Sebastopol City Manager Don Schwartz stepped down last week after 15 months on the job. The City Council announced a mutual separation agreement following a performance evaluation on Monday, April 14.
The council voted 3-2 to release Schwartz without cause. Sandra Maurer and Neysa Hinton were opposed. Assistant City Manager Mary Gourley was appointed Acting City Manager, effective immediately.
In his announcement of the decision, Mayor Stephen Zollman praised Schwartz for guiding the city through difficult times.
“Among other things, Mr. Schwartz assisted in negotiating an agreement to consolidate the Fire Department and helped establish a path to solve the City’s financial challenges,” Zollman said.
Since Schwartz’s contract was terminated so soon, he is entitled to nine months’ pay — or $183,000 — in severance, according to the Sebastopol Times.
Read more about Schwartz’s departure at the Press Democrat and The Community Voice.