Green Park City Administrator/City Clerk Zella Pope has resigned her post after serving the city since September 2007.

Pope told the Call that her resignation was not voluntary — she was forced to resign because of conflicts with some of the city’s elected officials.

“Well, I would never, ever resign my position at the city of Green Park on my own accord. It was something that was done by members of the board, and I was told that it had nothing to do with my work — job performance,” she said. “It was to do with conflicts with elected officials, although I have no idea what that is because I was not given an opportunity to discuss it with them.”

Because the issue is a personnel matter, Green Park Mayor Bob Reinagel told the Call he could not comment beyond what documents had been released to the Call through a public-records request.

“I will miss her, I can tell you that,” he said.

Under the terms of a separation and consultation agreement approved by the Board of Aldermen, Pope will receive six months’ salary, payable on a twice-monthly basis, and compensation for accrued vacation time — a total of $28,644.50.

She also will continue to receive city-paid insurance coverage — medical, dental and vision — for six months or until she finds new employment.

The terms of Pope’s resignation, which was effective June 30, were discussed by aldermen during closed sessions on June 20, June 22 and June 30, according to information released to the Call through a public-records request.

On June 20, aldermen voted 5-1 to approve a motion that the city enter into a separation agreement with Pope that would include the continuation of her pay and health benefits for six months.

Aldermen who voted in favor of the motion were Carol Hamilton and Michael Broughton, both of Ward 1; James Jones and Tim Thuston, both of Ward 2; and Joe Monteleone of Ward 3. Opposed was board President Fred Baras of Ward 3.

Two days later, the board voted unanimously in closed session to adopt a resolution approving a separation and consultation agreement with Pope.

On June 30, the Board of Aldermen voted 4-2 in favor of a motion to “again offer the separation and consultation agreement” as previously approved and request that it be signed by Pope before 5 p.m. on July 1.

Baras, Hamilton, Jones and Monteleone voted in favor of the motion. Broughton and Thuston were opposed.

Pope signed the agreement on July 1, and Reinagel signed the agreement on July 5.

The agreement states, “To facilitate the orderly administration of government, Pope agrees to assist the city of Green Park for a period of six months after the date of her resignation by consulting with the city on an as-needed basis upon the mayor’s request in any matter related to the processes and procedures of the city and the ongoing projects of the city.”

Reinagel said Pope already has provided assistance to the city, as per the agreement.

“… She has been helpful at this point because I have had to call her, and she’s been very, very helpful,” he said.

A search will be conducted for a new city administrator/city clerk, according to Reinagel, who said he has spoken with the East-West Gateway Council of Governments to obtain information about how to conduct the search process.

“I’m trying to commence that right now. I’m in uncharted waters with the ads and where to search, so I just talked to East-West Gateway regarding that, and they’re going to be helpful to me,” he said.

In fact, Reinagel said he hopes to have a representative of East-West Gateway attend the next board meeting on Monday, July 18, to discuss the search process with the Board of Aldermen.

Pope said she already misses working for Green Park.

“It’s been very upsetting for me. My first priority has always been the city of Green Park, its residents and its businesses. I have given nine years of dedicated service to them, and I walk away not because I wanted to …,” she said, adding that she loved working for the city. “It was my No. 1 priority for nine years, and to be treated this way is very disheartening to me.”

Pope said she believes that residents need “to take a good, hard look at their elected officials and to be more active in the board meetings and to take a really good look at what is representing them because there needs to be some changes …”