After meeting for more than two hours in closed session on Friday, the Mammoth Town Council came out with nothing to report. Their agenda said that they would consider the discipline/dismisal/or release of a public employee and consider appointment of a Town Manager. They apparently did neither.
The off-the-record reports from reliable sources said the Council intended to release Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez from her job and replace her with local businessman Tom Cage. Cage was reportedly present in the hallway as the Council met on Friday.
So, after three closed session discussions about Town Manager Martinez, apparently nothing has changed even though the closed session items appeared that there would be a dismissal and a hiring. Further off the record reports indicated that some members of Council were concerned about Martinez’s management style and that exit interviews of Ray Jarvis and Johnny Goetz were critical. Other employees have described her style as harsh and condescending.
When asked about the Friday closed session, Mayor Rick Wood said only that there was “nothing to report out!” And, when we emailed Manager Marysheva-Martinez for her comment, she said, “I prefer not to comment at this time.”
Lots of thumbs down Cathy ,
I’m not sure many agree with your point of view.
By the way what is the deal about the 200 plus Thousand delinquent county tax of one of your hubbies businesses.
If that is truly his, I don’t know that shows good business.
Martin…of course you’d never run for office. Your comments bring this favorite quote of mine to mind: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to… Read more »
If you run businesses in town, you have no business running the town.
Since my husband has been getting so publicly abused by people don’t even know the first thing about him, I think it’s time I speak up and add some information to the un-informed. Tom is the ultimate public servant. He has served without pay on more local boards and commissions… Read more »
I’m with you, Mrs. Cage, in that Mr. Cage knows the people and has a vested interest in the Town Of Mammoth Lakes. But how would he do if he found himself butting heads with Gregory?
The last guy that did that, found himself moving to the state of Washington.
How about everyone take a step back and give Tom Cage a chance? If after a year it does not work out, then throw stones. At least give him a chance to be successful or fail.
Cathy , Obviously you targeted some of your comments directly at me. I am sorry you feel that way. Many prominent people in town have commended me on my thoughts. I said what I said because there was going to be a closed door meeting. We as the town constituents… Read more »
Cathy, Even if we take all you say at full face-value, the place for Tom to apply said talent and passion would be on the Town Council. His long-term close relationships with local “players” & politicians, and his status as a significant local “stakeholder,” should automatically preclude him from serving… Read more »
I agree. I think Tom has integrity and knows this town well enough to make sensible decisions as a member ot the Town Council. But as the town manager, he would be shackled by the T.C.’s poor decisions. I think Tom’s good sense and the poor decisions coming out of… Read more »
Mrs. Cage, I’m sure your Tom is a wonderful husband, father, businessman, etc. but the bigger issue here is how the Council handled the knife in MMM’s back! She’s done more good for this place than anyone in recent history, she doesn’t bend to local pressure and now has been… Read more »
Without, at a very minimum, a degree in public administration, your husband is utterly unqualified to be a City Manager. Period. I am a business owner and sit on a city council committee in my community. I am also a degreed economist. Nothing you do in either activity nor my… Read more »
As a second home owner in ML, I have watched with complete and utter dismay at the lack of professionalism on the Town Council. Just when you think that they could not make a worse decision, they prove me wrong. Please someone step up and recall these incompetant idiots who… Read more »
Marv: Some people over the years have observed the same and commented like you. But most of the people just don’t seem to care or are in a business that benefits from their incompetence. Recall seems like the obvious course for some. But few really care or it would have… Read more »
Marv – This is a very small town. Everyone kowtows to Rusty Gregory. Like Mr. Potter in “It’s a wonderful life”, Gregory always gets exactly what he personally wants. Ie. insiders will tell you he was 100% instrumental in getting the last Town Manager fired. The man has unbelievable power… Read more »
It’s not that difficult to handle this correctly. The Council has treated MMM poorly by holding closed sessions to discuss her termination while she was on vacation. If they have a problem with her performance, they should tell her to her face what they expect of her. If she fails… Read more »
NO MORE CLOSED MEETINGS.
Transparency increases the public’s knowledge of councils activities and leads to informed, engaged citizenry that holds its officials accountable.
Greater transparency results in more effective investigative journalism, which holds leaders to a higher standard.
More accountability ensures integrity in the political process, improving lives.
Read the Brown Act and other state laws. Personnel actions are not discussed in open session. To do so is a violation of the employees privacy and would quickly, and rightfully, draw a lawsuit. Likewise legal actions and discussions with lawyers are not held in open session. All of this… Read more »
One of those councilmen (who’s been around ever since the airport ***t hit the fan, is a lawyer and can hide behind any law he likes and use the lingo to dazzle and confuse.
Kinda like MMM uses numbers.
How convenient, you say?
Be specific. How is he hiding?
Benett Kessler
In democratic theory, popular control of government depends on elections, but we could not possibly elect the 4.7 million federal civilian and military employees (or even the few thousand top men and women). However, the fact that voters do not elect civil servants does not mean that bureaucracies cannot respond… Read more »
Any attorney knows the legal-talk far better than the average citizen.
Sometimes it’s what that attorney does not say that can be cleverly divisive and/or hidden.
The deck is always stacked in favor of the legal-eagles.
bennett, that is not me in the picture next to my post????????
I have trashed it. Don’t use other peoples’ titles, commenters.
Benett Kessler
I sincerely doubt this is the end of the matter. Because both legal and personnel issues are handled confidentially (well, one hopes they are) we do not know exactly where the matter stands, but were I a betting man I would bet there will be more on this in the… Read more »
Shocking – Disgruntled, dismissed or driven out employees talking badly about the person shaking the place up. Who would have thunk it. What did you think she (MMM) was going to do? Just allow the status quo to continue unchecked and unchallenged? Replacing MMM is one thing (unknown if that… Read more »
Bring back Dave Wilbrecht!
Bring back Maringela
By law personnel matters cannot be discussed in public. To do so serves only to invite a well deserved lawsuit. Read the Brown Act.
In business, a hatchet man is defined as the person whose job it is to fire or lay off employees in a company. It is usually a human resources employee, doing the dirty work for the owner or president of the company. They break the news to you, get the… Read more »
A lot of talk and a lot of drama and for what?
So the constituents will discontinue holding their elected officials’ feet to the fire.
The poor dears.
Leave’ em alone already!