San Bernardino appoints Tanya Romo as acting city manager – but where did Rochel Clayton leave? – the community of the Internal Empire

The San Bernardino City Council unanimously appointed Tanya Romo as an city’s acting manager during an indoor session on February 10, noting key development as the city is preparing for a national demand for a permanent manager of the city, a process that is expected to take away Two to six months.

The decision follows months of uncertainty about leadership in the city, with the members of the Community having previously advocated to Rochel Clayton to be appointed a permanent city manager. Clayton, who was hired as the deputy manager of the city on April 15, 2024, has nearly 30 years of experience in public agencies within the internal empire, including as an assistant manager of the city in the city of Menifi. In October 2024, the City Council voted to offer her the position of the permanent city manager, but the contract never returned for final approval.

Despite speculation, Clayton remains in his position as a deputy city manager while Romo steps up to the role of the city’s acting manager until a constant rent is made. The structure of the city’s leadership is currently composed of:

• Acting city manager -Tanya Romo responsible for the supervision of operations in the city and daily management.
• City Assistant Manager -Fred Lewis, supporting long -term administrative functions.
• Deputy manager – Rochelle Clayton, programs and services management and an assistant -city manager.

The appointment of an acting city manager is a temporary measure, as San Bernardino moves forward with the recruitment process. The Council of the Ortiz Council, who made the proposal to appoint Romo, stressed that this decision was part of the city’s preparation for this transition.

“I want the community to understand that this decision is in the best interest of our city,” Ortiz said. “While the members of the Knaus, Sanchez, Sanchez, and Ibara council members may not have supported the process, we move on with the recruitment of a permanent manager of the city and this appointment is part of this preparation.”

The tension flashed at the meeting on February 10, when Ortiz expressed concerns about the process of hiring a consultant imported to support the transition. She asked why the contract was not public or approved by the Council.

“Will we not need a publicly executed contract approved by the Council to go out first to work with a consultant?” Ortiz asked. “And why was it not a day in the same way it was last time, if that’s what we do?”

City Prosecutor Albert Maldonado (from BBK) replied that the contract does not require public approval, as the agreement fell under the city employee signing authority, which applies to the costs below $ 50,000 – further below the threshold of $ 100,000, which It would require the council vote under the vote of the Council under the voting of the Council under the vote of the Council under the threshold of the Council, which would require the vote of the Council.

“There is no contract. There is nothing before the Council, “the lawyer said. “No, we don’t have to approve of this publicly. It is under the signing authority, so due to the threshold of the dollar you do not need to enter an open session to be approved. “

Ortiz stepped back, stating that such contracts had been historically brought to the Transparency Council.

“I’ve always seen contracts come before the Council, so I just want to make sure,” she said. “Because as before, we were earlier this topic – that’s where my care comes from.”

Council member Fred Shoret rejected the discussion by interrupting Ortiz’s question.

“Is this an appropriate discussion? This is not a day. This is not a process of awarding public procurement, “said Shoret, raising his voice. “You answered the question that she [the city clerk] has the right to sign. “

Council member Theodore Sanchez, who is facing an effort to recall, insisted that the hiring process was correctly directed.

“Yes, yes, that was, we directed the staff,” Sanchez said.

Ortis counters, pointing out that the city lawyer – not an employee – has received a direction, raising concerns about who actually had a signing authority.

“No, we directed the city lawyer, and the city lawyer does not have a signing body in our city,” Ortiz said. “That is why I want an explanation in accordance with our public procurement standards.”

The city lawyer tried to stop the discussion, saying: “My advice is that we are coming into the essence of what was discussed in an indoor session, so I don’t want to go anymore.”

Ortiz remained firm, emphasizing that transparency was essential.

“What I do not want to see is that since people believe that something can and cannot be said in an indoor session, then we will come to the public and go to another direction,” she said. “The direction was very clear. I do not feel comfortable to have a consultant to enter the room if we do not go through the proper process of awarding public procurement. I want to make sure there are no wrong steps in what was to be made public. “

Maldonado maintains that the wrong steps have not been made.

To deal with confusion about the transition of leadership, Ortiz announced that he would host Facebook live at 7 pm on February 11, to provide further details and to clarify the decision of the Council.

“Many people do not realize that San Bernardino has an acting manager of the city, an assistant manager of the city and a deputy city manager,” Ortiz said. “Tanya Romo acts a city manager until a constant rent is made, and Rochel Clayton remains in the role of the deputy city manager.”

Romo, who has been working for the city of San Bernardino for more than 15 years, has occupied several key positions, including the city’s deputy manager, a manager of operations for service for neighborhoods and clients, an assistant to the city manager and an executive assistant of the city manager. Prior to joining the San Bernardino administration, she plays enforcement and administrative roles in the capital’s transport of Los Angeles County and Montebello.

As a city manager, Romo will monitor the city’s operations until a permanent city manager is hired, a process that can take up to six months. Her first meeting of the Municipal Council in her new role is scheduled for February 19 at the Feldheym Library, with an indoor session at 16:00 and an open session at 5:00 pm