City Staff, Councilors and Residents React to the News that City Manager Steve Adams is (Maybe) Resigning
“There are a few of us who feel a kind of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) from the entire situation with that man."
Jessica Schneider
Editorial Reporting
December 2023
As you’ve probably heard by now… Loveland City Manager Steve Adams is going to “resign,” or, more accurately, according to the agenda for the January 16th City Council meeting, he is proposing an “amicable separation.”
“A motion to approve the proposed separation agreement set forth in Attachment 6 and entitled “Release and Agreement” between Stephen C. Adams and the City of Loveland and to authorize the Mayor to execute the separation agreement on behalf of the City Council
Further, “The City Manager is proposing an amicable separation of employment from the City to support the effective operations of the City based on City Council’s desire for changes in executive leadership.”
Attachment 6 includes a generous severance package for Mr. Adams as well. In case you aren’t planning to stay up until the 10:00 pm on Tuesday when this item is on the agenda, the severance package proposed is $257,030.79, plus all medical coverage, unused sick and paid holiday leave, plus a longevity payment of nearly $3k dollars.
Amicable, indeed.
Of course, many Loveland residents are angry.
City Councilor Troy Krenning responded to a community member today on The Loveland Voice Facebook page.
Community member: “Why didn’t they terminate him? Not enough votes? Grrr… 316 plus thousand dollars. Nice gift.”
Councilor Troy Krenning: “EXACTLY! Our charter requires six votes to hire or fire the city manager or city attorney. A majority of Council, Marsh, Mallo, Black, Light-Kovacs and me would terminate. But, Olson, Samson, McFall and Foley obstruct the effort of the majority. Subsequently, Adams has all of the leverage. Keep in mind, the same four now obstructing the majority desire of council are the same four who took no action during Garner, Lynn and praised the City Manager and rewarded him with lavish pay increases. I will push a charter amendment for this November’s ballot changing this ridiculous rule of requiring a super majority of council to manage the City.”
Who sets the agenda?
Why is this controversial item of great public interest set at such a late time on the agenda? I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that Steve Adams sets the agenda. He provided this Administrative Resolution (AR) to me several weeks ago in my response to my questions about his agenda setting in relation to the Ad Hoc Community Trust Commission. While this version was signed in 2023, after the Commission was dissolved, it does provide some insight into how things are done around here.
An Employee Responds to Adams’ Proposal
“There are a few of us who feel a kind of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) from the entire situation with that man,” a City employee said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“How he kept getting away with it all… It did not leave us feeling safe. I’m a little shocked, but I suppose he had to wait until the City agreed to pay out the $100,000 settlement. Walking away now means he doesn’t have to deal with the internal investigation - no risk of being fired. He can walk away with a full retirement package.”
Home Rule and the City Charter
As a home rule community, in Loveland, we have a strong City Manager, weak Mayor form of government. City employees report to department heads, who report to the City Manager. This includes the Loveland Police Department.
The City Manager, like the City Attorney and the Municipal Judge report to City Council. Under the City Charter, removing any of these “direct reports,” requires a supermajority of Council, which requires six of nine votes. According to City Council representative Troy Krenning, who represents Ward 1, the current Council has five votes to dismiss
What’s Next?
City Council will vote on whether to approve the the “amicable separation,” on Tuesday, January 16th. Will City Attorney Moses Garcia follow Adams out the door with similarly generous parachute? Who will replace them? The rumors seem to support as much, but as of now, those are just rumors.
When One Door Closes…
My hope right now, as a community journalist, is that with further changing of the guard, perhaps information that has been, to put it lightly, challenging, expensive and oftentimes confusing to access via Colorado Open Records Access (CORA) may be a little more forthcoming. As a resident, I hope that City employees who have experienced trauma, micro aggressions and worse will be able to breath a little easier. Fear of retribution is a commonly cited reason for not speaking up. That kind of toxicity can impact mental health and well-being and physical health as well.
Care to Comment?
If you are a city employee who wants to respond to this situation, please email jessica@thelovelandvoice.com We will protect your anonymity.
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What the Hell Happened with The Trust Commission?
Agenda-Mandering: How What Appears to Be a Boring Issue is Actually HUGE
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