Palmer’s city manager is responding to calls for his removal after the police chief was placed on administrative leave

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Palmer City Manager Stephen Jellie, after just 45 days on the job, will face possible censure and firing during an emergency meeting Wednesday, about 24 hours after a crisis heated public meeting This included the prosecutor’s warning of “imminent” legal action over the police chief’s leave of absence and the relocation of the public safety control center.

“I don’t really have any comment on the city attorney’s statement or actions last night, nothing else [than] To say that they are all completely unfounded and embellished at best, but I think that will be between her and the city council to decide whether her actions were appropriate, legal or even ethical,” Jellie told Alaska’s News Source on Wednesday .

Jellie placed Police Chief Dwayne Shelton on paid administrative leave Tuesday, telling council members that Jellie had asked for his badge and gun and threatened to have him arrested by state law enforcement.

“I believe this is retaliatory because I raised concerns about public safety and workers’ rights regarding significant policy changes he is implementing,” Shelton told the City Council on Tuesday. “In 45 days, Mr. Jellie has nearly destroyed the public safety fabric of our society… We have worked hard to make this place Alaska at its best. “That is not his intention.”

The controversy surrounding the police chief stems from the possible transfer Palmer’s dispatch center to Mat-Com in Wasilla remains another point of contention that Jellie argues, accusing him of having to oversee a plan that was approved before he started work.

“A lot of personal attacks on someone who has only been here a few weeks, accusations of dismantling the city and destroying the community and things like that,” Jellie said, denying the allegations made at the meeting.

“I think if you talk to other people in the community, you’ll find that their interactions with me weren’t nearly as good.”

Shelton was far from alone in expressing grave concern about Jellie’s behavior since taking over as city manager.

Palmer Commissioner Matt Moore urged members Tuesday to act quickly to prevent what he said is Jellie continuing on a path of cutting resources, silencing all dissent, violating workers’ rights and turning the city into a… situation of “urgent need and vulnerability”.

“I implore you to have the moral courage to hold Stephen Jellie accountable and save the great city of Palmer from extinction,” Moore said. “Ruin ​​is guaranteed if this man is allowed to continue on the path of absolute, unfiltered destruction he has set for us all.”

Jellie began his job as Palmer’s city manager in August after resigning from similar positions in Wyoming and New York, both of which ended with him receiving significant severance payments.

Last month, delegates from the International Association of Fire Fighters met voted to censure Jellie He pointed to actions he took during his time in New York, where he allegedly repeatedly exhibited “disregard for the law, fundamental lack of respect for professional firefighters, and reckless and negligent actions” that ultimately jeopardized the safety of the community and the put firefighters at risk.

Following Tuesday’s City Council meeting, a special council meeting on Wednesday will address Jellie’s administrative leave and calls for his removal. A copy of Palmer’s position as city manager dated July 22, 2024 shows Section 3, which details the details of termination should it occur.

A simple termination by the City Council prior to the contract expiration date would entitle Jellie to receive his full benefits, six months of health benefits and a one-time cash payment equal to six months of salary.

If he were terminated for cause involving misconduct, dereliction of duty, fraud or “moral turpitude” toward the city of Palmer, he would not be entitled to any claims.

When asked to respond to calls for his removal, Jellie said he was only acting at the request of the City Council.

“I think ironically one of the questions in the interview process was: How do you see our relationship ending? I told the city council clearly, ‘If I don’t serve you or you don’t stand behind me when you do the things you asked me to do,'” Jellie said. “If city council [Josh] Tudor does not feel that I serve him or the city, well, it is certainly within his right and duty to demand my resignation.”

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