanimously to ask Barry to resign, and he refused to make a decision Monday.

"I was never given an opportunity to first off all, be made aware, and second of all, to do anything about it," said Barry, following the vote to ask him to resign.

The city hired Barry in October of 2016, and he formally took over that December, replacing Lee Staab.

The council will discuss the selection of an Interim City Manager at Monday's regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.

The public is not allowed to attend the meetings in-person due to COVID-19 restrictions, but can submit questions on the city's website and stream the meeting on the city's Facebook page and YouTube channels.

The full report is attached to this story on our website.

We'll have more coverage on the Evening Report.