Doug Schmitz, who came out of retirement 13
months ago to lead a Carmel City Hall that had been beset by firings, multiple
lawsuits and a Monterey County Grand Jury investigation, announced Saturday he is resigning from the city administrator
job, effective immediately.
In a letter he sent Saturday to Carmel Mayor
Jason Burnett, Schmitz cited stress—brought on by professional and personal and
family matters—as the reason for his sudden departure.
"As we have discussed, I have been under
the care of [a] physician over the past month in regard to stress…yesterday my
physician strongly told me I needed to make significant changes," Schmitz
writes. "I came here to assist you, the council and the community in a
time of turmoil. The issues of one year ago have passed and our recent
discussions were directed toward the need for the selection of someone as city
administrator who could make a long-term commitment to continue to rebuild the
organization.
"This notification provides the council
the opportunity to begin the process to find that individual," he writes.
Schmitz previously served as city
administrator from 1983-1992.
A special meeting has been called for noon
Monday at Carmel City Hall to formally accept Schmitz's resignation letter and
to appoint an interim city administrator. Carmel Police Chief Mike Calhoun was
asked to consider taking the interim job, but ultimately, it's up to City
Council to decide, Burnett writes by text message.
Burnett sent word of the resignation in a
letter to city employees on Sunday morning.
"Chief Calhoun will meet with
each department [Monday] to hear any questions you may have and to
reassure you that we will continue to work together as we continue our
transition into the next year and beyond," Burnett writes.
Schmitz stepped in to help right the city
after the departure of City Administrator Jason Stilwell. During Stilwell's
time at the city, IT manager Steve McInchak was placed on administrative
leave and the subject of a criminal investigation after city officials alleged
he had improperly accessed sensitive files of other employees. No charges were
ever filed.
McInchak died of a heart attack in October
2014. His family settled a lawsuit against the city for $275,000.
The city's chief building official, John
Hanson, a 25-year employee, was fired in 2013 and also filed a claim against
the city alleging they defamed him, discriminated against him for being a
disabled military veteran and violated his contract. The city reinstated Hanson
after paying $340,000 in exchange for dropping his lawsuit.
November 1, 2015
Monterey
County Weekly: News Blog
By
Mary Duan
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