Despite Sparks City Manager Neil Krutz’s dismal annual performance review score of 2.5 out of 6 rated in core competencies regarding leadership, professionalism, management, community relations, policy executions, and relations with the council, Krutz will continue to keep his job as City Manager.
In the public comment period before the council delved into the agenda of the May 8 regular City Council meeting, several residents spoke up about their disappointment in the City and its manager for not taking more aggressive action against his wrongdoings. A representative from the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council said that his organization conducted a survey to the city’s internal employees and while they scored relatively high in many areas, when they were asked about the personnel leadership, the results dropped significantly. William Stewart read a document concerning the City’s duty of governance and ethical commitment to its constituents.
Sparks resident Tom Green spoke, saying that the Local #1265 Firefighters Union called the manager’s leadership style “serial corruption”.
“Fire Station 6- which is still needed- is delayed. Why? …A tenured police officer was terminated from employment, was rehired, and re-terminated. We’re told that a senior HR manager was let go surrounding this whole debacle. What happens when this police employee is reinstated? Do we pay for this mismanagement?” Green prompted. “How did the manager cover the $13 million shortfall in the city’s budget? Former employees have described his management as autocratic and built on favoritism.
“These pass-the-torch anointments reek of a good-ole-boys system. We see it all the time in bureaucracies, and we’re sick of it,” he added.
Green also touched on the allegations from last December that a Sparks firefighter assaulted 85-year-old resident Maureen Hveghom. Her daughter Gayla Ouellette followed Green’s statements in her own public comment. She said that it’s hard to speak about Krutz’s employment when he would not take her phone calls or respond to any emails and that her family did not sensationalize the story to make national news. She also reached out to all the Sparks city councilmembers in January 2023 when the alleged attack was still fresh in everyone’s mind.
“it was my family’s expectation that what occurred would be addressed. That we would be ensured that this would never happen to anyone’s mom, grandmother, or great-grandmother. We told you that if you failed at this task, we would do it for you. And here we are,” Ouellette said, sharing the website www.justiceformaureen.com.
During the General Business discussion, the city council shared Krutz’s performance review, in which he received an average 2.3 out of 6 in all the core competencies. He received the lowest score in Leadership- a 2 out of 6. Krutz responded by saying he wasn’t perfect and would strive to do better.
In the next agenda item, the council discussed ending his employment contract. The issue was brought forth by City Councilmember Dian VanderWell who did not agree with his handling of how he managed the Mark Lawson situation (Sparks’ former fire chief who has since filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the City).
The motion to end the city manager’s contract without cause failed by a vote of 3-3 (the City Charter requires either four council members or three council members and the mayor to support termination, and mayor Ed Lawson voted against it). Councilmembers Charlene Bybee, Donald Abbott, and Dian VanderWell voted to fire Krutz while Paul Anderson, Kristopher Dahir, and Mayor Ed Lawson elected to keep him.
Krutz’s employment contract as City Manager began in February of 2019 and runs through June 30, 2025. Krutz began working for the City of Sparks in 1997 in various roles. According to govsalaries.com, Neil Krutz made a $398,565 salary in 2021 including benefits.
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