Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez
This morning, word from within Mammoth Lakes Town government said that Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez had decided to resign and did not like the way her position was handled in recent days. Councilman Matthew Lehman said Martinez does intend to resign, but it’s not yet official.
In recent weeks, during Manager Martinez’s month-long vacation, the Town Council met three times in closed session to discuss her. The last meeting agenda indicated she would be dismissed and someone else hired. Sources said the someone else was long-time, local businessman Tom Cage. Nothing was reported out of that closed session last Friday.
Today, when word leaked out that Manager Martinez planned to resign, Sierra Wave spoke with Councilman Matthew Lehman. He said he had just gone to the Town Offices to talk with Marysheva-Martinez. He said he had discussions with her and that she intends to resign. Lehman said Martinez is currently on administrative leave.
Sources from the Town said that Manager Martinez called a meeting with Town staff to inform them she was leaving and did not like the direction things were going and how her position was handled. We placed calls to Martinez, but have not heard back.
When she returned from her vacation toward the end of August, Martinez had said she thought the Council was meeting in closed sessions to extend her contract. Apparently they were not as word circulated that the Council planned to get rid of her and hire Cage. When asked about this, Cage said he could not comment.
Asked what reason Martinez gave for her resignation, Councilman Lehman said he could not comment. But, he said this: “I can say that I am sorry to see her go. She has been a great manager and has done a lot of good for the community. There has been a lot of controversy, but she has been a breath of professional fresh air.”
The Council hired Martinez some two years ago as the Town floundered under its huge lawsuit debt, major budget deficits and near bankruptcy. Martinez recommended tough decisions, including unpopular personnel cuts that were backed by the Council.
Lehman was not sure what steps the Council would now take. They are meeting in regular session Wednesday night. At 5pm, a series of closed session items does include evaluation of the Town Manager.
Discover more from Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News - The Community's News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Good Ol’ Boys strike again! This action will not go gently into that goodnight, trust me. And just you wait for the other bomb to be dropped. The corruption and evil prevailing in Mammoth is about to be exposed. The place is about to be leveled.
Stay tuned…
Maybe she was on administrative leave and not vacation?????
Lehman did state in the story that she is currently on administrative leave and 4-5 weeks for vacation is a lot of someone that hasn’t been an employee that long.
It sounds like a resign before you are terminated situation to me and that is the norm in Mono County…. That is how they get rid of a LOT of employees. Just a thought.
No matter it town, city or state, the problem with government is government and the solution is FREEDOM! =
The first thing that comes to mind are TERM LIMITS. These guys are ruining our town. What a shame… I really hope we have some decent people run next time around, but meanwhile the town will be a laughing stock for years to come. How can Wood and Eastman been seen in public??
MAMMOTH is one SCREWED UP TOWN
Bummer – But I don’t blame her for leaving if the TC (or members of it better said) were moving against her behind closed doors WHILE SHE WAS ON VACATION. She probably has many employment options available to her so why stay where you are not wanted and supported.
This whole episode IMO is just another blow to the morale of the city.
They pulled the same BS on Wilbrecht when HE was on vacation.
This is not going to be acceptable to some posters on this subject, but here goes. I was never impressed with MMM from the start. The job requires hands-on experience, and that experience must include genuine interaction with staff. Be honest. She certainly is not the poster-boy for warmth. The job must emit a sense of teamwork – if not, then all you are going to get credit for is being a hatchet-man in which her icy coldness rendered her in perfect form.
Also, quite frankly, it does not require a lot of skill to master a PowerPoint presentation.
I think she should focus on Accounting in her professional career. Definitely not a people-person with foresight, knowledge and skills to run a community staff.
I wish her good luck in the future.
Some, of you just don’t get it. This is not about if MMM was or is qualified or performed well. This is about the way the town has handled it. I would bet that She did what was told to do. She may have been asked to do something totally wrong or unethical and is being forced out. Because of this I bet they did the same to Wilbrect.
I truly believe in my opinion there are some on TC that are highly unethical and corrupt. Look one of those held up a document on the day TC waived repayment of a loan to the town and said something to a affect” Yes when I was Mayor I signed these loans and they really were always a GRANT. We did it to avoid the onerous public works and prevailing wage rules for the project.” Let me tell you as a expert in the field. It can be a misdemeanor for anyone evading the public works laws.
But we will never know now because of Non Disclosure agreements.
