Emotions run high during tense Palmer City Council meeting

Emotions ran high in a packed Palmer City Council chambers with some citizens sharing seats while others spilled out into adjacent rooms, as dozens came to voice their frustrations and concerns regarding newly hired City Manager Stephen Jellie.

Things became tense when Palmer City Attorney Sarah Heath read her situation report regarding what she called rapidly devolving legal concerns within the city.

“The City Manager is systematically dismantling all the checks and balances established by the city charter and city code,” she said, then proceeded to list several complaints including appointing himself as Human Resources Manager, prohibited department heads and city staff from speaking with the City’s legal counsel, barred staff from speaking with their elected officials and other staff about their concerns.

Heath also said that Jellie has threatened to deny invoices for legal work completed on behalf of Palmer unless he approves the content, legal findings and determination(s), legal strategies, and when and who she may speak with, calling them acts of intimidation. “This fully eliminates my ability to work.”

“He has blocked the City Attorney from providing legal services for Palmer unless they are approved by him and not the City Council. This is in direct conflict with City Code and with the directives I have received by the City Council.” Heath then warned that the City Manager’s actions could have legal consequences.

“The City Manager’s actions are causing significant legal liabilities and opening the City to a plethora of lawsuit possibilities. He has refused legal counsel and acted against legal recommendations.

Due to the volume of people present to comment during the meeting, Mayor Steve Carrington suspended the normal 30-minute cap on audience comments after Council member Carolina Anzilotti made a motion to let everyone have an opportunity to speak.

Kristin Acosta, a 9-1-1 dispatcher with the Palmer Police Department (PPD), became tearful as she spoke to the council during the council meeting, telling the members that for most of her five years with the department has been harmonious as she and her co-workers have dedicated countless hours away from their families to serve the citizens of Palmer.

“In less than one month of employment, City Manager Jellie has bluntly stated that he wishes to completely dissolve the Palmer Dispatch Center and have Mat-Com take over the dispatching needs,” she said, adding that Mat-Com is severely limited due to staffing and the number of agencies they already serve. Acosta said that a particularly distressing action that Jellie has taken is to completely shut down all communications between the dispatchers and their immediate supervisor and prohibiting contact with the HR Department.

“I have witnessed the severe distress that has overcome our department in the single month of his employment.”

Whitney Daw, Communications Supervisor for Palmer Dispatch, echoed Acosta’s comments, saying that while she was working from home after having given birth, she received direct statements from co-workers and in neighboring agencies regarding the dismantling of Palmer Dispatch.

“When I asked why, I was told in insincere professional terms, to shut my mouth.” Daw said that Jellie has ordered her not to speak with anyone inside the city about Palmer Dispatch.

“During what should be a joyous time with my newborn and family while on maternity leave, I have been dealing with the stress and uncertainty surrounding whether I will have a job or dispatch team to refer to…you all are not powerless. Put this man on leave.”

Many other first responders, public safety officers and dispatchers also spoke out using whistleblower protections.

PPD Detective Matt Moore said that he has served his entire adult life in the service of others, but was speaking along with his colleagues as a whistleblower. “I implore you to find the moral courage to hold Stephen Jellie accountable and save the great city of Palmer from ruin, ruin which is guaranteed should this man be allowed to continue the path of absolute, unadulterated destruction he’s laid before all of us. Without swift and decisive actions, Stephen Jellie will undoubtedly continue to slash our resources, silence all dissidence, violate employee rights, and ultimately place the good people of Palmer in a position of dire need and vulnerability.”

A six-page formal whistleblower complaint signed by employees of the PPD, Palmer Dispatch, and the Palmer Fire and Rescue later appeared on social media, listing multiple complaints regarding Jellie’s actions, with the understanding that signing the letter could cost them their employment.

First responders were not the only ones to comment during the meeting. An angry Jackie Goforth warned that she had been the chairperson of a recall effort in 2022 that saw the removal of three Palmer councilmembers.

“There is nothing I will not do to stop that man from trashing this city,” she said, asking if the council understood the anger felt after PPD Chief Dwayne Shelton told the council and attendees of his paid suspension hours before the meeting. “Do you understand the anger the city is feeling right now, to place our city chief on admin leave today?”

“This man is dangerous, he’s a problem, and if you do not put him on admin leave, you can look for a recall.”

Mike Chmielewski took a calmer tone, telling the council that he has known seven previous city managers and has interviewed several of them throughout the years, and has been struck by the sheer amount of information being presented regarding Jellie, but suggested

“It’s important that you act not precipitously, but in a studied way to ensure that due process is offered to anyone.” He said he was also of the opinion that the burden of the decision to hire Jellie on the council, but also any actions that happen as a result of the City Manager. “I’m encouraging you to do what you have been elected to do.”

Late in the Tuesday meeting during council comments, councilmember Anzilotti asked for support to place Jellie on administrative leave.

“I would like to ask for council support to place the city manager on administrative leave. I think it's time to evaluate the comments brought forth tonight and the comments that have brought to our attention in the past,” she said. “This is to protect our staff during time of deliberation and investigation until this matter is brought before us again, and this is also to protect the safety of our residents for essential servicers being met and to mitigate potential significant liability for this city in terms of lawsuits, financial costs and reputation.”

Mayor Carrington called for due process to which Anzilotti followed by calling for the emergency meeting, that was then scheduled for October 9,

Anzilotti said she and Palmer Deputy Mayor Josh Tudor have, “prepared a resolution for the termination of the city manager’s contract,” to be put on the next possible agenda.

“This is not a reflection of performance, or renegotiation or evaluation. It gives us time to properly evaluate the situation and make whatever decision we deem necessary to salvage and maintain the character of our beloved city moving forward,” she said. “We make no excuses for and don't make excuses for unethical and borderline illegal leadership.”

Jellie did not make any comments during the lengthy meeting and was absent after a break to allow more commenters to rotate in and out of the council chambers. He did ask for time to refute the allegations made against him.