Letter to the Editor: A Performance Evaluation That Never Was

Dear Editor:

Is the departure of City Manager [David] Carmany an absurdity of illogical actions by the Manhattan Beach City Council as epitomized in the novel, “Catch 22?” The senselessness begins by the City Council hiring Carmany as city manager in December 2010 under a contract that renews automatically yearly unless non-renewal is noticed 12 months in advance; or, if the council dismisses Carmany for cause. 

During the next three years, the city council, in closed session, conducts 12 performance reviews of City Manager Carmany but never finalizes his appraisal or establishes cause for dismissal that would result in no severance pay and benefits. In addition, the city council contracts a consultant for $13,000 to advise it on finalizing Carmany’s appraisal but to no avail. 

Last week, the city council dismissed Carmany without cause. Under the contract, his severance includes a year’s salary of well over $200,000 plus benefits plus payouts of accrued vacation and sick leave, and a portion of increased equity in his home financed in part by city residents. 

It now appears that former City Manager Dolan, fired due to alleged and then admitted sexual misconduct, and now former City Manager Carmany, fired under pleasantry euphemisms shadowing his incompetence, are competing for who walks away with the highest severance jackpot of over $250,000 of our tax dollars.

We deserve a better explanation from council members [David] Lesser, [Amy] Howorth and [Wayne] Powell (at the helm during most of Carmany’s tenure) than “the council has decided to move in a new direction,” hopefully not further “Catch-22” absurdities.

Sincerely,

Edward C. Caprielian, Ph.D.

Manhattan Beach Resident