University of King’s College bursar Gerry G. Smith has been fired by the school’s board of governors.
Board chair John Hamm sent an email to King’s faculty and staff Friday afternoon saying the board terminated Smith’s employment.
“I wish to advise the King’s community that the Board of Governors, at its meeting yesterday, confirmed that the employment of Gerry Smith, our Bursar, has been terminated,” wrote Hamm. “Mr. Smith has served the College as Bursar for 22 years and we wish him well.”
Smith has been on administrative leave since the end of March after being charged with sexual assault, indecent assault and gross indecency. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1980 and 1985, before Smith was at King’s.
Smith also made the news recently when King’s released its salaries over $100,000, in accordance with the province’s Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act.
Smith was paid $241,073.96 for the 2011 fiscal year – the highest salary at King’s, higher than the presidents of King’s, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (PDF) and Saint Francis Xavier University (PDF).
The bursar at King’s had equivalent responsibilities to a vice-president of finance at other institutions.
The email did not specify the reason behind Smith’s termination.
Hamm’s email also says the board will be striking a search committee for Smith’s replacement. The university hired Jim Fitzpatrick to run the university’s finances in July after putting Smith on administrative leave.
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4 replies on “King's bursar Gerry Smith fired”
I still can’t wrap my mind around the exorbitant amount that he was paid. It’s not a surprise that the university has financial difficulties.
Is it possible that Gerry Smith’s high pay included a termination fee? I suppose one would have to compare his (and others’) pay from other years, and see if he has received a separate termination fee.
His salary of 241k was for last year, so it wouldn’t include his termination fee. He would also get the pension he has vested.
I can say this openly now since I’m now an alumnus: Gerry Smith is a buttface. Even if the salary is somehow justified and the assaulted people invited him in and everything wrong with the situation turns out to be unrelated to one another, he’s still a dick.