FACT CHECK: Why is the City Manager still being paid through suspension

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A day after the City Council extended City Manager Brian Platt’s suspension indefinitely, many are wondering why is he still being paid his $308,000 annual salary.

Shortly after the City Council meeting, Mayor Quinton Lucas told KCTV5 Investigates that the council must follow the city charter.

KCTV dug into the city charter to find out. Part 3, section 218 says that the city manager may be suspended without pay... it’s up to the mayor.

The charter also states what must happen in order to remove Platt as city manager.

The vote to extend the suspension was unanimously approved by the council on Thursday, March 20.

We asked the mayor, given that it is up to him, why is Brian Platt being paid through the suspension.

“I think in terms of without pay designation, typically administratively, whether it be for firefighters, police officers or others, or even other city workers. It’s typically with pay, and with compensation, usually what you’re trying to do is make sure that each person has due process rights,” said Mayor Lucas.

The mayor went on to say that he wanted to ensure the process is fair, and reiterated that he expects a final resolution in the coming days, as opposed to weeks or months.

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