Today, we have an update on the arrest of Sausalito City Manager Elaine Forbes. We have a story about a bizarre kerfuffle in a city hall parking lot between an elected official and a commissioner.
A county in Virginia may reject a $1 million grant citing the costs associated with the strings that are attached to it. And a New Jersey executive has been ordered to repay his community $240,000.
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CA: Update on the Arrest of the Sausalito City Manager
The arrest of Sausalito City Manager Elaine Forbes has made international news. Initial reports seemed to suggest she boarded a boat that did not belong to her and consumed a significant volume of alcohol. It is now being reported that she entered two different vessels with some reports suggesting she tried to navigate the boat at some point.
It was revealed that before she was arrested, she was reported missing a day after being placed on leave. And additional reports indicate she is separated from her wife, while the Daily Mail article linked above claims they are divorced.
The Sausalito Council met in executive session last night to discuss Forbes’ employment and the mayor released an official statement saying that they are still gathering information and no decision has been made about her employment status.
GA: Nothing Good Happens in a City Hall Parking Lot…
Avondale Estates City Manager Patrick Bryant and Commissioner Lyda Steadman got into some sort of confrontation in the parking lot after after a hearing on the millage rate.
Apparently, the source of friction centers around an anonymous Substack account called “Avondale FYI” which has been critical of Bryant and some members of the commission. It seems that Bryant believes that Commissioner Steadman has some involvement with this group.
A few months back, postcards advertising the publication began hitting mailboxes. Steadman had been listed as a “paid subscriber." A day after she was confronted about it by a local media outlet, she was no longer listed as a paid subscriber.
NJ: Why ex-Palisades Park administrator must repay $240K to taxpayers
Palisades Park filed a lawsuit against their former administrator, David Lorenzo, claiming that he used his position to authorize the improper payments to himself. This included funds for unused sick and vacation time to which he was not entitled under state law
A 2010 New Jersey law largely prohibits municipalities from making annual sick-leave payouts, other than a one-time $15,000 payout at retirement.
A 2021 comptroller investigation found that the borough habitually violated this law.
A judge has ruled that Lorenzo owes the borough $240,000!
VA: Rappahannock County weighs returning $1M grant for new courthouse
Sometimes — free money is a pain in the ass.
The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors is considering whether to decline more than $1 million in federal funding for the county's new courthouse after county staff determined the grant's requirements could ultimately cost as much as — or more than — the federal aid itself.
County Administrator Garrey Curry says he can’t recommend acceptance of the grant.
The legislator who secured the funds at the behest of the county isn’t happy about it.
News Around the Country
FL: Haines City promotes public safety director, Joe Halman Jr., to city manager
FL: Additional charges filed in former Monticello city manager child sex abuse material case
GA: Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams indicted on six federal charges; county manager says sheriff remains in office
IL: City of Carbondale plans to hire an Assistant City Manager
KY: Calvert City Administrator John Ward stepping down after 22 years
MI: (PAYWALL) Lapeer city manager put on administrative leave
OH: Batavia passes ordinance to offer pay for employees if village is dissolved
OR: Colleagues, family remember life of St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh
PA: Pequea Township promotes township staff member to newly created manager position
TX: Jim Winkelmann has been selected as the next city manager for Aransas Pass
TX: The mayor versus the city: Inside the fight consuming Balcones Heights
UT: Hideout eliminates town administrator position
WA: The Camas City Council plans to vote Aug. 17 on whether to draft a proposal to reshape the city’s government into a council-manager form (PAYWALL)
WA: Longview votes to settle lawsuit over alleged public meetings act violations for $80,000; suit argued that multiple electeds conspired to fire the former city manager
WA: Former Oak Harbor City Administrator Blaine Oborn is suing the city, alleging he was fired because of his age and in retaliation for opposing age discrimination; he was a guest on the City Manager Unfiltered podcast
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