News Summary
Charlotte has disbursed more than $230,000 to former City Attorney Patrick Baker following his controversial departure. Details surrounding the closure of his employment remain unclear as city officials opted for closed meetings to handle ‘personnel matters’. Baker’s contract provisions indicate he was terminated without cause, which entitles him to severance pay. As the search for a new city attorney begins, questions about transparency in city governance continue to loom.
Charlotte has paid former City Attorney Patrick Baker over $230,000 following his controversial departure from the role last year. According to public records, a majority of the Charlotte City Council, led by Mayor Vi Lyles, voted in a closed session to terminate Baker’s employment, partly due to his decision to fulfill a public records request from a local NPR affiliate.
City officials held several weeks of closed meetings to address what they termed “personnel matters” after the public records request incident. However, Baker’s departure was not publicly clarified, leaving details of his exit ambiguous. The council formally voted 8-3 during a December zoning meeting to appoint Anthony Fox as interim city attorney. Fox is currently under a six-month contract while the city searches for a permanent replacement.
The city did not specify whether Baker resigned, retired, or was fired, and the absence of public debate during the council’s decision has drawn scrutiny. Pay stubs and Baker’s employment contract suggest that he was terminated without cause, as he was entitled to severance payments under the terms of his contract.
Financial Breakdown of Termination Payment
Baker’s contract specified that he would receive a lump sum severance payment equivalent to six months of his salary and payouts for any unused vacation days or sick leave if terminated without cause. If he had resigned or been terminated for good cause, he would not have received any severance. The details of his payments include:
- A payout of $85,733.83 for unused sick leave and vacation days, received on January 17, 2025.
- An additional payment of $151,893.30, roughly half of his annual salary, received on the same day.
The characterization of the latter payment was redacted in documents obtained by local media. When questioned about whether these payments were classified as severance, the city’s spokesperson explained that they could not provide comment because of confidentiality regulations pertaining to personnel information.
Background on Patrick Baker’s Employment
Patrick Baker, age 57, was hired as Charlotte’s City Attorney in March 2019 after serving over two decades with the city of Durham. His last recorded salary in Charlotte was $297,143.36, which included a $4,800 yearly automobile allowance, contributions to a 401(K), and a cell phone. As city attorney, he was responsible for leading a legal team of over 40 individuals and provided essential legal and policy representation to the city’s mayor, City Council, and staff.
Notably, Baker had an “at will” employment status, which allowed him to be dismissed at any time, with or without cause. Reports indicate that after the public records request, Baker, a frequent presence at City Council meetings, was absent from public sessions but continued his employment duties until the close of the calendar year.
Transition to Interim City Attorney
City officials confirmed that Baker’s last official day was December 31, 2024. Beginning January 1, 2025, Anthony Fox assumed the role of interim city attorney, with an annual salary of approximately $168,450. It is important to note that this Anthony Fox is not the same as former Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx.
The circumstances surrounding Baker’s exit and the substantial severance payment raise questions about the effectiveness of transparency and communication within the city’s governance processes. As the city seeks a permanent replacement, the implications of Baker’s departure may continue to be felt in the Charlotte community.
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Additional Resources
- Charlotte Observer: City Attorney Controversy
- Wikipedia: City Attorney
- Charlotte Ledger: Charlotte’s City Attorney Update
- Google Search: Charlotte City Attorney
- WSOC TV: Anthony Fox Named Interim City Attorney
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Legal Profession
- Charlotte Ledger: Public Records Update
- Google News: Charlotte Government News
