DATE: August 20, 2026
TO: Hilary Gaede for the Town Council, Town Manager, and Public Comment FROM: Stephen Becker and Jill Turner
SUBJECT: PETITION TO DELAY HIRING A PERMANENT TOWN MANAGER Dear Ms. Gaede,
Can you please send this to all Town Council members and the Town Manager sometime this week, then include it with the September 15 Town Council meeting Public Comment? Thank you in advance.
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PETITION TO DELAY HIRING A PERMANENT TOWN MANAGER
We, the undersigned Yountville stakeholders, respectfully urge the current Yountville Town Council to delay hiring a permanent Town Manager until the newly elected Town Council is seated in December.
WHY DELAY?
Three of the five Town Council seats—the Mayor and two Council members—are on the November 3 ballot, and the new Council will take office in early December. The Town Manager is one of the Town’s most important leadership positions and will work closely with the Council for years to come. Therefore, the newly elected Town Council should have a direct voice in selecting the person with whom it will work.
Our concerns pertain to the hiring process and timing alone; and not Town Manager candidates, either current or potential. As Yountville enters an important period of change and opportunity, a strong and effective partnership between the Town Manager and Town Council is essential for future success.
REASONS TO DELAY THE HIRING:
1. Let the new Town Council choose its Town Manager.
A successful Town Manager–Town Council relationship requires trust, communication, shared vision, and a good mutual fit. Although every Town Manager will inevitably work with 2 changing Councils over time, why exclude the incoming Council from the selection of a leader with whom it will work with from Day One?
2. Despite good intentions and best efforts, the current Town Council did not make a successful hire with the previous Town Manager. Furthermore, his resignation, and subsequent payout, have cost the town’s taxpayers an estimated $250,000, an astonishing amount that is yet to be satisfactorily explained. That outcome underscores the importance of getting this decision right.
3. A broader search can strengthen the candidate pool.
A short delay would provide additional time to recruit, interview, evaluate, and thoroughly vet qualified candidates—potentially producing a stronger and better-aligned hire.
4. There is no need for a rushed decision.
An Interim Town Manager is already serving and can remain in place, or another interim arrangement can be made, until the new Council is seated and can participate in the selection process.
5. The timing makes sense.
Town government activity naturally slows during the November-December holiday season.
Moreover, candidates may need time to provide notice, complete year-end responsibilities, maximize benefits, arrange relocation, or otherwise prepare for a new position.
For these reasons, we Yountville stakeholders below respectfully ask the current Town Council to slow the hiring process and allow the newly elected Council to participate fully in selecting Yountville’s next permanent Town Manager.
Respectfully signed:
(Received via email)
Stephen Becker
Jill Turner
Robin Chambers
Stephen Turner
Kathy McClure
Inez Brocco
Mindy Hall
Julienne Albert
Ross Albert
Megan Mason
3 Joe Tagliaboschi
Steve Sumida
Linda Dallas
Charlene Silva
Gabriel Silva
Jennifer Blevans
Bob Blevans
Brad Tucker
Pamyla Means
Carrie Hays
Michelle Britton
Jessi Bugden
Eric Appel
Chuck Varoncini
Karen Thurling
John Ritter
Mo Connor
Roger Asleson
Carol Swenson
Davio Santos
Melinda Kelley
Chris Chandler
Celine Ford
Martin Ford
Vivian Ritondale
Dawne Dickenson
Kelli Egan
Michelle Egan
Joe Tagliaboschi (Received in Person)
These were handwritten
signatures and some were
hard to read. Our apologies for
any misspellings.
Vicki Hamm
Dennyse Stanford
Stephen Balogh
Jim Bartelman
Gail Edney
Peter O'Brien
Nancy Gothior
4 Paul E. Burk
Michelle Pelleriti
Heidi Ringsmith
Jon Hosme
Bob Brown
James Figgins
William Campbell
Tom Thrower
Tom Culotta
Franklyn Peterson
Aranna Morgan
Eileen Fuller
Kim Rierson
Ruth Carole Rose
Phil Wright
Michael Horton
Connie S. Darr
Richard Tiff
Joe Gennaro
Jolene Gennaro
Judy Brown
Richard Naumann
Richard L. Oken
Judith Oken
Tom Budny
Pablito Fumar
Mel Taylor
Samuel Joens
Kathleen Ainsworth
Charles Ainsworth
Norm Laniewicz
Gerald Johnson
Sherry Jasara
Shelley Svoren
Gay Browne
Michael Haran
Mark Collins
Don Morrison
Chris Cordera
Steve Lake
Wendy Reicher
Hudson Reicher
Johnny Svoren
Lindsey Tomek
5 Susan Doyle
Elizabeth Stewart
Roshini Mal
David Bewick
David Young
Mark Hassman
Dave McNabb
Kiki McNabb
Jill Williams
Daniel Cabrera
Bonnie Thrower
John Colombero
Paul Sullivan
Lorene Coronado
Terrance J. Pennington
Gretchen Pennington
Nancy Caldwell
Charles Burke
Sean Larkin
Therese Cautney
Polly Hudson
Katja Loeffelholz
Eric Loeffelholz
Michael R. Cantin
David P. Meyer
Thomas Keller (Signatures very hard to read)
Will Andrew
Rem Delgun
Rick Crebs
D Hijon