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Commission divided over motion to place City Manager on paid administrative leave; motion fails after public debate
Summary
Vice Mayor Tammy Vasquez moved to place City Manager Charles Van Zant on paid administrative leave and have Assistant City Manager Gary Volnak assume duties pending investigation, citing alleged fiscal mismanagement and workplace conduct. After extended debate and public comment, the motion failed on roll call (2 ayes, 2 nos).
Vice Mayor Tammy Vasquez moved to place City Manager Charles Van Zant on paid administrative leave immediately, citing what she described as a "pattern involving fiscal judgment, hiring decisions, communication failures, interference with commissioners' ability to perform their elected responsibilities and inappropriate workplace conduct."
Vasquez moved that Van Zant be placed on paid administrative leave, that Assistant City Manager Gary Volnak assume the duties of acting city manager, that city-issued credentials and equipment be relinquished, and that an outside investigation proceed independently. "Based upon the documented pattern of fiscal mismanagement... I move to place City Manager Charles Van Zant on paid administrative leave effective immediately," Vasquez said.
The motion was seconded. Commissioners debated the merits at length. Commissioner Arden Dickey and Mayor Docter said they had not personally observed the alleged mismanagement and warned about the operational disruption and legal/process implications of removing a manager during budget season. Dickey said Van Zant has her "full support" and that she has met with him weekly. Commissioner Cezanne recounted repeated instances of unresponsiveness and said she had filed a formal grievance after an episode she described as a public confrontation and raising of voices; she said that was the culmination of ongoing concerns.
Public comment was extensive and mixed. Several speakers warned that repeated ethics/termination discussions risked disrupting city operations; others said investigations should proceed if warranted but urged adherence to due process and statutory requirements.
On roll call the motion failed: Vice Mayor Vasquez voted Aye; Commissioner Cezanne voted Aye; Commissioner Dickey voted No; Mayor Docter voted No, producing a 2–2 split with Commissioner Clark absent. Without the required majority to take the administrative‐leave action, the city manager stayed in his role as of the meeting’s close. The commission and city attorney discussed that investigations were underway and that any personnel actions must follow Sunshine Law and other statutory requirements.
