RICHMOND, California. – Richmond City Council voted Tuesday to allow two city officials to remain in office after Mayor Tom Butt accused them of improperly using public funds on an ethics investigation.
The council voted 5-1 in closed session to keep City Manager Laura Snideman and City Attorney Teresa Stricker after Butt in his email newsletter last week accused them of using public funds to investigate Butt or his architectural office was paid by the city for the design of the floor plan for the renovation of a building.
Butt said in his newsletter that the investigation stemmed from allegations by at least one city employee that Butt or his architectural firm Interactive Resources Inc. received payment from the city to design potential floor plans for the redevelopment of the former Richmond Intermodal Transit Center, a visitor center and a Richmond merchandise store.
“That would be illegal if it were true, but it wasn’t,” Butt said in his newsletter.
Butt alleged that Snideman violated the city charter by spending about $ 45,000 on the investigation so far, including hiring a private investigator, which exceeded the $ 10,000 limit the city manager legally allowed to spend without consulting the city council can approve.
Butt also argued that Snideman had no legal right under state law to use public funds to investigate a mayor or councilor and that the charter required the mayor to sign contracts between the city and third parties such as investigators, which Butt said that he didn’t.
Butt called on Snideman and Stricker to resign, saying he had “lost all trust and belief” in the two officials.
Butt was the only vote for the resignation of Snideman and Stricker, while Councilor Nathaniel Bates abstained.
Several public commentators berated Butt for putting the resolution that would have ended Snideman and Stricker on the agenda, arguing that it was an abuse of power.
“I just don’t see how we can think about firing city workers for doing the ethical things,” said former councilor Ben Choi, who did not stand for re-election last year after being elected in 2016.
The public prosecutor’s office has moved to the city administrator’s office to comment on the council’s vote. A spokesman for Snideman’s office did not return a request for comment.