STOCKTON CITY COUNCIL has replaced Steve Colangelo as interim city manager starting this month — at least for a little while.
The council voted unanimously at its July 29 meeting to reappoint Deputy City Manager Will Crew as acting city manager until a new contract for Colangelo can be agendized. Crew will fill the role starting Aug. 9, the day Colangelo’s current contract with the city is scheduled to expire.
It is also the date by which the council was supposed to have chosen a permanent city manager.
The council directed staff to put a new contract for Colangelo on the agenda of its next regularly scheduled meeting, which is Aug. 19.
When asked if the council’s decision surprised him, Colangelo said that “nothing surprises me” in reference to city government. “I work at the pleasure of the council,” he added.
As the decision was made during closed session, no other information was given during Tuesday’s meeting as to why the council needs to wait to extend the contract or how the move will affect the search for a permanent replacement.
However, Mayor Christina Fugazi released a statement Wednesday morning clarifying what she described as inaccurate messaging.
“The laws that govern closed session prohibit Council from sharing their discussion regarding the Interim City Manager,” Fugazi said in a statement sent out by the city. “We can disclose that reports of Interim City Manager Steve Colangelo being fired, dismissed, or relieved of his duties are categorically false.”
It’s unclear as to what reports she is referring.
Third time probably not a charm
This is the third time this year city leadership has changed hands. And it likely won’t be the last, as the city continues to search for a permanent city manager.
Crew briefly served as acting city manager following the forced resignation of former City Manager Harry Black in January. He was then replaced by Colangelo a few weeks later.
Tuesday’s council meeting was the second time in one month that Colangelo’s job seemed to have been on the line.
Both of the council’s July meetings had listed items regarding the possible discipline, dismissal or release of an unnamed public employee, immediately followed by the appointment of another public employee, with the position listed as “City Manager.”
These same combination of agenda items previously led to the ousting of Black.
“The laws that govern closed session prohibit Council from sharing their discussion regarding the Interim City Manager. We can disclose that reports of Interim City Manager Steve Colangelo being fired, dismissed, or relieved of his duties are categorically false.” Mayor Christina Fugazi
At the council’s July 15 meeting, Colangelo’s job seemed to remain safe, as the city attorney announced no actions taken in closed session.
Employment-related discussions by the council are held behind closed doors during what’s known as a closed session. Only actions taken, such as hiring or firing a city manager, are required to be announced. The discussions surrounding closed-session decision making are not made public unless under certain circumstances.
The only clue the public was given to any discussions surrounding council discussion of the interim city manager’s employment came from Colangelo himself at the council’s July 15 meeting.
“I wanted to thank our City Council tonight. Thank you because you chose to continue the amazing work that we’ve started together, today,” Colangelo said during the city manager’s report at the end of the meeting. “Your decision reflects the confidence and results over rhetoric, progress over construction, and Stockton’s potential over political convenience.”
A polarizing appointment
Colangelo was a controversial and unconventional choice for Stockton’s interim city manager when he was hired in February. His resume brought forth concerned comments from the public and some councilmembers.
The long-time event planner and serial political candidate, including a failed bid for Stockton City Council, lacked the education and experience in municipal government typically required for the role. Colangelo’s time as CEO of the San Joaquin Fairgrounds was also marred by a scathing state audit detailing sweeping financial accountability issues and other problems before he made a sudden exit.
Concerns over his education and work history were tempered with assurances by some on the City Council, including Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi and Vice Mayor Jason Lee, that Colangelo was the right choice for the position and would only serve as Stockton’s city manager temporarily until a permanent replacement could be found.
“Steve isn’t a career bureaucrat, and that’s exactly why he’s the right choice for Stockton,” Fugazi said in a news release announcing Colangelo’s appointment. “His deep commitment to our city and proven leadership make him the best person to take on this critical role.”
“I wanted to thank our City Council tonight. Thank you because you chose to continue the amazing work that we’ve started together, today. Your decision reflects the confidence and results over rhetoric, progress over construction, and Stockton’s potential over political convenience.” Steve Colangelo, interim Stockton city manager at July 15 City Council meeting
However, Colengelo’s time as interim city manager and the council’s search for a permanent choice have not been without their own controversy.
The city manager search process has been that of continuous controversy in recent months. Following Black’s resignation, a CEO and event planner, Steve Colangelo, became the interim city manager and is set to serve in the position for at least the next few weeks, when the council’s self-imposed deadline for hiring a permanent city manager is scheduled to expire.
Colangelo was an unconventional choice due to his apparent lack of city government experience and no apparent hiring process. Ire from both the public and some councilmembers was also ignited earlier this year after an investigation by Stocktonia revealed that Colangelo had hired another city manager for $11,000 per month of public money to help him do his job. It was later revealed the money used to pay for the contract had been reallocated from funds meant for diversity, equity and inclusion support.
Councilmembers have also sparred publicly over the city manager search, including the dissolution of an ad hoc search committee and accusations of law breaking and political retaliation.
Lengthening the interim period
The council stressed to the public at the time of Colangelo’s hiring that he’d only be in the city manager role temporarily until a permanent replacement can be found. However, recent rhetoric from Colangelo and the council’s instruction to staff to put a new contract for him at their next meeting could mean the interim is sticking around at least a little longer.
“Here’s what I can promise you, whether I serve one more day or one more year, I will continue fighting for Stockton’s potential,” Colangelo said during the city manager’s report at the council’s July 15 meeting following what he described as the city’s accomplishments since he’d been interim city manager and his qualifications for the job.
He also ended his report that night by describing the moment as the “first day of a rebirth” for the city.
“We are looking at opportunities that our city hasn’t seen since the gold rush. I’m excited for what lies ahead,” Colangelo said. “I’m excited to join with you and each member of this beautifully diverse city in fostering this new era of success, growth, safety and prosperity for all of Stockton.”
When asked if the council’s decision Tuesday to put off extending his current contract could mean he might soon become Stockton’s permanent city manager, Colangelo responded with, “We’ll see.”
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.
