Menifee: On Tuesday, Dec 27, City Council will hold a closed session to discuss the termination of City Manager Rob Johnson. Councilman Matt Liesmeyer and Councilman John Denver confirmed this meeting would take place at 11 a.m. at City Hall. A public announcement is expected to take place after the meeting. This is the only item on the agenda. 

Johnson has been under the scrutiny of city council members after it was discovered he signed a check for more than $12,000 to then Mayor Scott Mann. The check was supposed to fund Mann’s trip to attend a leadership conference at Harvard. City Council was not made privy of the trip or check until it was signed. Once council learned of the check, it was voided. 

“I don’t think the check is the only issue. I think there are a few issues,” said Councilman John Denver. Denver said city council met on Dec. 21 in closed session where they decided to go in one direction regarding Johnson but received an email afterwards with a different plan.

“Something has changed between the first meeting and now,” said Denver. According to Denver, he left last weeks meeting early because he was sick and has been out of town for the holidays.

“I think Johnson has done a fine job as city manager. We have been understaffed; when you are understaffed, balls are dropped. We need more employees. We are lucky to have him,” said Denver.

Denver who is still sick and out of town said he will be not be at the meeting Tuesday and will not be voting.

“We (Menifee) need to keep moving forward. We will be fine,” said Denver. “If we do get a new city manager they will get paid more. We will grab a city manager with many years of experience from somewhere else.”

Menifee has experienced a few changes in the past few months, including the early resignation of Scott Mann as mayor after he lost the election to Neil Winter. Mann was fined by the Fair Political Practices Commission $60,000 for his use of campaign funds.

Johnson was working for the City of Menifee in 2012 when Bill Rawlings was fired as city manager. Johnson was promoted to interim city manager then appointed full time in 2014. His salary package is more than $260,000.

If Johnson is fired, he may receive a severance package similar to Rawlings which was around $193,000 according to public records.

Denver said the severance packages are at least six months of a salary. “Our city will be ok,” said Denver. Denver has been serving as councilman for Menifee since it incorporated on Oct. 4, 2008. 

Photo of city council credit: City of Menifee. 

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