Woodside town manager on leave after releasing report about council members, town says he demanded $400,000

"Ledbetter sent the whistleblower report to the council on Tuesday and called the town's attorney to demand he be paid $400,000 no later than midnight on Sunday, Feb. 22, or else he would release the report, according to an unsigned statement sent to the Post by City Clerk Jennifer Li.Council met in closed session yesterday and rebuffed Ledbetter's revised demand that he be paid by Friday, according to the town's statement."

"Ledbetter's report includes allegations that Mayor Brian Dombkowski and Vice Mayor Paul Goeld would regularly make sexist remarks about Councilwoman Jenn Wall and racist remarks about Councilman Hassan Aburish.Ledbetter's letter claims that he was harassed because he is a man by Wall, who allegedly contacted Ledbetter at all hours about "non-emergencies." Ledbetter also says Dombkowski ordered him to put off plans for a low-income housing project in Dombkowski's district.No Woodside council member has responded to the Post's inquiries about the letter."

"Ledbetter has told the Post that the $400,000 is the amount owed to him to end his contract. Ledbetter was hired in April to replace Kevin Bryant, who was retiring. Ledbetter's contract is set to expire on May 15, 2028, and his base salary is $300,000. He had been the town manager in Yreka in Siskiyou County, a town of about 7,800 that is about 20 miles away from the state's border with Oregon."

Woodside town manager Brian Ledbetter was placed on paid administrative leave after sending a whistleblower report to the council and demanding $400,000 to withhold it. He called the town attorney, set a midnight Feb. 22 payment deadline, revised the demand, and was rebuffed by the council in closed session. Ledbetter said $400,000 equals the amount owed to end his contract; his hiring began in April, his contract runs through May 15, 2028, and his base salary is $300,000. The report alleges Mayor Brian Dombkowski and Vice Mayor Paul Goeld made sexist remarks about Councilwoman Jenn Wall and racist remarks about Councilman Hassan Aburish. Ledbetter also alleges harassment by Wall and that Dombkowski ordered postponement of a low-income housing project. No council member has responded.

Read at Padailypost