December 12, 2009 12:55 AM UTC

Jim Moore Shown the Door

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

As The Denver Post reports:

Jefferson County administrator Jim Moore has been fired, weeks after the county paid out $766,000 related to age- and sex-discrimination cases involving him.

The three commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday night to oust Moore, who assumed his position four years ago and was on track to earn about $150,000 this year.

Commissioners declined to comment. Jeffco spokeswoman Kathryn Heider said the reasons for the firing would not be revealed because it is a personnel matter. The commissioners met in secret to discuss their decision, then voted in public on the firing, as required by Colorado law.

Moore’s firing also came only hours after a federal jury delivered a verdict in favor of Mike Zinna, who sued former commissioner Jim Congrove for allegedly violating his First Amendment rights. Moore testified on behalf of Zinna.

Moore could not be reached for comment.

Ralph Schell, director of the county’s open-space department, has been named interim administrator. He said Thursday that he “was looking forward to the new challenge.”