I see nothing wrong with John Eastman using his power and authority to try and secure employment for his future son-in-law at the airport.
Anybody remember THAT one?
Lets be real MK. You are NOT an “expert in the field”. You may have a very very basic license and some experience but you are not an authority.
“As the Town Manager Turns”…again. I wonder what kind of buy-out MMM will receive?
I am thoroughly disgusted at how our town is run. It is shameful.
B. Richter
Completely shameful how this whole thing has been handled! The COUNSEL should be completely humiliated with their handling / actions! Maybe they should’ve asked Rusty to run the town?
“I am thoroughly disgusted at how our town is run. It is shameful …”
And what two have been in the middle of the mess the longest?
Is legal action in our future because of the incompetence of these imbeciles?
She won’t walk away empty handed is my prediction.
I hope she sues – she certainly has grounds to. Her right to privacy as an employee was completely violated. That “closed session” chamber is leakier than a colander. Besides being downright illegal, it was unprofessional of the TC to have any leaks coming out of that room. Who would want to work for them now? Here’s a blurb for the recruitment they are going to go through the motions of before they hire their buddy:
“Come to work for us! We’ve fired/forced the resignation of Dave Wilbrecht (too friendly) and MMM (too business-like) in the last 6 months. But we have a GREAT job for you! No resources, a schizophrenic council, and beautiful scenery! No pesky department heads to worry about, either. Don’t worry, when we axe you, you won’t even see it coming! Oh, and did we mention – we won’t have your back, so don’t come running to us when you do what we tell you and then we change our mind. (yes, that is ONE mind, we pass it around – keeps everything exciting! Sometimes, it goes missing. We find it in Rusty’s pocket.)
Gooooooo Mammoth! ”
With this reputation, maybe Bob Filner will apply. I hear he’s looking for work.
I won’t pretend to know real story behind the departure of the Town Manager. But the idea of handing the reigns over to a local business person is just non-sense IMO.
Town Managers, City Administrators, etc. are hired as experts to guide the elected officials and oversee the day-to-day operations of a town/city. The elected often have no background whatsoever in the proper (and legal) operation and administration of a town or city. The thought of hiring a local business person to provide that expertise is the equivalent of the blind leading the blind.
No offense to this local businessman, he may be a genius at running his own business, but this doesn’t make him a town manager. If I need a plumber, I don’t call a good electrician.
There have already been enough high-profile mistakes made in the TOML, please town council, don’t follow up with another one.
Very sad, I do not blame Marianna for quitting if it went down that way she felt.
I would not stick around waiting for someone to stick me in the back.
As I said in my other letters. This town council has no respect for their town manager nor are they competent to hire or ” fire ” them.
They have no business managing them also.
Since I have directed my recent comments to all council members as it has been a secret as to who was behind these reprehensible actions is unknown. Maybe some of you council members who we against this treatment could speak out and let us know at least that. Otherwise I / We will continue to think it was all of you.
It is highly doubtful MMM had any intention of making Mammoth her full-time home.
When that situation arises, things get said that perhaps are not exactly the most politically-correct.
Perhaps she and her two children would be happier with Mr. Martinez. Isn’t he a mayor of someplace?
Thanks Bennet 🙂
On another note, thanks to the way the professionals (The Town Counsel) in Mammoth for running a very good town manager out! I can’t say that she can be blamed for feeling unwanted considering the last several meetings on her position when she apparently had a contract through May or June of 2014. She did what no other recent t own manager seemed to do and that was cutting the fat! Great job MMM, under the tough circumstances, you’ve been fantastic!!
Let’s be clear ~ it is not ALL of town council. Rick Wood, John Eastman & Jo Bacon are the members of council who have created a hostile work environment. With MMM we had a chance to get back on our feet, but because of their selfish, childish & unprofessional behavior we are worse off then we were a week ago.
She’s a smart lady. TOML just lost the best town manager they ever had.
Tom Cage isn’t even in her league.. Good Luck TOML, without any skill your going t need all the luck you can get.
Hire a hatchet-man. Let the hatchet-man tell those they’ve fired “Don’t take it personally – it’s just business.”
I want to be Town Manager.
I promise to fire all the “dead wood” and after that reduce the salaries of all the non-union employees.
Then all will be fine once again in Muddville.
You’ve made your point dozens of times under several different names. Let’s move on.
Benett Kessler