A wave of emotions washed over Wednesday’s city council meeting as the elected officials along with a packed house of city staff, representatives of numerous community organizations and Morgan Hill residents welcomed the new city manager, and said goodbye to her predecessor.
The Sept. 27 council meeting was Christina Turner’s first as City Hall’s top staff person, and Steve Rymer’s last in Morgan Hill after serving the city for the last 11 years.
Before the five-member council unanimously appointed Turner to the city manager post with a contract that includes a $230,000 salary, Rymer bid a tearful goodbye and many thank you’s to the council, city staff and the Morgan Hill community.
Rymer, who is headed to Rochester, Minn. to begin a new job as city administrator there, thanked the council—including former councilmembers Gordon Siebert and Marilyn Librers—for their “confidence and support” in him as city manager since he was appointed in 2013. He thanked the community that “has come together to make Morgan Hill what it is, and to make it even better.”
Rymer choked up as he reserved a special nod for the 188 members of city staff, who he has frequently referred to as his “teammates” over the last four-plus years.
“This truly is a team that is motivated to serve, dedicated to this community, to this council and even to me,” Rymer said. “I’m going to miss you guys. It is an exceptional team that’s here.”
He concluded his remarks by congratulating Turner, formerly the city’s assistant city manager for administrative services who Rymer has worked with for the last 18 months. “I have the utmost confidence she is going to carry the community forward,” he said.
Councilmembers then gave their own thanks to Rymer and reflected on his legacy in Morgan Hill.
“So much of what is great about our city is going to be your legacy, and that is the collaborative nature of City Hall…and also our culture of sustainability,” said Councilwoman Caitlin Jachimowicz, who was appointed to her council seat in February. “I won’t forget that you were the driving force behind that. We’re going to see the effects of those values for a long time to come.”
Mayor Pro Tem Larry Carr recalled first getting to know Rymer when he joined Morgan Hill’s recreation and community services department in 2006. When the council promoted him in 2013, to replace outgoing City Manager Ed Tewes, Rymer was “the absolute right city manager at the right time for Morgan Hill.”
“You really challenged us as a council, and as a team, and as a community,” Carr said. “I’m a better person for having worked with you…in understanding what it means to build a community.”
Welcoming applause
Turner received several standing ovations and sustained applause from the crowded audience at the Sept. 27 as the council approved her appointment to her new position on a 5-0 vote, when City Clerk Irma Torrez administered the oath of office and when the new city manager gave her thanks and acknowledgments.
The contract provides Turner a base salary of $230,000, with an annual cost of living salary increase. She will pay the employee’s contribution to the CalPERS retirement system, and pay for half of any future increases in the city’s share of her retirement contributions.
The city will also offer her a housing loan of up to $1.3 million to purchase a residence and property within the city limits, as well as up to $15,000 in relocation expenses.
Rymer’s salary in 2016 was $248,000, and the council awarded him with numerous annual raises prior to that based on positive performance evaluations. He also received a housing loan, as well as a home improvement loan from the city.
Turner has worked for the City of Morgan Hill as assistant city manager since March 2016. Before that, she worked as the City of Gilroy’s Finance Director. Many of those in the Morgan Hill audience Sept. 27 were her former colleagues, friends and neighbors from Gilroy.
“I am truly honored and pleased to be serving as Morgan Hill’s next city manager,” Turner said after Torrez swore her in. “You have heard throughout the night what an amazing city we have. I am extremely blessed to serve the city.”
Gender not a factor
With comments that seemed to be pointed at recent remarks by a fellow councilmember—but without mentioning that councilmember by name—Jachimowicz told Turner that her gender had nothing to do with her appointment as city manager.
“You did not win this position because you are a woman,” Jachimowicz said. “I hope you don’t let anybody diminish your accomplishments by making you thinking otherwise. However, it’s important for us to celebrate the fact that you are a woman.”
She continued by noting that as of 2015, only 19 percent of city managers in California are women, and females are vastly underrepresented in public and private sector management.
“Thank you for being a role model for our daughters and our sons in Morgan Hill,” Jachimowicz said.
Before administering the oath of office, Torrez noted that Turner is the second female city manager in Morgan Hill during the city clerk’s 36 years with the city.
Councilman Rich Constantine said shortly after the council voted in closed session Sept. 6 to negotiate with Turner for the city manager post, that the majority of the council was leaning toward her “because she was a woman.” He said he voted against the motion to negotiate with Turner because he doesn’t think it’s fair to hire someone based on their gender or race.
After Rymer put in his notice this summer, the council was determined to recruit a new city manager from within City Hall. On Sept. 6, they interviewed Turner and three other seasoned city staff members who applied for the job: Economic Development Manager Edith Ramirez, Police Chief David Swing and Community Services Director Chris Ghione.
