Why did Turlock’s performing metropolis manager settle for the position? What he is finished because retiring
Jan. 16—Gary Hampton’s return to the Turlock City Manager’s Business office started off with a cell phone get in touch with the weekend after the Town Council place Toby Wells on investigative depart.

Over the telephone, a Town Council member questioned him if he would be inclined to assistance as acting city manager, Hampton reported.
“The metropolis has generally been superior to me and my relatives,” Hampton said Wednesday. “I enjoyed my career there so I am absolutely constantly keen to occur again and aid the town in any way possible.”
Following retiring as Turlock’s metropolis manager in 2017, Hampton volunteered as a reserve officer for the Turlock Law enforcement Section from April 2019 to Oct 2020. In the unpaid posture, he worked straight for the chief’s business office and did consulting operate on section setting up and vision, Sgt. Michael Parmley claimed in an electronic mail.
But Hampton is not working as acting town manager for cost-free. The council strategies to approve a month-to-month salary of $16,308 to compensate Hampton amid an investigation into Wells, whom the council place on depart on Jan. 7.
Council Member Nicole Larson, the only official who voted from appointing Hampton on Jan. 12, explained the town could have saved money by deciding upon a current personnel as performing city manager.
“I expect this investigation of Toby Wells to be concluded swiftly,” Larson said in a text to The Bee. “If there are no adverse results, I also assume Mr. Wells to return to his Town obligations and responsibilities devoid of any repercussions or retaliation. I take pleasure in that Mr. Hampton has city management knowledge, that said, we have superb leaders at our director and team amount that could have stepped into this position in the course of this quick period of time.”
Putting Wells on go away, Larson extra, was unwarranted. The city has presented no additional specifics on the investigatory go away considering the fact that the closed session meeting. Wells will get full spend and benefits when on depart, for each his deal authorized when the council employed him in March 2020.
Turlock mayor vouches for appointee’s experience
Mayor Amy Bublak reported she voted to appoint Hampton simply because the city’s executive crew is lean and she believes the council demands an skilled city supervisor.
“Mr. Hampton will carry integrity, knowledge and a knowledge of our metropolis important to direct council and staff members in the course of these uncertain moments,” Bublak stated in a text to The Bee.
Hampton served as Turlock’s metropolis supervisor from April 2016 to July 2017 just after doing work as Turlock police chief and interim city supervisor between 2006 and 2011. He was Tracy’s police chief and metropolis administrator in between those durations.
Bublak explained Hampton’s previous hostile function atmosphere declare versus Turlock does not have an effect on his potential to provide as an efficient acting metropolis supervisor. Back again in 2017, Hampton retired six weeks early and submitted a assert alleging former metropolis officials bullied him for refusing to sign up for a conspiracy.
Then-Town Attorney Phaedra Norton inspired him to file a claim for missing wages, Bublak stated. Hampton ultimately reached a $39,000 settlement with the city, which represented the spend and added benefits he skipped by retiring early.
Performing town manager strategies to remain retired
Hampton instructed The Bee he is not fascinated in operating as city supervisor on a long-lasting basis yet again. When he has accomplished consulting and worked on particular initiatives for towns in the past a few a long time, Hampton claimed he is retired. The California public employment retirement method prevents him from operating more than 690 hrs for every calendar year, he stated.
“I’ve been operating in government for 38 years and I’m cutting back,” reported Hampton, 59. “I’m not intrigued in returning to full-time work.”
Complete-time city managers typically get the job done 65 to 75 several hours a week, Hampton stated. Operating at that charge, he could hit the retiree performing limit in about 9 weeks.
The council ideas to approve Hampton’s compensation at action a person of the town manager income agenda in the course of the future typical assembly on Jan. 26.
