I think it is important to realize that the City/Agency obligation to pay severance could arise even days after the contract commences if Mr. Hanson's employment terminates for any reason.

Do you think you're ethically entitled to severance pay?

I think the whole thing is a scam to make the consumer pay.

And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.

Since severance packages generally are contractual, the issue is not the size of the severance package. The issue is why was the original employment contract structured to allow such a severance package? And that responsibility rests in the board.

Asking for a less burdensome severance pay regulation doesn't mean that we want to avoid paying it.