WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. June 13, 2006: The Mayor's Executive Officer Paul Wood told WPNCR the published print media report in The Journal News today stating in a news headline that former City Budget Director Anne Reasoner was "fired" and given "a pink slip" in the body of the article by the City Corporation Counsel is "inaccurate."

Yesterday, when WPCNR broke this story, Mr. Wood would not disclose to WPCNR whether Ms. Reasoner was fired by the Mayor or had resigned. He told WPCNR only that she was put on administrative leave. Today, Mr. Wood backed that up. He said Ms. Reasoner was on "Administrative Leave" through June 30. Asked to explain the situation resulting in her departure, meaning whether she resigned or was fired,   Mr. Wood said he had "no further comment." 

Asked if the city was negotiating a settlement with Ms. Reasoner beyond the June 30 date, other than the administrative leave the next two weeks,  Mr. Wood said the city was not going to pay her anything  "beyond whatever vacation time she might be owed. There is no golden parachute."

Asked if the "pink slip" terminology (vernacular for being fired),  used in the published article was correct in which Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy was described as giving Ms. Reasoner her pink slip last Friday.  Mr. Wood said the pink slip terminology was inaccurate.

Asked why as short a time ago as two weeks ago on Decision Night,  the Mayor had congratulated Ms. Reasoner on delivering a good budget for 2006-2007, and now Ms. Reasoner was leaving, Mr. Wood said the Mayor had meant that "collectively," that all city financial people had worked on the budget "collectively" and that the Mayor was also referring to the Management and Budget Committee. Asked if the Mayor who is in Saratoga Springs for tonight's installation as President of the New York Conference of Mayors, had a statement on Ms. Reasoner yet, Mr. Wood said the Mayor did not.

Ms. Reasoner has not returned calls for comment.