About Town – TUESDAY, 4/8/25
Holy staff reports! Without a doubt the story of the month (maybe the year) is City Manager Scott Carney’s assertions made in a dramatic reading of a written statement to city council members and the public last week during a special meeting. The session even featured a showdown between Carney and Mayor Cameron Bregman, who ordered the city manager to stop his damning comments or else the meeting would be gaveled to a close. In his surprising remarks Carney accused the city attorney and city clerk of editing and redacting staff reports he had previously approved. He also presented a virtual punch list of irregularities, including misuse of city credit cards, and cited internal resistance to implementing professional standards. Carney also said the city’s “past frugality” had prevented investments in proper financial controls and resources that “left material weaknesses … and (made) the city vulnerable to fraud and theft.” Wow! Some of Carney’s claims have reportedly been backed up by independent auditors, who he says have given the city an historic “qualified” opinion on the city’s financial statements. The stunning remarks from the city’s top staff person may never be fully explained as the council has scheduled a special closed-door session for tomorrow to consider discipline or termination of Mr. Carney. If he is fired it will be historic.
REACTION: Following Carney’s locally televised speech, public reaction has been sharp and mostly in support of the city manager. Citizens interviewed on camera by KCRA-TV called for an investigation into the allegations. Other online comments called for the entire city council to resign. One said the city manager was the only one worth keeping. Adam Cooks wrote,
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