Ron Mershon, who had been employed by Wright City for about two years as a building inspector, was fired following an executive session Thursday, July 24. Mershon was unaware of his termination until he reported to work the following morning, he said. "It was a complete shock to me," said Mershon. "I feel I was completely, wrongfully, unjustly fired." Mershon said he was unable to comment on his pending lawsuit against the city other than to say "it's going to happen and it's going to happen soon. The lawyer is drawing up the papers right now." The lawsuit is expected to allege wrongful termination and violation of Mershon's civil rights, sources indicated. Mershon did not disclose his attorney's name. Public Works Director Larry Janish is serving as the city's interim building inspector. In announcing Mershon's termination, Board of Aldermen President Jim Schuchmann called the move a "budget cut." Schuchmann said the city's income from building inspections was well below projections, while expenses were continuing to rise. "But right after he said that, he turned right around and said the city was going to hire a replacement," said Mershon. "If there's a budget problem, how can he justify that?" Mershon said city officials also told him when he searches for another job to put on his resume that he was dismissed for "budgetary reasons." Mershon was the subject of a police investigation in June after allegations that he took a $1,500 bribe from a contractor. He was cleared by the investigation, which included a polygraph test. "But he (Schuchmann) said the investigation had nothing to do with me being fired," noted Mershon. "He said it was totally unrelated." Asked if he would return to his job with Wright City if offered, Mershon said he would be willing to do that. "Just not with the present board they have in the city," Mershon added. "They'd find something else to get me on. "I enjoyed working in that capacity," Mershon said. "That's what I do." Mershon said he has not sought another position as a building inspector. "Not yet," he observed. "Not until this issue is settled." Wright City Mayor Roy White and Ward 2 Alderman Richard Denkler both contend Mershon was terminated illegally. White cited Section 103.2 of the International Property Maintenance Code of 2003, which city council approved last March. The code governs the department of property maintenance for fourth-class cities in Missouri. The code reads "Appointment: The code official shall be appointed by the chief appointing authority of the jurisdiction (mayor) and the code official shall not be removed from office except for cause and after a full opportunity to be heard on specific and relevant charges by and before the appointing authority." "As far as I'm concerned, Ron Mershon is still employed by this city," said White. "I'm not going to take part in this in any way, shape or form." "I'm not going to take part in this. This man has been wrongfully dismissed and you (other board members) have put the city in jeopardy," Denkler said. Schuchmann, Ward 1 Alderman Dave Walter and Ward 2 Alderman Angie Reynolds, meanwhile, argue State Section 79.240 RSMo gives the board the authority to override the mayor's action with a two-third majority vote of the aldermen. Schuchmann, Walter and Reynolds all supported firing Mershon, according to city officials. State law will likely not take precedence over a city ordinance, according to an attorney who asked his name not be used in this story. "Their arrogance will catch up to them," Mershon said of the aldermen. "The property maintenance code is what we go by and they are ignoring the very same ordinance that they themselves approved a few months ago. "They snuck in the back door to get me," he added.