Ravenswood City Council votes to terminate employee Kimberly Benson after executive session

Ravenswood City Council members voted after an executive session to terminate employee Kimberly Benson for cause and to discharge her from administrative leave without further payment or accrued benefits, the council announced after emerging from closed session at 5:34 p.m.

The recommendation read aloud to the council said Benson should be "discharged from administrative leave with no further payment or accrual benefits from the city" and "terminated for cause effective immediately" for violation of the city of Ravenswood employee handbook, cited in the record as "section 19.06 06 section C19." Councilman Richie moved the motion; another council member seconded it. The presiding clerk called the question and recorded two affirmative votes; no opposition was recorded and the motion was adopted.

During brief discussion before the vote, a council member said the personnel matter had been under investigation for more than two months and stressed the need for stronger internal controls. "If you don't learn from them, you're doomed to repeat them," the council member said, adding that staff and officials including Vicki had worked to "get these processes right." The speaker urged prompt action when such issues are found.

The council did not disclose additional details about the specific handbook violation during the public portion of the meeting. The motion notes the handbook section by citation; the council recorded the action as effective immediately. After the vote the council moved to adjourn and left the meeting at 5:37 p.m.

The council's formal action came directly from an executive session; no further procedural steps or appeal processes were stated on the public record during the session. The city did not provide additional public details about the investigation or any internal findings during the meeting.