Any calls or emails to the City of Toledo are currently going unanswered as the city deals with the sudden departure of its office staff following months of tension within the office.
After some significant turnover in the city office over the last eight months, both of the city’s remaining office staff members resigned last week “due to what they described as a very difficult place to work,” said Mayor Steve Dobosh in a letter to constituents this week.
“While it is not unusual for the entire staff to leave when their manager does, it was not something that we thought would happen,” wrote Dobosh in the letter, which is published in full at chronline.com.
The staff members cited several issues in their resignation letters, including claims of four out of five city council members, including mayor pro tem Eric Hayes, “belittling staff,” “having meetings outside of city council meetings to fit their own agenda,” “disregard for ethics and aggressive outbursts by staff and council,” according to Dobosh’s letter.
The resigning staff reportedly stated that council member Emily Morgan was not included in their concerns, according to Dobosh.
The other four council members — Hayes, Jamie Scalise, Michelle “Shelly” Thomas and Glenda Forga — reportedly made “statements … that the office staff acted inappropriately,” which Dobosh called “simply not true,” adding, “It is not in the best interest of the city to have a few city council members/mayor pro tem make disparaging remarks about previous employees, this only causes potential litigation for our citizens.”
The resignations prompted the city council to call an emergency special meeting on Thursday, which Dobosh claimed was held without himself or Morgan in attendance.
“Emily showed up, but promptly left after having a short conversation with Mayor Pro Tem Eric Hayes,” said Dobosh. “This was an emergency meeting at which time they wanted me, your mayor, to declare an emergency. I do not feel there is an emergency as the city continues to operate its services for the citizens. We still have police, fire, water and sewer. An emergency should only be declared when the continuity of government is no longer able to function,” wrote Dobosh.
In his letter, Dobosh apologized to Toledo citizens for not speaking with them about the city’s issues earlier.
“As mayor this past year, I have had a lot of personal issues arise. My partner Tammy lost her son unexpectedly and I have had health issues. I allowed the mayor pro tem to take over some responsibilities, but unfortunately, this has led to losing 150 years of public service in eight months,” wrote Dobosh, adding a promise to Toledo citizens “to take a more active role in the daily operations of the city.”
Dobosh assured Toledo residents that he is working to fill vacant positions and remedy the city’s staffing situation as quickly as possible.
“I have been organizing business and community leaders to assist during this time. I have set up a committee to review applications, with the first 50 applications already reviewed. I have also selected community leaders to serve on the hiring committee. These community members will interview the applicants with me beginning this week,” wrote Dobosh. “Once the committee feels they have the best applicant for each respective role, it will then go to city council for their financial approval. I will be calling to set up interviews immediately. It is with hope, the city council takes the recommendation of community leaders while fulfilling the position of clerk, treasurer and billing clerk.”
The Toledo city attorney and insurer have been made aware of the situation, according to Dobosh.
Additionally, Dobosh said he sent letters to each of the city council members “reminding them what their roles are,” stating, “The role of your mayor is to run the day-to-day operations of the city. This means hiring and firing staff along with managing the day-to-day operations. The city council’s responsibility includes financial and legislative actions, along with council meetings. In the letter, I have asked each council member to follow their responsibilities as outlined in the Revised Code of Washington.”
He added, “I look forward to working with the city council on projects and issues that will help our city move forward. While there has been a great deal of consternation between our city staff and the city council, it is time that we all look to the future and what is best for the citizens of Toledo. Toledo is a great little city, I grew up here and now is our opportunity to continue to make this city the best little city in the state. We have the best internet, we have a group of volunteers that no city has and, most importantly, we are a community of great people. While there is growth coming, we want to make sure we manage that growth to the best of our ability.”
Dobosh encouraged any Toledo citizens with concerns to reach out to him at 360-864-4829.
The Chronicle was unable to reach any members of Toledo City Council for comment as of Friday afternoon.
Here's the mayor's full letter:
To the citizens of the great city of Toledo
By Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh
It has been an honor to serve the City of Toledo as Mayor for the past 7 years, through the changes and now through the growth. In recent months, there has been turnover within the City of Toledo that has caused many citizen concerns. While it is not unusual for the entire staff to leave when their manager does, it was not something that we thought would happen. Unfortunately, last week, both of our remaining office staff Jill and Deavon walked off their jobs due to what they described as a very difficult place to work. They cited several issues, city council/Mayor Pro Tem belittling staff, city council/Mayor Pro Tem having meetings outside of council meetings to fit their own agenda, city council/Mayor Pro Tem disregard for ethics and aggressive outbursts by staff and council. In their letters, they stated that Emily Morgan was not a part of the council's actions against them. This was not a productive environment for our staff and these actions were outside of the policies and procedures outlined by the City of Toledo’s own policy and procedure manual. Thursday night, Toledo City Council held a meeting without Emily or myself in attendance. Emily showed up, but promptly left after having a short conversation with Mayor Pro Tem, Eric Hayes. This was an Emergency Meeting at which time they wanted me, your Mayor, to declare an emergency. I do not feel there is an emergency as the city continues to operate its services for the citizens. We still have police, fire, water and sewer. An emergency should only be declared when the continuity of government is no longer able to function. While we do not have anyone in the office answering phones or emails, this will be rectified as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at 360-864-4829. As Mayor this past year, I have had a lot of personal issues arise. My partner Tammy lost her son unexpectedly and I have had health issues. I allowed the Mayor Pro Tem to take over some responsibilities, but unfortunately, this has led to losing 150 years of public service in 8 months. There have also been statements by certain council members/Mayor Pro Tem that the office staff operated inappropriately, this is simply not true. It is not in the best interest of the city to have a few city council members/mayor pro Tem make disparaging remarks about previous employees, this only causes potential litigation for our citizens. I would like to apologize to our citizens for not speaking with you earlier. I have been working with our City Attorney Jim Buzzard and our insurance carrier to let them know what is happening. I have delivered a letter to each council member, reminding them what their roles are. The role of your mayor is to run the day to day operations of the City. This means hiring and firing staff along with managing the day to day operations. The city council’s responsibility includes financial and legislative actions, along with council meetings. In the letter, I have asked each council member to follow their responsibilities as outlined in the Revised Code of Washington. I have been organizing business and community leaders to assist during this time. I have set up a committee to review applications, with the first 50 applications already reviewed. I have also selected community leaders to serve on the hiring committee. These community members will interview the applicants with me beginning this week. Once the committee feels they have the best applicant for each respective role, it will then go to city council for their financial approval. I will be calling to set up interviews immediately. It is with hope, the city council takes the recommendation of community leaders while fulfilling the position of Clerk, Treasurer and Billing Clerk. Even though Jill and Deaven have both tendered their resignations, I have asked them to assist in the transition for new employees. There have been no wrong doings and were put in a situation of being micromanaged without policy being followed. It is my responsibility to make sure that policy is followed and we are not subjected to litigation. I look forward to working with the city council on projects and issues that will help our city move forward. While there has been a great deal of consternation between our city staff and the city council, it is time that we all look to the future and what is best for the citizens of Toledo. Toledo is a great little city, I grew up here and now is our opportunity to continue to make this city the best little city in the state. We have the best internet, we have a group of volunteers that no city has and most importantly, we are a community of great people. While there is growth coming, we want to make sure we manage that growth to the best of our ability. As your Mayor, I promise to take a more active role in the daily operations of the city. I will manage the staff to their full potential and I will make sure I keep Toledo the great city it is today. I am Steve Dobosh and I am your Mayor, together Toledo will continue to be the greatest little city on the river.
