Temecula City Manager Fired

In a 3-0 vote, the Temecula City Council fired City Manager Robert Johnson Tuesday night.

The vote came behind closed doors, in the closed-session portion of the regularly scheduled city council meeting, and no information regarding the reason for termination is being released.

City Attorney Peter Thorson made the announcement Tuesday and after the meeting declined to comment about the firing. 

City Councilmen Jeff Comerchero and Ron Roberts were absent during Tuesday night’s meeting.

When asked about Temecula Chief Financial Officer Genie Wilson, who was placed on administrative leave earlier this month with Johnson, Thorson declined comment.

There was no mention of Wilson Tuesday night.

Thorson told Patch last week that actions against Johnson and Wilson are based on "differences in management philosophy and goals."

City employee Aaron Adams was officially appointed Tuesday to serve as acting city manager; no fill-in has been named to serve as chief financial officer.

As part of his four-year employment contract agreed to in Sept. 2011 and commenced on Jan. 1, 2012, Johnson received an annual salary of $215,000 and $11,000 a year in deferred compensation for a savings plan, according to the city documents.

Under his employment contract, which was officially terminated Tuesday night, Johnson is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to six months’ salary, as well as insurance benefits during the six months following his firing.

However, if termination is the result of being charged or convicted of a felony, or engaging in corrupt or willful misconduct in office, Johnson’s severance benefits will not be paid, according to city documents.

Wilson's annual salary as of 2010 was $180,466, including benefits, according to the latest public salary information available from the California State Controller’s website.

According to city documents, her role with the city encompassed overseeing various administrative services including human resources, strategic budgeting and operations, support services, information technology, and accounting and purchasing.