Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and council hear testimony as HR director Janine Omerza says she resigned under duress
Summary
Public speakers, an attorney and HR director Janine Omerza told the Clinton City Council that Omerza submitted a resignation under duress and later revoked it. Speakers urged the council to pull the item from the consent agenda and to address alleged mistreatment; city leaders proceeded to consider the consent agenda during the same meeting.
Multiple residents, colleagues and an attorney told the Clinton City Council on March 25 that Janine Omerza, the city's human resources director, submitted a resignation under duress and later revoked it, and speakers asked the council to allow the matter to be discussed outside the consent agenda.
Michael Malloy, an attorney appearing on Omerza's behalf, said Omerza was hired by the council on June 12, 2024, by a 5‑2 vote, had not been disciplined during her tenure, and received a positive six‑month review on Dec. 15, 2024. Malloy said Omerza was told by Administrator Brooke on March 11, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. that she would be fired if she did not resign; Malloy said Omerza withdrew the resignation. "Janine wants to continue working for the City of Clinton. She submitted her resignation under duress and timely revoked it," Malloy said.
Omerza addressed the council directly, saying she had been the target of harassment and discrimination and that her removal was not based on performance. "I stand before you today not just as a professional or dedicated public servant, but as someone who has been deliberately targeted, harassed, and wrongfully removed from my position," she said. She urged the council to pull the consent agenda item tied to her removal and to allow a full discussion and due process.
Members of the public spoke in support of Omerza. Several described her as a mentor and professional who gives time to employees and the community; one speaker, Sydney Palmeri, said Omerza "is the most professional person I have ever met" and urged council members to pull the consent‑agenda item for discussion.
On the record, Malloy and speakers said Omerza had not received prior reprimands or disciplinary notices and that her removal related to internal resistance to her oversight. Omerza said she had been questioned about her credibility and experienced conduct she characterized as discriminatory.
During the meeting the council moved to the consent agenda. A council member pulled a separate consent item (6ad) for separate consideration; the remainder of the consent agenda items were approved in the roll call that followed. The transcript does not show the council taking final action on the specific consent agenda line Omerza asked to be pulled during the public comment period.
Omerza and her attorney asked the council to restore procedural review and to allow staff and council to address the matter with due process. City officials did not make additional on‑the‑record findings about the allegations at the March 25 meeting; the meeting record shows the matter was discussed publicly during the audience comment period and that the consent agenda moved forward with at least one item pulled for separate consideration.
