members of the audience—there had been at stake. At the special council meeting, she surprise when the agenda for the meeting was said, “At this time I’d ask, though, [I’d] like released, because it did not contain an item everyone to please, please, I can’t stress this dealing with administrative leave for Clinger enough, to respect the process.” She did not while the investigation was conducted. Who spell out what that meant. put the agenda together is not known. The city Hendry asked Peterson if he would release charter gives the mayor authority to call special the letters after removing the names. meetings but the council’s own rules assign “I have no problem with these letters going agenda-writing to the city manager. out, with the redacting,” Peterson said—but The sharpest exchange came when again left it up to the city to do it. Brekhus was trying to discuss He said that in her complaints how the issue of administrative about the way the process is leave could be brought to the conducted, Brekhus was council at another special “Right on the money. Right meeting. When the mayor on the money.” He alleged tried to interrupt—apparhis clients were threatened ently on grounds that by the city attorney’s the discussion had office with firing if they not been posted on discussed the case, but the agenda—Brekhus Clinger was allowed to said sternly, “Please, talk about it all he wanted. don’t cut me off, Mayor. “And all the time my Please don’t cut me off.” Andrew Clinger clients were being told, Eventually Brekhus called on Reno city manager ‘You’re going to be fired if Clinger to take administrative you talk.’ … You know where leave on his own and called on the these [investigative] interviews were mayor to put him on leave if he failed to taking place? In the city manager’s office. do it himself. … I’m not impressed by the process.” McKenzie was concerned about the diffiPeterson said Clinger should have taken culty the three complainants would face with leave of his own accord. On Aug 8, Clinger Clinger still on the job while the probe unfolds. did so, saying, “The health and vibrancy of our There was considerable comment on how organization and our community are among information on the case had been passed my highest priorities. Effective today, I will around, with some people in the know and be on voluntary leave for the next 15 days others not. City councilmembers did not to ensure the important business of the city receive copies of the complaints against continues without interruption or distraction. Clinger. Duerr and Brekhus both made In my absence, I have designated Bill Thomas remarks suggesting they should have been to act in my place as City Manager. I have no better informed. Clinger was informed of the doubt Bill will do an outstanding job.” Ω outcome of the initial investigation. The three complainants were not. Hall said office procedures barred informing the complainants. Clinger sat mostly impassively during what had to be an uncomfortable meeting for him, but following the meeting while Peterson was being interviewed by reporters in the empty council hall, Clinger reemerged to answer questions. Peterson said he understands the difficulty the city attorney has juggling the various people and entities he represents—“the city council and the city, the people and the public. Whose interests he’s protecting here, I’m not sure, but it looks like it’s the city manager.” Peterson was critical of the city for not releasing the complaints to city councilmembers. He said he had no objection to the complaints by his clients being made public. “I don’t view these letters as confidential because I wrote them,” he said. But when asked by KRNV reporter Terri Hendry if he would release the letters, he declined because it “would contravene the spirit of the process laid out by the mayor.” Lawyer William Peterson, representing women charging sexual harassment by the city manager, answers questions In her initial statement on the matter, Mayor from reporters. Hillary Schieve discouraged public discussion PHOTO/DENNIS MYERS of the matter on grounds that reputations were
“I will be on voluntary leave for the next 15 days.”
08.11.16
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