Milpitas City Manager Tom Williams has been placed on administrative leave amid ongoing turmoil and intrigue at City Hall. The announcement, issued Friday by City Attorney Christopher Diaz, caps off an extraordinary month in which Williams threatened a defamation and harassment lawsuit against Milpitas and its mayor, and was then accused of paying his personal attorney with his city credit card.
Williams has denied using the card to pay his attorney's fees.
"I absolutely in no way misused a city credit card," he told the Milpitas Post. "The accusations are ridiculous and another attempt by someone trying to hurt and retaliate against me.”
Who would want to hurt Williams? If the city manager is to be believed, perhaps Mayor Rich Tran. Recently-obtained legal documents show Williams has accused him of age-based discrimination and harassment that culminated with attempts at a frivolous investigation.
"You old guys need to move out of the way," the 32-year-old Tran allegedly told Williams while expressing his desire to get rid of him and have him replaced with someone younger. “I told the voters I had to investigate you. So noth’en personal, but I gotta do what I gotta do.”
The city remains tight-lipped about Williams’ leave. City Attorney Diaz also refused to elaborate beyond his letter to the council stating that Williams had paid $7,000 to his San Francisco-based attorney through a city-issued charge card. Williams then attempted to charge another $30,000 in city funds for the same attorney, Diaz’s letter said.
Williams has served as Milpitas' top administrator for more than 10 years. Police Chief Steve Pangelinan has been appointed acting city manager.