Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez

Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez

This morning, word from within Mammoth Lakes Town government said that Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez had decided to resign and did not like the way her position was handled in recent days. Councilman Matthew Lehman said Martinez does intend to resign, but it’s not yet official.

In recent weeks, during Manager Martinez’s month-long vacation, the Town Council met three times in closed session to discuss her. The last meeting agenda indicated she would be dismissed and someone else hired. Sources said the someone else was long-time, local businessman Tom Cage. Nothing was reported out of that closed session last Friday.

Today, when word leaked out that Manager Martinez planned to resign, Sierra Wave spoke with Councilman Matthew Lehman. He said he had just gone to the Town Offices to talk with Marysheva-Martinez. He said he had discussions with her and that she intends to resign. Lehman said Martinez is currently on administrative leave.

Sources from the Town said that Manager Martinez called a meeting with Town staff to inform them she was leaving and did not like the direction things were going and how her position was handled. We placed calls to Martinez, but have not heard back.

When she returned from her vacation toward the end of August, Martinez had said she thought the Council was meeting in closed sessions to extend her contract. Apparently they were not as word circulated that the Council planned to get rid of her and hire Cage. When asked about this, Cage said he could not comment.

Asked what reason Martinez gave for her resignation, Councilman Lehman said he could not comment. But, he said this: “I can say that I am sorry to see her go. She has been a great manager and has done a lot of good for the community. There has been a lot of controversy, but she has been a breath of professional fresh air.”

The Council hired Martinez some two years ago as the Town floundered under its huge lawsuit debt, major budget deficits and near bankruptcy. Martinez recommended tough decisions, including unpopular personnel cuts that were backed by the Council.

Lehman was not sure what steps the Council would now take. They are meeting in regular session Wednesday night. At 5pm, a series of closed session items does include evaluation of the Town Manager.

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