Carmel Administrative Services Director Susan Paul is out.
A statement from the city reports her last day was Sept. 11, and for now, it is not yet being revealed whether she quit or was fired.
Paul—who faced ire from residents at a Sept. 8 town hall meeting for the low morale amongst city employees—was hired by City Administrator Jason Stilwell. Both came to Carmel from jobs with Santa Barbara County, where as the Weekly reported last October, “Paul had a reputation as a hatchet person in her role as human resources director.”
In Paul’s tenure, several city employees have been fired or have quit. Carmel IT manager Steve McInchak has been on paid leave for over a year following allegations he improperly accessed sensitive information. Carmel Police will not be filing any charges, citing a lack of evidence.
McInchak is suing the city, as is former Building Official John Hanson, who worked for the city for almost 25 years before he was let go in August 2013.
While Paul was on staff at Santa Barbara County, Public Defender Jim Egar—who now works for Monterey County—settled a hostile workplace lawsuit.
(2) comments
The smug little frat-boy carpetbagger Jason Burnett is not having such an easy time as he envisioned taking over Carmel and building his own little fiefdom. Gotta love it!
“Hatchet person” Susan Paul is responsible for the firings, resignation and administrative leaves of Linda Macdonald, Children’s Librarian (Fired, March 2013), Molly Laughlin, Deputy City Clerk (Fired, March 2013), Art Black and Tim Meroney (Suspended Inspections Agreement, April 2013), John Hanson, Building Official (Paid Administrative Leave, June 2013; Fired August 2013), Steve McInchak, IT Manager and Rose Franzen, Computer Tech (Paid Administrative Leaves, June 2013; Criminal investigation of McInchak “Closed” December 2013,; Administative Investivation Continues), Heidi Burch, Assistant City Administrator/City Clerk (Resigned, October 2013), Margi Perotti and Leslie Fenton, Administrative Coordinators, Community Planning & Building Department (Paid Administrative Leaves, October 2013; Fired April 2014) and Catherine Raynor, City Clerk (Terminated Employment, July 2014).
Even more responsible for the firings, resignation, administrative leaves and hostile work environment is City Administrator Jason Stilwell who hired former Santa Barbara County employee Susan Paul to remove older, experienced city employees who were not on their “team.” Ultimately responsible though are current city council members Mayor Jason Burnett, Ken Talmage, Victoria Beach, Carrie Theis and Steve Dallas who have publicly voiced unanimous support for City Administrator Jason Stilwell.
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