In the wake of surprise news that the Town Manager is out and someone else will lead Town government organization, Sierra Wave Media talked to Mammoth Mayor Rick Wood.
Mayor Wood said that the Town Council “is at a turning point.” He said in moving forward the question always is “who does the Town Council feel is the best person to lead the Town and the staff as we go forward.” Wood said from his perspective, he would like to see someone other than Marianna Marysheva-Martinez.
Although at news time, she had not handed in her official letter, Town Manager Martinez was expected to make her resignation certain. Mayor Wood did confirm that the Town Council placed Martinez on paid Administrative Leave. He also said it was his expectation that the Council would soon receive a formal resignation. The Mayor said he expected the Council to hold a special meeting Thursday. In fact, the agenda for that 5pm meeting Thursday says a closed session for release of a public employee and consideration of appointment of a Town Manager.
Wood admitted that everything that has happened “seems confusing.” He said the Council is “hamstrung, legally, by what we can say.” He did repeat that he expects Martinez’s official resignation. So, what happened between the Town Council and their manager to turn things so sour? Wood did not want to comment on exactly why Martinez is out except to say that the Council, or at least a majority, are “looking for a different leader.” Wood said there is a “broader examination of where we want to go and who is the best to take us there. She was not that person.”
What about reports that the Council would hire businessman Tom Cage? Wood said that was a rumor and the Council had made no appointment. He did immediately say that Thursday’s meeting they may include appointment of an Interim Town Manager, although he said that’s not critical since Police Chief Dan Watson is Acting Town Manager.
Will Martinez receive a buy-out of her contract? Wood said her contract does not call for a settlement but does say termination without cause can happen with 30 days’ notice. So, conceivably, Martinez could receive 30-days’ pay.
How will they pick a permanent Town Manager? Mayor Wood said the Council will have “an open, transparent process involving advertising, a head-hunter or an appointment, whatever method we use.” He said there would be a public vetting of any candidate.
The Mayor described the state of things in Town government. He said Martinez did a lot of hard work in re-organizing government, dealing with the MLLA lawsuit debt and bankruptcy issues. Wood said, “She deserves credit for her role, but we as a Town accomplished those things.”
Wood said the next steps forward include a classification and compensation study, a re-organization of the Recreation Department and in Wood’s view – a new Town Manager to lead the way.
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“Mayor Wood??” What a JOKE!!!! Mammoth is screwed!!
It appears that according to the Sheet’s interview with Mayor Wood. Lehman and Rimondo were not a party to these shenanigans.
Well my apology to the both of them for including them in my posts as being party to this latest fiasco. Thank you both for sticking your neck out and saying no!
I am sure glad someone spoke out who were the culprits.
MK,
I’m pretty sure you’re right on this! Lehman and Raimondo are class acts compared to the 3/5’s remaining Council Members when it comes to town business.
SF
Yes, our sources confirm that Lehman and Raimondo were not in favor of the ouster of Ms. Martinez.
BK
Benett,
Thank you for verifying/confirming this. It was an educated guess but one that seemed pretty logical.
SlerraFan & SierraFan sure smells like Riamondo and Lehman shilling, instead of explaining the brown act leaks.
karma,
Not even close! I’m not in Government just a citizen that understands the reality of the situation. Thanks though 🙂
govt gone WILD
Hey I had criticism for MMM. For the most part I think I treated her with respect. Things got heated occasionally but some things got really contentious. What I dislike is the way the TC has gone about this whole thing. To me it was wrong. There has to be a better way. I don’t think I would like to be back stabbed like they did.
Watch out, Wood & Eastman. I just heard a political advisor was hired today to move forward with a recall. Wood’s business will go back to the poor state of affairs it was in before he ran for council. Oh happy days… Lets hope this is true
Among all the things I don’t understand is that if people are so intent on a recall, then why did they elect them in the first place?
Isn’t that the truth, Ken. I hope the recall goes through, but if it doesn’t, I truly hope no one votes for them again.
Because people get the government they elect and deserve.. The real problem is the voting public!
Which doesn’t say a lot for Mammoth Lakes
Completely nailed it Ken, as Desert Tortoise has done in other threads. All the whining yet we had candidates running unopposed last time. This message board is full of carpers more or less advocating banana republic ways – constant recalls of elected officials when they discover disagreements with them.
There is a reason we elect people for fixed terms instead of having a system of daily popularity contests. Don’t like Council’s direction? Run for a seat at the next regular election, or become proactive in getting someone you like to run and then put in the time and money to support them.
In the meantime, knock off suborning democracy.
I know several people who would make excellent council members — they refuse to run. It’s sad to see.
On the other hand, the town is in such a mess, who would want to jump into it and try and fix it?
The whole thing is not so easy to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong.
I am with you Desert Tortoise! She was not a nice person to the employees under her and she was the fall gal that the town council needed her for. They are finished with her and it is time for her to be discarded, so they can move on with their good ole boy agenda just like how the rest of Mono County treats their employees! It is a pattern,,, don’t get why anyone is shocked!
