Police chief contract to go before Ashland aldermen

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to note the contract will not be presented to the board of aldermen Tuesday.

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ashland's city administrator will put a new contract for Police Chief Lyn Woolford before the board of aldermen for review, the city said Tuesday.

The city sent a release Tuesday morning ahead of the board of aldermen's meeting saying City Administrator Tony St. Romaine would present the contract to the board. However, the city later clarified that the contract would not be presented Tuesday.

The city said in a news release Tuesday that Woolford's current contract expires April 30. City Administrator Tony St. Romaine put Woolford on paid leave last Tuesday at the request of Ashland Mayor Gene Rhorer. The leave is pending a job review, St. Romaine said.

St. Romaine cited "a situation" about which the mayor was made aware in putting Woolford on leave. An internal investigation was conducted, he said.

In the news release sent Tuesday, the city said certain positions in the city government are filled by the mayor on one-year appointments, including the police chief. Woolford is working under a contract that started May 1, 2018, St. Romaine said.

The release says St. Romaine received a proposed contract prepared by the chief two weeks ago. That contract will be presented to the board of aldermen, the release says. The city later clarified that would happen after the next election.

Woolford sued the city Monday, claiming he was placed on leave as retaliation after Mayor Gene Rhorer illegally asked Woolford to intervene in a personal dispute.

Check back for more on this developing story or watch ABC 17 News at 6.