Merced mayor, city manager at odds over costs incurred during coronavirus pandemic
.JPG "The Civic Center in Merced on 18th and N streets.")
The Merced City Council on Monday unanimously terminated its coronavirus emergency declaration.
But despite the united vote, discussion over the handling of the local emergency revealed a less than unified City Council and staff.
Mayor Mike Murphy used the agenda item as an opportunity to publicly discuss what he sees as City Manager Steve Carrigan’s lack of transparency and mishandling of power during the local emergency.
“Because Mr. Carrigan won’t answer my questions in private, which was my preference, I’m obligated to ask them at this forum,” Murphy said.
During an emergency, the city manager is granted increased authority to make decisions for the city — but he must confirm these decisions with the City Council at the earliest practical time, according to section 8.20 of the city’s municipal code.
At the prior City Council meeting, Carrigan said the emergency incurred a cost of $90,844 upon the city. Murphy at the time raised questions about additional paid administrative leave and compensatory time off not included in that total — excluded costs that tally nearly $1.2 million, according to Murphy.
Murphy told the Sun-Star that it is not the paid administrative leave and CTO that he necessarily has problems with, but the fact that the city manager was not transparent with City Council.
“He (Carrigan) repeatedly denied the existence of paid admin leave until I uncovered incontrovertible evidence on my own that it was not only occurring, but that the city manager himself had authorized it,” Murphy said.
Murphy described it as paying city employees to not work.
Carrigan agreed to share that information with the public and council at the June 1 meeting, Murphy said. But an item to present these costs was never added to the meeting’s agenda.
“As the elected officials, we get to check the work of the city manager,“ Murphy said. “In order to check his work, he has to bring it to us for review at an agendized City Council meeting.”
For weeks, Carrigan refused to discuss the concerns privately either, Murphy said. He also stated that Carrigan told him not to speak with staff members or department heads, including the police chief, about the matter.
“He has taken the unprecedented step of telling the mayor that he will not talk to the mayor about the state of emergency,” Murphy said. “This is not only troubling, but entirely unacceptable and an affront to the citizens who elected this body to represent them,” he later added.
Murphy asked Carrigan four questions. He inquired whether Carrigan acknowledges section 8.20 of the municipal code and if he intends to talk to the mayor about the local emergency. He then asked whether Carrigan stands by statements that department heads provided bad information about employees engaging in work. Lastly, he asked if Carrigan did in fact tell department heads not to speak with the mayor.
“I’d like to respond by saying that this is a personnel matter that has been discussed twice on May 13 and May 18, and I won’t be answering any questions,” Carrigan responded. “It’s a personnel matter.”
Carrigan told the Sun-Star that he cannot elaborate further on account of the situation being a personnel concern.
Council, public respond
City Council members defended both Carrigan and Murphy, and expressed disappointment that the spat came to a head in such a way.
Councilmember Matthew Serratto noted that mistakes were made and that the costs should have been brought before council, but compared the dispute to brothers fighting. “We’ve always had a great dynamic on this council,” he said, adding, “It’s kinda ugly and it hurts to see it.”
Councilmember Anthony Martinez agreed that he doesn’t want information hidden from the council or public, but said he believes the situation has been mischaracterized. He said the matter is more likely a personal feud and that discussion should remain in council’s closed session to avoid risking litigation.
Councilmember Fernando Echevarria vocalized the strongest support for Carrigan. He said the city manager communicated clearly with City Council and was motivated by wanting to avoid layoffs amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“Our city manager, a leader, has done what he was told to do,” Echevarria said. “Everybody had a chance to talk to Steve.”
Some members of the public said they see both sides of the issue, noting that Carrigan did save jobs. Others thanked the mayor for bringing the matter to attention publicly and for demanding accountability from city staff.
“I would certainly like to believe that you will do the right thing Mr. Carrigan, because we are at a time right now where people need to believe in all of you,” homeless advocate and Merced mayoral candidate Monica Villa said.
Murphy told the Sun-Star that City Council puts a significant amount of trust in its city manager, so it’s important that Carrigan communicate with them.
“I think its something that we can resolve,” he said.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 12:47 PM.
