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Residents and nonprofit raise staffing, hiring and retaliation concerns; calls for leadership change
Summary
Several residents and Tri Cities NAACP publicly raised concerns April 7 about nontransparent hiring, pay disparities and retaliation by city staff; recreation contractors also urged reinstatement of longtime employee Chris Glover and some speakers called for the city manager’s removal or further investigation.
During the citizen‑appearances portion of the meeting, a series of speakers raised concerns about personnel practices, transparency and leadership.
Tongee Smith, president of Tri Cities NAACP, told the council the organization had received multiple reports alleging hires made without formal, transparent processes, disparities in compensation, and retaliation when employees raised concerns. "We are not making a formal allegation today, but rather we are conveying our concerns that have been reported to us that warrant careful review and appropriate attention," Smith said, and added the group would follow up via email.
Multiple recreation contractors and long-term instructors, including Sheila Adams and Cheryl Deloney, urged the council to reinstate Chris Glover, a rec‑center staffer they described as a 17+‑ and 26‑year community fixture who they said provided continuity and support for programs. "When I found out that Chris was terminated, it devastated me," Deloney said, and instructors asked the council to rescind a new membership requirement for class‑only participants that they said threatens class attendance and program viability.
Another speaker reading a mobilization letter said petitions were circulating to remove the city manager, alleging a pattern of instability in the administration and leadership decisions that have eroded public trust. Gary Ravenell and others criticized council decorum and changes to public-comment procedures. The mayor called a brief recess after audible outbursts; the meeting resumed and the council took no formal action on the petitions during the session. Staff and the city manager said they had met with some instructors and would follow up with rec‑center users and affected staff.
