Adelanto city manager quits after 6 weeks

In amended budget, some city employees get raises, others are let go 

ADELANTO — Just six weeks after being named full-time city manager, Thomas Thornton has resigned but will retain his positions as city engineer and public works director, a move that will be addressed next Wednesday along with other personnel changes, according to a city staff report.

Thornton signed a six-month contract May 12 after having served in an interim role following the resignation of Jim Hart, who stepped down in March once it became clear a three-fifths new-look City Council was looking to make a change.

Thornton could not be reached Thursday because city offices were closed.

The city will solicit for prospective candidates to fill the vacancy, according to the report embedded in next Wednesday's Council meeting agenda packet.

Thornton's resignation was included in a wider package of personnel-related items reflected in an amended budget that comes just two weeks after the Council passed the adopted budget.

City Clerk Cynthia Herrera is getting a 5 percent salary increase, while an administrative assistant in the city clerk's department, a senior management analyst in the finance department and an administrative assistant in the IT department are all getting 5 percent out-of-class pay raises.

A management analyst in human resources is being reclassified as the human resource manager and getting a $24,000 salary increase. In addition, the city is eliminating a senior management analyst position in the planning department and the public works superintendent position.

The employees will receive three months severance pay and any vacation/sick time accruals remaining on the books.

The city said the changes would save $1,900 for the general fund this fiscal year. The Adelanto Public Utility Authority will realize a $111,900 increase to the budget because of the city engineer position being re-established, the report said.

Thornton's contract as city manager provided Adelanto with the ability to terminate him with or without cause, or negotiate with him or another candidate at the deal's conclusion. But the short length of his tenure comes as a surprise and reasserts some instability in a key position.

Adelanto also remains without a director or assistant director in the finance department, undoubtedly critical roles for a city fighting to stave off a looming cash shortage. Former Assistant Finance Director Vanessa Martinez resigned in May to spend more time with her family, although she was brought back as a consultant to finalize the fiscal year 2016 budget.

Former Finance Director Onyx Jones announced her resignation in early February, with Mayor Rich Kerr characterizing her having departed for "personal reasons."

At the time Thornton signed his contract, he also indicated the difficulty in wearing three hats.

"Am I accomplishing everything I want to?" he said. "No."