The city of Vallejo is losing another city manager.
Interim City Manager Anne Cardwell gave notice Monday that Oct. 7 will be her last day with the city, Vallejo city spokeswoman Christina Lee confirmed.
Cardwell’s announcement comes about a month after she was named to the interim post by the Vallejo City Council following the sudden departure of City Manager Greg Nyhoff in June.
Cardwell could not be reached for comment, but in an interview with the Vallejo Times-Herald on Wednesday, she cited “false and negative statements” and “demoralizing” comments made by others about city staff as reasons behind her decision. Cardwell told the Times-Herald that she had found a new job but did not elaborate.
“She has helped open the city government as interim city manager. She has improved the dialogue between the city manager position and Vallejo City Council.”
Mayor Robert McConnell
On Monday night, Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell thanked Cardwell for her service with the city of Vallejo.
“She has helped open the city government as interim city manager,” said McConnell. “She has improved the dialogue between the city manager position and Vallejo City Council.”
The council met in a special closed session Tuesday night to discuss the next steps in selecting another interim city manager. McConnell said the council is expected to name Cardwell’s replacement in September, but he declined to confirm if there were any leading candidates.
“I have some ideas,” the mayor said, “but I need to discuss them with the council first.”
About a month after Nyhoff disappeared with an undisclosed illness, the council approved a $577,536 resignation and separation agreement with him.
Cardwell, who was hired as assistant city manager in late 2018, was made acting city manager immediately after Nyhoff left City Hall. She was elevated to interim city manager a month later.
A day after her appointment as interim city manager, Cardwell named Kyle Long as Vallejo’s fire chief. Long had been serving as interim fire chief following the sudden resignation of Fire Chief Daryl Arbuthnott in mid-April.
She also named interim Deputy City Manager Gillian Hayes as interim assistant city manager, while also naming Felicia Flores to assistant to the city manager.