Embattled Redlands City Manager N. Enrique Martinez was fired by the City Council on Nov. 6, one month after he was placed on leave following allegations of sexual harassment.
The Council gave no formal reason for Martinez’s termination, but he is accused of repeatedly harassing former human resources manager Amy Hagan. She claims Martinez would call her on nights and weekends to discuss sexual matters and make offensive and insulting comments at work. She has threatened to sue the city over nearly $500,000 in benefits she believes she is rightfully owed.
Hagan’s attorney, Sagar Raich, said he was pleased by the news of Martinez’s firing:
“At this point we feel that the city is taking a step in the right direction to address Ms. Hagan’s concerns. We hope that the city continues to uphold its policies and procedures and we hope that we continue to get justice for Ms. Hagan.”
Martinez’s attorney also threatened legal action against the city after its Oct. 5 decision to place him on leave. His attorney has not yet offered comment on the termination, but his client has previously denied Hagan’s allegations.
Redlands Daily Facts reports that Martinez has received 15 months of salary and health benefits as part of his severance, plus payment of final wages and accrued leave.
The city paid more than $415,000 to Martinez, according to Carl Baker, city spokesman. His regular pay for 2017 was $282,859.06, according to Transparent California.
The severance payment is in accordance with the “termination without cause” portion of Martinez’s employment agreement. If he were terminated for a certain narrow set of causes, he would not be entitled to the severance pay, according to the agreement.
The “termination for cause” section defines several causes that would have stripped Martinez’s severance pay including being convicted of a felony, abuse of drugs or alcohol that affects job performance, and failure to carry out his duties without reasonable justification.
The city, however, has refused to pay the lifetime medical and dental benefits for Martinez and his family upon advisement from legal counsel.
“The City has been informed by its special legal counsel that the provision of your employment agreement relating to ‘Lifetime Medical and Dental Coverage’ is in violation of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013,” a city letter to Martinez reads. “Accordingly, any payment of that benefit to you by the City would also be in violation of the law.”