The woman who until very recently managed Santee’s day-to-day affairs is getting a severance payment worth more than $131,000. In return, Marlene Best has agreed not to sue the East County city.
But as to the circumstances leading up to her surprise departure? That remains a mystery.
The fact that Best, 64, just stepped down as city manager after nearly a decade on the job only became public in late April when council quietly announced the search for a new leader. Mayor John Minto did not return an earlier phone call to discuss the move and a city spokesperson previously said that Best “has declined the opportunity to make a public comment or provide a formal statement at this time.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune obtained her severance agreement through a records request. The document was signed April 22 by Best, the mayor and City Attorney Shawn Hagerty. Her resignation took effect the next day.
The records makes vague references to some sort of disagreement.
There have been “claims asserted by” Best and Santee, the agreement says, and “each has denied, and continues to deny, any and all claims.” Nonetheless, both sides “desire to settle fully and finally all potential disputes” stemming from Best’s employment.
The city did not it any wrongdoing, according to the document.
The exact payout is $131,677.97, which amounts to half her annual base salary. The money is supposed to be handed over 10 days after the agreement takes effect. Best may continue receiving health insurance for the next six months, although those benefits can be deducted from her severance.
She’ll additionally be paid for any unused vacation time.
The records note that Best hasn’t sued — and will not sue — other representatives of the city, including council . She is allowed, however, to ask state or federal investigators, including those at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to look into accusations of “harassment, discrimination or retaliation or other conduct which she believes to have been illegal.”
If Best one day applies for a different job and that employer calls Santee to ask about her tenure, the city’s human resources department is supposed to only give “the dates of her employment and the last position held,” according to the document. No other information is to be turned over.
It’s also clear that the relationship between the two sides had been fraying for weeks, if not longer: Best was given at least 21 days to consider the agreement before g.
