Bill Thomas
‘Acting City Manager
City of Reno
1 Fast 1 Street
Reno, Nevada 89501
November 21, 2016
Dear Mr. Thomas,
This letter is the formal notice following our conversation last Friday,
November 18%, that | am resigning. | have been constructively discharged. Calling
me and the other two complainants back from administrative leave before any
remedial action to address the hostile work environment that caused the City to
offer administrative leave in the first place is ill conceived. Further, the leave offer
document clearly stated the leave would be in effect through the end of the second
investigation. The second investigation is not complete as stated by the City
Attorney to Council the day before sending us the November 17% letter calling us
back from leave. Claiming the “investigating” part of the investigation is complete is
nota reasonable or good faith interpretation of the offer. It is further telling that
you are calling us back against the advice of the HR Director and without consulting
outside counsel,
You stated you need us back to do work. While I believe you are doing your
best to cope with a broken organization, | hope you can see the irony of that
position; with one hand the City is taking desperate measures to bring our
productive talents back to work while the other hand is continuing to try to cover-
up the validity of our claims.
This all begs the question: Where is the leadership that is so desperately
needed to guide the City out of this mess in an ethical manner?
You admitted on Friday that you have endeavored to know as little about the
complaints and the investigations as possible. This is also a popular position among
Councilmembers. Despite acknowledging the need for outside counsel, the
leadership of this matter has been left to the City Attorney. I can't help but think
that ignorance of the details by Council has exacerbated the problems at the City and
is exactly the reason why City Policy 607 stipulates that the supervisor of the
accused be involved in every step of the investigatory and remediation process.
Myself and the other two claimants responded to a June 22*¢ call-to-action
from concerned Councilmembers to come forward with any knowledge of sexual
harassment or misconduct. Given this fact, the ensuing reluctance to properly
investigate our claims is hard to fathom. We are now entering into the sixth monthof this surreal experience and are still hoping the City will do the right thing. Not
only have the three of us been damaged, the other upstanding employees have
gotten the clear message: step forward and tell the truth at your own peril.
‘As you know, I've only been with the City of Reno for a year and a half but
was placed on the 15% floor for the whole period and observed the City Manager's,
office in detail. I know from my past experience working for other world-class
governments and Fortune 500 companies what good management looks like and I
expected better for Reno. 1 believe In Reno’s potential and a safe and well:
functioning government is essential to achieving the future the public desires. A full
and transparent accounting of the mismanagement under the former City Manager
and mishandling of the complaint process is necessary for the City to get back on
track, I will continue to hold out for that and I hope you will play a leading role in
moving the City forward.
Best,
cc: Mayor Hillary Schieve
Councilwoman Naomi Duerr
Councilwoman Neoma Jardon
City Attorney Karl Hall
Gregg Kamer, Esq.
Honorable David Wall
Mark Mausert, Esq.