The Stockton City Council met in a closed session Tuesday to discuss possible disciplinary action against City Manager Harry Black, but no action was taken by the end of the meeting.

Black, who began serving in his position in 2020 and formerly held the same title in Cincinnati, still remains Stockton’s city manager as of Wednesday, city officials said.

Due to the meeting being held in closed session, it was unclear why Black was facing possible employee discipline but a similar agenda item for performance evaluation was listed for the Oct. 17 City Council meeting.

Shortly after the council wrapped up their closed-door meeting, public comment was made available regarding Black.

The first speaker, Motecuzoma Sanchez, founder of the 209 Times news outlet, alleged that Black was facing dismissal because of a complaint that Sanchez filed earlier this year with the city auditor.

“We have behavior and conduct unbecoming from the city manager who is doing so in a professional capacity representing our city. … At what point in time are you guys as a council going to take a stand and put a stop to his behavior?” Motecuzoma Sanchez, public commenter

Sanchez alleged that Black had called an employee — identified by Sanchez as Shannon McGovern — from the city’s water supplier a derogatory name.

Sanchez read an alleged letter from the vice president of Cal Water that stated that a member of the city’s leadership publicly made derogatory and disparaging remarks about one of their employees.

“We have behavior and conduct unbecoming from the city manager who is doing so in a professional capacity representing our city,” alleged Sanchez. “This City Council has not taken corrective behavior with Mr. Black. He is still the city manager, this is his third time up for dismissal in the last two years. At what point in time are you guys as a council going to take a stand and put a stop to his behavior?” Sanchez said.

Former Stockton Vice Mayor Christina Fugazi also spoke during public comment and pleaded with the council to take action.

“I am here in support of the 1,400 full-time employees we have in the city of Stockton who may have faced at any one time intimidation, bullying or unsafe work environment that may be hostile,” Fugazi said. “This is a very difficult time for the city of Stockton, but we can’t put one individual over the 1,400 individuals that we have for the city.”

City officials did not choose to send a statement regarding Black when contacted Wednesday.

Victoria Franco is a reporter based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. She is a Report for America corps member.

Victoria Franco is a Stockton-based reporter covering the diverse news around the Central Valley as part of the Report for America program. As a Stockton native, Franco is proud to cover stories within her community and report a variety of coverage. She is a San Jose State University alumna with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. In her collegiate years she was Managing Editor for the Spartan Daily. From her time at the Spartan Daily she helped lead her staff to California College Media Awards and a General Excellence first place. Victoria encourages readers to email her story tips and ideas at victoria.franco@baycitynews.com.