Bad Luck, Bad Manager, or Something Else? | 10/15/2024

A public sector executive lost his job for the third time in less than two years -- but each time he has walked away with a severance package.

A female manager in Texas filed a sexual harassment claim against members of her governing body. She has been fired.

All that and more in this week's round up.

Stephen Jellie had a rough couple of weeks.

First, he was publicly censured by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) related to his two previous stints as the city manager for Ogdensburg (NY) and the fire chief in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

His time in Ogdensburg was turbulent -- to say the least -- where he served as both the fire chief and city manager. He proposed massive cuts to cure a budget deficit and became persona non grata.

Before reaching a $50,000 separation agreement with Ogdensburg -- he demanded that his photo be hung on the wall with all the other fire chiefs before him. One of the more amusing requests I have seen.

He then lasted about 14 months in Wyoming where he got crossways with the firefighters under his command. Jellie is known to take and/or recommend really aggressive reorganization actions. He bounced with a $150,000 severance.

Less than two months ago, he started for Palmer, Alaska and the following story and headline caught my attention: Palmer’s new city manager says his past controversies won’t be a problem here.

The sub headline read: "Stephen Jellie said his previous resignations were tied to cuts he proposed under extreme budget challenges that Palmer does not face."

He is now walking away from ths job with a six-month severance payout of $75,000.

Danielle Singh was terminated by the Jarrell City Council on a 3-2 vote several months after filing an EEOC complaint.

Her attorney, Tanner Scheef, says that this is retaliation by the three members she filed the complaints against.

"[Singh's] dealt with an environment where she and others were facing sexual harassment, unwanted touching, even comments that simply because she was a woman with children, that she couldn't do her job," said Scheef.

Jarrell Council Member Daniel Islas - who is named in the complaint - was captured during one of the council's meetings stating that Singh was not his first choice because she had a family.

Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis, out on paid medical leave, claims he cannot work due to extreme hypertension brought on by the stress of harassment and a hostile working environment.

He is asking for $2,275,000 and it does not appear he will return after the council recently appointed an interim manager.

Lewis alleges that Councilman Chris Bausch falsely accused him of attending sex parties, questioned his sexual orientation, his religious beliefs, and his politics.

In Charles County, Maryland, county administrator Mark Belton has been on indefinite leave since early last year.

The Maryland Appellate Court heard the latest appeal from Commissioner Thomasina “Sina” Coates earlier this week on a decision that bars her from commenting and voting on the job status of Belton.

Coates, who is black, allegedly engaged in racially abusive conduct toward Belton, who is white.

The county had already spent more than $1.3 million on the case as of September 2023. It is unclear how much more has been spent in the year since.

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