RICHMOND, Va. — A City of Richmond spokesperson told CBS 6 reporter Melissa Hipolit the former Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Director April Bingham "is not receiving a severance," but would not clarify if she previously received a severance.
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced Bingham's resignation on Jan. 15.
When Hipolit asked the spokesperson if Bingham previously received a severance payment, the spokesperson said they could not comment further on personnel matters.
Hipolit submitted a public records request with the city where she asked for Bingham’s separation agreement to include a severance package, and Senior Policy Advisor Megan Field told her "our search found no records responsive to your request."
The city did share they had one record responsive to the Richmonder's request for "copies of any agreements in which the city committed to pay severance to Bingham."
Field wrote to the Richmonder's Graham Moomaw:
"The City has identified 1 responsive record that is being withheld as a contract settling public employee employment disputes, held confidential as personnel records under Va. Code Sec. 2.2-3705.1(1).
Bingham was in charge of the department in January when a power outage led to catastrophic failures at the city's water treatment plant, which rendered parts of the city without running water for days.
Mayor Avula has since named Scott Morris as the city's interim director of the Department of Public Utilities.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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