From: Jacob Patterson
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment -- 10/10/23 CC Mtg., Item 9B, City Manager Appointment Date: Thursday, October 05, 2023 5:50:04 PM
City Council,
I am dismayed that I have to write this comment but after alarming events that occurred today that have been brought to my attention by concerned community members, I cannot stress enough the importance that you immediately put Peggy on administrative leave for the remainder of her minimum 45-day notice period (or waive that period) and name an Acting or Interim City Manager without delay, ideally at the 10/10/23 meeting because a closed session item has been agendized in a way that you could take that action. You have current and former department heads who could serve immediately as well as Sarah who previously served as Acting CM.
I am talking about a "take her keys and change the locks" to City Hall situation... I believe it is that serious. Some people might not be aware of disturbing past events but as part of her alarming behavior, she threatened my physical safety by telling me her three sons-in-law wanted to break my neck--she later claimed that was a joke and subsequently denied she said it at all but I documented the event and quickly reported it to the Police Department upon receiving advice to do so.
In my opinion, Peggy is unhinged and obsessed with me. To illustrate, she has been going around town apparently defaming me in community meetings, including implying that I am so physically threatening that I need to be accompanied by the Chief of Police to visit City Hall, which might be her desire but is certainly not something that factually accurate. I went into City Hall twice today without any incidents, including dropping off a form for the City Clerk's Office to Laura in Finance. The City is legally responsible for her actions as City Manager and this needs to stop. Despite her unfounded allegations that I am somehow harassing people by exercising my legally protected rights to make public comments or submit public records requests, I am actually the one being harassed by her.
In fact, although I have filed several complaints of late about illegal actions taken by City staff, I am not actually complaining about the individual staff members involved but about Peggy's ridiculous directions that have continually resulted in my rights being violated (and continue to do so). You should know that my recent alleged harassment of staff that was referenced during public comments at your last meeting involved me going into City Hall to try to review public comments for the prior City Council meeting, which is my statutory right, a right I share with all other members of the public. Unfortunately, I was denied access to the public comments; comments that ended up being censored by the City as well when they deleted (or failed to publish) the attached proof I supplied that the City had not properly posted a closed session agenda item in time for the regular meeting. I politely objected to my rights being violated and proceeded to file a complaint about it. That isn't harassment, that is an appropriate response to inappropriate directions Peggy provided to subordinate staff.
I reiterate that I believe that enough is enough and Peggy needs to be removed from her appointed office immediately and without delay. Although I have never actually brought any litigation against the City, or any city for that matter (despite being accused of doing so), I may need to do so if you don't deal with this situation appropriately. No matter if you appreciate my tone or the frequency of my comments and other legally protected activities, you have a duty to oversee the city manager and ensure that they are not actively doing harm to the City through their actions. In my opinion, Peggy is actively doing harm and is not stable enough to continue to serve even on a temporary basis for up to six months since you accepted her resignation.
Regards,
--Jacob