At a special closed session meeting on February 11, the Milpitas City Council unanimously accepted City Manager Ned Thomas’ letter of resignation.
The City Council also convened a sub-committee to support a search for the next City Manager, as well as anyone who might serve as Interim in the meantime.
Recently, Thomas accepted an offer to work as City Manager in Boulder City, Nevada, a community near where his family lives, to which he’s traveled back and forth over the years.
“I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given me to serve as Milpitas City Manager since June 2023. The work has been both rewarding and challenging, and I am grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the Council, community members, and staff,” wrote Thomas in his letter dated January 24 of this year.
Milpitas has gone through a total of four City Managers in the last six years. Thomas had been serving as Acting City Manager since June 2023, after the City’s contentious split with former City Manager Steve McHarris, with whom they are currently in the middle of a lawsuit.
In October 2023, Thomas assumed the official City Manager title. His contract with Milpitas was up in June 2025, so he reached out to the Council, asking if they would consider extending it. However, earlier this year, Council declined the opportunity to discuss an extension.
Councilmember Hon Lien told The Beat, “It is unfortunate that we’re losing another City Manager. It’s the continuity that suffers the most. Stability is key, and each change sets us back when we need to be moving forward. Moreover, this matter will generate serious questions from the public. Do we recruit our managers based on meritorious standards or is it just political or personal preference?”
Thomas told The Beat that his last day of work with the City of Milpitas will be on April 14; then he will officially start his new position as Boulder City’s City Manager on April 15.
“I am committed to working with Council and the City’s Executive Leadership Team to ensure a smooth transition within the City Manager’s Office,” Thomas shared with the Beat.
I don’t blame Ned Thomas for deciding he needed to seek employment elsewhere, when his request for extending his contract, that would expire June of 2025, was denied.
My question to our mayor and city council is this, if you knew you were not renewing Ned Thomas’ City Manager position, why the hell were you not actively looking for a replacement, prior to Mr. Thomas advising you that he has accepted the City Manager position in Boulder City, Nevada? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot and poor managerial skills.
My corporate experience tells me that Councilmember Hon Lien is correct when she says “It is unfortunate that we’re losing another City Manager. It’s the continuity that suffers the most. Stability is key, and each change sets us back when we need to be moving forward.” It takes time and money to recruit, on-board, and bring up to speed new employees. Yet, the Council leadership (Mayer Montano and Vice Mayors Chua and Barbadillo) has apparently not learned that lesson, or (like the Felon 47) simply don’t care about government running well to serve We the People.
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I also agree with Councilmember Lien’s statement that “… this matter will generate serious questions from the public. Do we recruit our managers based on meritorious standards or is it just political or personal preference?” Based on the past several City Managers, it seems clear that political or personal preferences prevail. For details about the inside workings of City Hall, the McHarris complaint offers some: https://meansfordemocracy.org/blog.html#mcharris