Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Transition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cypress City Manager resigns; council appoints acting manager amid sharp public criticism
Summary
Peter Grant resigned effective Aug. 25; council directed that Assistant City Manager Matt Burton serve as acting city manager. Residents and former officials criticized the handling of the resignation and raised allegations about past conduct and funding, prompting calls for transparency.
The Cypress City Council on Aug. 25 announced that City Manager Peter Grant resigned effective immediately and that the city and Mr. Grant had entered a severance agreement and general release effective that day.
City Attorney Fred Galante reported the council met in closed session on two listed items and that, by motion of Mayor Burke seconded by Council Member Chang, the council carried a 5–0 motion directing the city to appoint Matt Burton, the assistant city manager and finance director, to serve as acting city manager pending the selection of an interim or permanent manager.
The resignation and the closed-session circumstances drew extensive comment during the meeting's public-comment periods. Several longtime residents and former officials criticized the way the departure was handled. Former Mayor and council member Ann Mallory said Grant, after more than a decade of service, "deserved a fair and transparent process" and that the surprise resignation appeared "personal and political." John Pete and other residents urged the council to restore trust and professionalism in city operations.
Other public commenters made more pointed allegations about past contracts, campaign spending and donations. Thomas Moore alleged that the former city manager and previous councils had favored certain contractors and cited independent expenditures and contract extensions; other speakers disputed or pushed back on those assertions during the meeting.
Council members acknowledged limits on what they could disclose because of confidentiality tied to closed sessions and legal agreements. City Attorney Galante advised caution about discussing closed-session details publicly. Matt Burton, who the council designated acting city manager, said he worked with Mr. Grant for 11 years and would assist staff during the transition.
No further personnel actions were taken at the meeting; the council set the next regular meeting for Sept. 8 and indicated staff would return as needed with any required follow-up.
