of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983.


3
Lewis began a long career as an employee of the City in 1964 and thereafter served in the capacities of clerk, secretary and city clerk.  In 1980, Lewis was named Assistant City Manager, with primary responsibility as liaison between the City Council and the citizens of Fort Collins.  In 1985, Lewis was reassigned within the City Manager's office and given duties related to intergovernmental relations and lobbying efforts.  In August 1986, four months after defendant Steven Burkett assumed the position of City Manager, Lewis was informed that the position of Assistant City Manager was to be abolished.  Accordingly, Lewis was effectively laid off as Assistant City Manager November 1, 1986, andfollowing description of the reorganization process and the decisions driving the changes made:


17
Upon my arrival as city manager in April, 1986, I was made aware that the city faced a severe financial crisis due to expenditures exceeding revenues, and a corresponding reduction in general fund reserves.


18
Further study by city financial staffers revealed that, due to accounting discrepancies, the projected shortfall in revenues was not as large as initially projected, however, it was recognized and brought to my attention that the city had incurred additional expenditures, particularly long-term expenditures, that were initially not taken in consideration in the projected budgets, including approximately $400,000.00 annual bond financing for the next several years to retire the debt on the city's golf course and approximately $300,000.00 annual debt reduction in connection with