A former town manager in Florida is facing a felony charge similar to the ones I am defending myself against.

An acting city manager in California is taking the blame for messing up the Brown Act notification requirements for public meetings which prevented a councilwoman from attending and participating remotely.

And an ugly war between a police chief and town manager in Massachusetts may be rooted in the murder of a woman by a police officer in their department.

If you enjoy the newsletter, please show me some love by sharing it with your friends and colleagues. Thank you.

Job Board Postings

It is free to post all of your senior and executive level recruitments over at the AAME job board. If you would like to include them in this newsletter, select the $199 option.

City/County Manager Recruitments

  • TX: Rowlett - City Manager (8/28/2026) Clear Career

  • TX: Uhland - City Manager (8/21/2026) Clear Career

  • WA: Sunnyside - City Manager (8/21/2026) Colin Baenziger

Other

  • SC: Charleston - Section Chief for Public Works (8/14/2026) | Colin Baenziger

  • TX: Denison - Director of Development Services (8/24/2026) | Clear Career

FL: Former Pembroke Park town manager charged following FDLE investigation into alleged secret recordings

It appears that former Pembroke Park Town Manager David Lynch is facing a felony charge after a recording device was found on his office phone by staff following his termination. The third degree felony appears to be very similar to the 33 felony charges I am facing in Walton County, Florida.

Lynch is from Ohio and believed to have returned there after he was fired. He has not been booked into Broward County jail and it is unclear if he has been arrested in another state or is making plans to turn himself into Florida authorities.

Lynch is also facing a defamation lawsuit filed by the mayor — who I have documented previously.

Speaking of my criminal case. The July 30 hearing date was moved to August 10th and I will update you following that hearing.

MA: Stoughton police chief and town manager placed on paid leave amid allegations of interference and harassment

Federal prosecutors allege former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell killed Sarah Birchmore in 2021 because he was afraid she would reveal details of their sexual relationship that allegedly started when she was a minor.

Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara alleges among many things, that Town Manager Thomas Calter told her to destroy a second investigation report about Birchmore. Calter says this is a lie and claims McNamara has ruined his reputation.

CA: Acting Antioch City Manager Takes Blame for Brown Act Snafu That Prevented Remote Attendance by Councilwoman

Antioch’s Acting City Manager, Ana Cortez, fell on her sword and took the blame for a mistake that prevented a councilwoman from attending and voting on her pet issue remotely.

Cortez, not to be confused with Hollister City Manager Ana Cortez, was thrust into the role after City Manager Bessie Marie Scott was placed on leave in May.

“While I was aware of your location, I did not identify the Brown Act requirements for remote participation in time to ensure the agenda included the required information and that the posting requirements could be met within the 72-hour noticing period,” Cortez wrote in an email to Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker

News Around the Country

  1. CA: Family, friends and community honor the life of Redding City Manager William Tarbox

  2. FL: Greenville council approves ethics complaint against former town manager

  3. GA: Mableton's first city manager charts city's future

  4. IA: Development-savvy Des Moines Deputy City Manager Matt Anderson to retire after 25 years; successor named

  5. IA: The Fairfax city administrator who resigned after the mayor filed a police complaint against him is not entitled to unemployment benefits, an Iowa judge has ruled

  6. IL: Campton Hills officials have welcomed a new village administrator, Austin Pollack

  7. MA: Great Barrington Town Manager Hartsgrove takes steps to protect the public from phishing scams by redacting some public records in agenda packets

  8. ME: Fired Washington County manager’s lawsuit moved to federal court

  9. MO: Former Bolivar City Administrator Tracy Slagle died last week

  10. NC: Hendersonville City Manager John Connet stepping down

  11. NJ: Medford Lakes Manager Julie Keizer named new town manager for Waldoboro, Maine

  12. NY: Broome County’s Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget is now the deputy county administrator for Cortland County

  13. OH: Hebron selected Brittany Misner to be their new village administrator

  14. PA: Larry Piersol takes over as Exeter Township manager following retirement of Bill Heim

  15. TX: Pecos City Council accepts councilmember's resignation, places city manager on leave

  16. VA: Former police chief now assistant town manager in Luray

  17. WA: Warden City Council appoints Joseph Elizalde as Assistant City Administrator

Recent City Manager Unfiltered Podcast Episodes

If you are interested in being a guest on the City Manager Unfiltered podcast, please take a moment to fill out this sign-up form.

Reply

Avatar

or to participate