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Steve Adams threatens to sue Arroyo Grande

January 18, 2015
City Manager Steve Adams and Teresa McClish

City Manager Steve Adams and Teresa McClish

BY KAREN VELIE

Former Arroyo Grande City Manager Steve Adams filed a claim against the city last week threatening a lawsuit if the council does not extend his paid administrative leave for six months. The city will meet in closed session on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. to discuss the threat of litigation.

Following a Sept. 17 Arroyo Grande Police Officers’ Association vote of no confidence, on Oct. 1 Adams announced his resignation.

“My resignation will become effective once my replacement has been hired and starts work,” Adams says in his letter. “My primary motivation is to serve the best interests of the community I cherish so much.”

Last week, the city hired interim City Manager Robert McFall. Though the city accepted Adams resignation in September, he was able draw full pay until last week when McFall was hired.

Nevertheless, Adams is claiming that his resignation was to take place after a permanent and not an interim city manager was hired. He is demanding six months paid administrative leave along with retirement benefits.

Adams is currently 54-years-old and will turn 55 in late 2015. If the council agrees to extend his paid administrative leave and he utilizes his accrued vacation and sick leave, he could greatly increase his monthly retirement package from the city.

In his resignation letter, Adams also praised former Mayor Tony Ferrara and City Attorney Tim Carmel and chastised those who said there was a cover-up.

On Nov. 19, after reviewing the investigation into the alleged sex scandal., the Arroyo Grande City Council voted unanimously to place Adams on paid administrative leave where he remained until last week.

During the November meeting, Councilman Tim Brown admitted that Carmel had informed him of a previous inappropriate incident involving Adams and Community Development Director Teresa McClish, a subordinate employee. Brown’s statement came on the heels of repeated claims by city officials that there was no evidence that Adams and McClish were involved in a romantic relationship, nor was there any proof of a cover-up by Ferrara and the council.

Nevertheless, because the previous council voted to give Adams a verbal reprimand as punishment his late night rendezvous with McClish’s July City Hall, the newly seated council cannot terminate him for cause related to that event.

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Wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls a Lisa Chitty move and files a bogus worker’s comp claim next.


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Yeah, from all the stress of trying to keep the tryst a secret.


A guilty conscience must be h*ll to live with for all those years.

Maybe that’s why he needs more $$$, to pay for the rest of his lifetime massages.


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OMG! Why am I surprised? Does this man have any ethics? He destroyed his family, his reputation and now he wants to be PAID for this? I mostly feel bad for his teenage daughters, who were innocent and should never have witnessed any of this. True or not, it is perception that remains.


And, the longer this thing drags on, the more it is in the face of the people. LET IT DIE! Go back to Glendale and get a job. You took enough advantage of the people, don’t make us pay you more.


Oh, and take your buddies Ferrara and Carmel with you. You are all dirty.


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Agreed.


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Adams destroyed the McClish family also.


The Council will deny the claim unless Carmel wants to pay it!


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i hope my teenage son never meets his teenage daughters. Oh the values they must have.


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Who are the thumbs Downers?

Let’s guess…

KB, pity party Tony, CF, Mrs. Mc Clish attorney Jane, Rose, Dee Torres and that weirdo Ocks guy?


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Please tell me that Carmel won’t be the attorney representing/defending the city of AG if Adams does indeed sue.


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So, the City Council could hire McFall on a short contract, six to nine months. Then they have hired a replacement. End of story.


This lawsuit is outrageous! Every $ the City pays builds his retirement kitty. It’s a discredited employee trying to line his pockets well into the future on the backs of the tax payers!


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Agreed, since when is an interim City Manager NOT a replacement?


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Arroyo Grande is a small community. I think the Interim City Attorney will do JUST FINE, and Steve Adams can drink tea and “socialize” on his own dime. His has overstayed his welcome quite long enough on the backs of the fine taxpayers of Arroyo Grande long enough.


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INCREDIBLE ……… What ? Steve is just a scum bag – what was he going to sue about ??? What an story and I hold the ex-major also responsible ….. Steve just GO AWAY! You are nothing but a lier, unethical and more ….. This makes me really mad. DO NOT GIVE HIM MORE MONEY – I guess when you do something so wrong you should actually get paid for it? So wrong on so many levels …. only in America and only in Arroyo Grande. It’s time for all of us people to take a stand against government that is so incredibly crooked.


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Steve Adams must be forgetting the confessions of Council member Brown on Novemeber 19th stating…


JULY 3RD WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME that Tony Ferrara spoke to STEVEN ADAMS about his inappropriate relationship with MRS. MCCLISH..


And the independent investigation stated that “MANY EMPLOYEES” felt that the TWO SHARED a relationship beyond work.


Reason to terminate:

Not following directive from City Council.

Lying to the police – Mrs. McClish was in his office ( not the break room having green tea.)

Conduct bringing shame upon the city ( foolishness on the front page 30 plus times.)


Terminate for cause and deny the claim.

Send Adams and his broken family packin’


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I guess Steve read his tea leaves and it told him to do this!


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Ha ha…

Well well well, will the last Steve Adams supporter turn out the light.

Former Mayor maybe?


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Where is the letter?


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Is that resignation letter public?


Should be since it was probably abridged from the one we all clot to chew on in the Trib.


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Where is the letter from Steve’s attorney that seems to be the source of this article? Or what is the source of this article? Nothing is attributed. I’ve been aware of some speculation but I’ve seen or heard nothing more.


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Council agenda.


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Saw the agenda. I want to see whatever was submitted to the city giving rise to this potential litigation.


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I believe the claim against the City is public record, therefore a public record request should get you what you’re looking for.


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