Assistant City Manager Resigns with Bold Speech

In an already heated City Council meeting, Assistant City Manager Lisa Hammon set City Hall ablaze Tuesday night by announcing her decision to resign and stating, explicitly, why.

"I have a little bit of a perspective about what's been going on over the past month," Hammon said, addressing the city during public comment.  "What I'm going to say tonight will have an affect on my family's finances, and there's a very real possibility of retaliation."

She went on to say that City Hall, recently, has been "very, very difficult," not just for her, but for her co-workers, too. "Staff have sold their souls," she said. "They are staying on, working in a catatonic state and waiting on the next city manager to come along and save (them)."

Hammon said that when recently fired interim City Manager Charles Long took office nearly two months ago, existing employees were considered for jobs with more responsibility and opportunity. Since his leaving, "those discussions have stopped," she said. "I can't come to work and look at these employees in their face(s)."

The assistant city manager warned the public and new council to assess Hercules's financial situation immediately. "Every single number is going to need to be carefully evaluated."

Also in her address, Hammon, who was instrumental in the attempts to bring to life the long-awaited Intermodal Transit Center, she said the center "will not happen." And after over two years of working on the project, "It pains me to say that," but the necessary outside support for the project will soon vanish.

Hammon decided to resign "(b)efore further harm comes to my family either physically or emotionally," she said. "I hope to keep my integrity intact, regain my self confidence and salvage whatever remains of my professional reputation."

She then apologized to her coworkers and wished the new council luck before turning over her work key and other documents, and accompanied by her sister, walked out of City Hall. "I will not return," she said.

City Manager Nelson Oliva did not comment on Hammon's leaving, and said he would need to review the documents she turned in.

Hammon started work as Hercules Assistant City Manger in May 2008. The Bay Area native and UC Berkeley Alumnus came to Hercules from the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, where she worked for 14 years and served as executive director.

Just minutes before Hammon's resignation, Hercules resident and attorney Bill Kelly took the podium during public comment and asked the council to consider an immediate replacement for Nelson Oliva as city manager, naming several public officials, including Hammon, who he thought were qualified for the job.

Kelly stated that it was nothing personal, but in the best interest of the city, for Oliva to step down from his post. Kelly said he believed in Long's assessment of the city's financial status. "I think we're on the brink of a financial disaster, and I think something needs to be done about it. Change is here. Change is now," Kelly said. "The citizens of Hercules are no longer willing to accept the status quo."

About a dozen people spoke during the comment period, including Oliva's wife Valerie Oliva, who defended the character of her husband. "The last six months have been very hard for us," she said. "I'm not asking you for my husband's job. Believe me, in some respects, you're doing me a favor," Valerie Oliva said. "Get together, buckle down and do what's best for this community," she told the public and council.

Taylor Oliva, Oliva's daughter, also spoke on her father's behalf.

Other comments came from Anton Jungherr, who is organizing a city council recall (the details of the recall are not fully clear), Gerard Boulanger, who asked for Long to be rehired and Patrick Tang , who asked that the council refuse Hammon's resignation and give her a chance.

"It's clear to everyone here that this a person who gave her heart and soul," Tang said.