Brentwood city manager placed on leave
BRENTWOOD - Just weeks after being implicated in a texting scandal in Oakland and allegations of gender-based discrimination by some Brentwood employee associations, city manager G. Harold Duffey has been placed on immediate paid administrative leave.
While the city did not provide a specific reason, Mayor Susannah Meyer said the administrative leave was "not a final determination of any matter."
"We understand that residents may have questions, and we understand the desire for transparency," Meyer said in a statement read on Tuesday night. "This is a personnel matter, and there are legal, privacy, and due process limits on what the City can publicly discuss at this time."
The decision was made after a 4-0 vote by the Brentwood City Council at a special meeting on Tuesday night. Vice Mayor Pa'tanisha Pierson abstained from voting on the matter.
In the absence of Duffey, city operations will continue under the leadership of Brentwood's executive team and department heads, said Meyer.
"The Council has confidence in our City staff. We appreciate the community's engagement and patience," said Meyer. "We will share additional information when it is appropriate and legally permissible."
Duffey, who was appointed as Brentwood City Manager in October 2025, previously served as an assistant city administrator in Oakland.
Oakland's top official, Jestin Johnson, on May 15, stepped down after reports of text messages showed him making suggestive comments about women who worked at City Hall came to light.
The text messages in 2024 between Johnson and Duffey revealed that the two men used suggestive language while discussing women colleagues.
Less than two weeks after Johnson's resignation, several Brentwood employee associations came forward with complaints of gender-based discrimination during Duffey's time in Brentwood.
In a letter to the Brentwood City Council on May 26, employees from four organizations said they had "serious concern" about Duffey and incidents at their workplace.
The associations said they have expressed "discomfort and concern" regarding interactions with Duffey and urged city leaders to launch an independent third-party review of the complaints.
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