Scott Mitnick

Thousand Oaks City Manager Scott Mitnick was fired July 7 after a six-hour, closed door City Council meeting which ended shortly before midnight.

The City Council voted unanimously to terminate Mitnick, effective immediately.

“We are heading in a different direction and remain focused on preparing our city for the future and continuing the great things we have accomplished,” said Mayor Joel Price in a news release. “The council and I have full confidence in the organization’s solid leadership and management, along with highly dedicated staff to carry us forward in a productive way, especially during this period of transition.”

The City Council declined further comment because it is a personnel matter, according to the news release.

Mitnick had been city manager since 2005 but came under fire in May because he used his city email address to secure donations for his sons’ Westlake High School baseball team from local businesses. In November, the council approved a $20,000 grant the team intended to use for field improvements.

At a May meeting, the council decided to take no disciplinary action. In 2013, Mitnick became the highest-paid city manager in Ventura County with a salary of $241,684 per year. He was currently making $261,309 per year.

• Contact Philip Joens at pjoens@pacbiztimes.com.