Amen, you have no idea of what you are talking about.MMM brought a grace and professionalism to the TOML. Staff loved her and there were tears when she announced she would be leaving in a couple of hours. No good deed, indeed.
I’ve been reading this discusson board for a couple of years and never heard a kind word directed at MMM. Not once. She was routinely and harshly criticized for not being from the area, having a home in the LA area and thus not caring about ML. She was criticized for treating employees poorly, several recent resignations were attributed to her supposed poor treatment of these employees, she was called names for being cold, etc. Nothing here but a litany of complaints about her and never any comments supportive of her.
So imagine my surprise when it is suspected that she is going to either be fired or resign to see nothing but abuse heaped on the C-C and praise for her. It seems to me the C-C heard the same complaints I heard, looked at how many of their employees were bailing out and decided to cut the town’s losses. I am surprised it took this long frankly. Yet here we have everyone lined up not to cheer her departure but to bemoan it.
Tears indeed. Tears of joy.
Amen,
Was it that she wasn’t nice to the staff or was it that she was just doing what she was hired to do and cut where she could? That alone would offend people and feel un-liked but I doubt she was mean (or not nice to folks).
no good deed goes un punished, especially in Mammoth. those that care about town its time to think about constructive comments to the TC.
eough tearing apart. we have what we have at the TC now lets encourage them to do what is needed for the staff and the community.
those that dont like it, there will be plenty of open seats to run for next June.
Oh yes, I’m sure the C-C picked up the hostile vibe directed at MMM and felt that, in part, helped justify letting her go. Based on comments about MMM even a couple of weeks ago, when I first saw an inkling she was about to leave, I expected cheers and high fives, not the eulogies I see people writing.
This is a funny discussion board. Until a week ago, no one posting here had even a slightly kind word for MMM. Comments here were often harshly critical of her, sometimes even personal. Now all of a sudden, when the C-C decides to let her go, she is lauded as some kind of hero. WTH?
Btw, don’t you think all of the council members and even MMM read the comments here? I am pretty sure they do. The C-C and others in my small city certainly do, they have commented to me in the past on things I have written on line (hence my argument for using anonymous names on these discussion boards, lol). Laud her today, but how much does anyone want to bet that if MMM was following the discussions of her on this board in the past she felt nothing but hostility directed at her. Based on the comments I have read here the last couple of years I would argue that MMM didn’t feel very welcome in Mammoth. Not by a long shot. People on this board complain her connections are all south of the San Gabriels, but no one exactly welcomed her with open arms here, did they? Just saying …………..
True Desert Tortoise!
I was one that was criticized and even accused of being an MMM insider. lol.. I have always thought this was the right person for the job. She’s great!
And to Marianna Marysheva-Martinez… THANK YOU for doing all that you were hired to do! It’s too bad 3/5’s or so of our Council completely stabbed you in the back while enjoying your vacation. For any potential out of the area candidate, RUN unless you like changing jobs often!!!!!
WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!! A bunch of this and that! Leave the council and then do us all a favor and leave town Mr. Mayor!!! / Eastman / Bacon….. The two Councilman Raimondo and Lehman deserve a chance to be a part of a great council team! And not this debacle!! Reading between the line…. She was great when we needed her financial expertise but now that she’s all used up, we’ll find someone with our personal needs in tow. YEP!!
Glenn Thompson the last Local TM (93) and Ray Windsor, our first TM (84) we miss you.
I am the only one tired of hearing Mr. Wood’s “lawyer-speak” once again in these Sierra Wave interviews. He is nothing more than a “vengeful” and “legend in his own mind” individual as one of our so-called political leaders. Think about it – he, along with Mr. Eastman, are the two “constants” in the downfall of our municipality over the past decade-plus. We need to remember that It was a series of political decisions steeped in arrogance, and over a decade plus time frame led by himself that led to the airport debacle. It was not management staff or attorneys that ultimately made these decisions – they made by Mr. Wood up on the dais. His arrogance, ego, self-righteousness, and lawyer speak has led to a series of poor and divisive consequences for our community. He fooled the community by trying to “reinvent” his-self when he re-ran for Council back in 2010 and the voters bought it “hook, line, and sinker.” His campaign slogan of “never again” has under his leadership led to a destruction of our Police department, chaos within our government, and made our once respected municipality a complete joke. In your own words about a “turning point” for this Town, Mr. Wood, please do this community a favor and resign from your position on the Town Council if you really believe what you are saying. You sir, are the problem.
Wood admitted that everything that has happened “seems confusing.” He said the Council is “hamstrung, legally, by what we can say.”
Yup, sounds like a lawyer.
Mr. Mayor,
What , you are joking. You hired MMM , She has been around for quite sometime. You just figured out she was not a good fit!
You are unreal
What direction speak of that MMM could not provide?
I am sure that she would have done anything a Manager could do so Ethically and legally.
I think Mr. Mayor, like Eastman, has been hangin’ around a wee bit too long and in the process, perhaps entertained the notion of dirtying of their hands. I.e. Airport fiasco.
Never seen so much secrecy masked by “attorney talk.”
Methinks Mr. Mayor might be better served handling divorce cases or something.