An Advocate-Messenger news report published online and in the print editions contains a statement by Danville City Attorney Stephen Dexter that is grossly inaccurate.

In your November 13, 2020, published report, “Pay changes bring grievances, records requests for city; attorney general says city violated open records law,” Mr. Dexter is quoted as stating “for whatever reason” during my tenure as Danville City Manager, I “did not adhere to … instruction” from the Danville City Commission “to give a thorough review of classifications and compensations of [employees Joyce Collins and Erica Engle] to confirm their classification and compensation.”

According to the article, this “instruction” occurred “in late fall of 2019,” which is before I replaced outgoing City Manager Ron Scott in January 2020. Although briefed about the report by Mr. Scott and Mr. Dexter, I was never provided a copy, or any excerpts from the document purportedly authored by independent employment law specialist Barbara A. Kriz, of Kriz, Jenkins, Pruitt & Jones, P.S.C. out of Lexington. Moreover, I was never given any directive from the City Commission specific to Ms. Collins’ or Ms. Engle’s salary and compensation throughout my tenure as City Manager. It wasn’t until January 28, 2020, that I learned from Bobbie Curd of The Advocate-Messenger that “the end of the report states that the issues will be taken back up with the new city manager and HR director.”

David Milliron
Former Danville City Manager