Hollister City Manager Clint Quilter and City Attorney Stephanie Atigh are both resigning from their positions.
Quilter announced his resignation, effective July 19, in an email memo to staff members Tuesday. Atigh’s last day is June 20. She has been Hollister’s city attorney since August 2006. Quilter has been city manager for nine years and has been with the city, in public works before his current administration role, for a total of 24 years.
“It has been my distinct pleasure to work for the City of Hollister for nearly 24 years – the past 9 as City Manager,” he wrote in the memo, which Quilter forwarded to the Free Lance upon request. “I have been fortunate to develop many personal and professional relationships with City staff and Council as well as the community at large.”
He noted that the July timing allows “completion or near completion of a number of critical items including budget, fire consolidation, the Rally, and water rate adjustments.”
His memo says he will be pursuing “other opportunities” and moving to Bishop. Quilter said he has accepted the position of public works director for Inyo County, which is closer to his hometown in Nevada. He will start his new job Aug. 5, he said.
“It’s time to move along,” Quilter said. “It’s close to home. I’ve been looking to get to the other side of the Sierras.”
The departure of both top city officials comes about six months after Mayor Ignacio Velazquez’s victory in the election. Velazquez during his campaign was critical of city management, particularly regarding the city’s financial situation.
“He’s done a good job and I wish him the best in his new job,” Velazquez said Wednesday.
Velazquez confirmed that Quilter resigned and will not be obtaining the additional severance pay laid out in his contract – awarded to him in the event he is fired.
As stated in Quilter’s contract, he could not be fired within 180 days of an election – which was in early May – and was eligible for up to 12 months of pay if he did not find comparable work.
The city attorney’s contract states that if she is fired – which also couldn’t happen within 180 days of the election – she would receive a lump sum equaling six months of her pay.
According to the most recent data on the state controller’s online database, from 2011, Atigh made $132,449 in total wages and Quilter made $121,485.
Below is the text from Quilter’s memo to the staff:
It has been my distinct pleasure to work for the City of Hollister for nearly 24 years – the past 9 as City Manager. I have been fortunate to develop many personal and professional relationships with City staff and Council as well as the community at large.
However, it is now time for me to pursue other opportunities. I am hereby giving notice pursuant to Section 2.B. of my employment agreement. My last day with the City of Hollister will be July 19, 2013.
This should allow completion or near completion of a number of critical items including budget, fire consolidation, the Rally, and water rate adjustments.
I will be relocating to the Bishop, California area near my hometown to work for Inyo County.
I would like to thank you all for the opportunity to work for the City of Hollister. I will cherish the memories of my time here.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
