Palmer City Council schedules emergency meeting to discuss future of recently-appointed city manager

An emergency city council meeting in Palmer to discuss the future of city manager Stephen Jellie was called at the tail end of an impassioned regularly-scheduled meeting Tuesday night that featured emotional testimony from dozens of Palmer residents and the surprise announcement of the suspension of Palmer Police Chief Dwayne Shelton.

The council will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the emergency session.

Public testimony was dominated by reaction to Jellie's early tenure in the city, and a number of policy changes, including the potential elimination of Palmer Police Dispatch and the police department’s home car program, which allows officers to keep police vehicles at their residence, and changes within the city’s human resources department.

Late in the Tuesday meeting during council comments, councilmember Carolina 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. 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,” she said.

Mayor Steve Carrington called for due process. Anzilotti followed by calling for the emergency meeting, which was ultimately scheduled for Wednesday,

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.”

Multiple members of the Palmer police staff spoke in support of Shelton, who told attendees that he had been suspended effective immediately by Jellie.

“At 3:42 p.m. Mr. Jellie placed me on paid administrative leave. I received a written letter at 5:45 p.m. He ordered me to turn in my badge and gun, threatened to have me arrested by the state police,” Chief Shelton said as the room went silent at the news. “I believe this is a retaliatory action because I brought forth public safety concerns and employee rights regarding significant policy changes he is implementing.”

The hire of Jellie, most recently Emergency Services Supervisor in Teton County/Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was effective Aug. 19.Jellie’s selection among several candidates at a special city council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 6 was unanimous, Carrington said at the time. He replaced long-time Palmer manager John Moosey, who retired during the summer.

This is a developing story continue to see frontiersman.com for more.