Assistant City Manager Clayton leaves for San Bernardino

Story updated with quote from Armando Villa

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Nearly six months after she was placed on paid administrative leave during a personnel investigation, Rochelle Clayton has left her position as Assistant City Manager with the City of Menifee.

Clayton accepted a position this week as Deputy City Manager with the City of San Bernardino. A news release from that city announcing her hiring stated she will begin her new duties April 15.

“This is a homecoming for me,” Clayton was quoted as saying in the news release. “I grew up here. We raised our kids here. Our girls graduated from Aquinas High School. I couldn’t be more excited to serve the residents of San Bernardino and be a part of the great things taking place.”

It has been a long wait for Clayton since mid-October, when she and City Manager Armando Villa were placed on paid administrative pending the investigation of a complaint filed by a city employee. No other details have ever been given, although Villa was reinstated without explanation on Feb. 12. At the time Clayton, who had been with the city for five years, remained on leave as the investigation continued.

The investigation is being conducted by Tom O’Connell, an attorney with the Buchalter law firm. O’Connell has not responded to requests for comment and has instructed members of the City Council not to comment on the case.

When it was first announced that City Council members had placed Villa on leave, a statement said that “this action is not punitive or disciplinary; it is simply to allow the personnel investigation to be completed.” Clayton’s involvement was never addressed, however. She was not placed on leave by the City Council, but rather by Rebekah Kramer, Villa’s interim replacement. Clayton's administrative leave was confirmed by a city official soon thereafter.

Clayton's departure means the highest ranking staff member below Villa is Deputy City Manager Jonathan Nicks, who also serves as Director of Community Services.

Clayton was not available for comment.

“I appreciate Rochelle’s service and contributions to the City of Menifee, and I wish her well in her new position,” said Villa on Monday. “With Rochelle’s departure, I plan to conduct a national search to fill this important leadership role within our organization. I look forward to finding an Assistant City Manager that can work alongside our executive leadership team and assist me in promoting and implementing the City Council’s vision to continue to help move the City forward.”

Clayton is the second high-ranking official to leave the city in the last month. Economic Development Director Gina Gonzalez resigned on March 6 to accept a position with the City of Lake Elsinore.

Soon after Villa’s reinstatement, the City Council met with O’Connell for 6 ½ hours in closed session. The only statement following the meeting was that the ongoing investigation was related to “an employee’s efforts to ensure the City was following policies and regulations related to its expenditures.”

Clayton, who oversaw the Finance Department, remained on paid administrative leave at that time.

“Ms. Clayton’s professional guidance has been valuable to the city,” Mayor Bill Zimmerman said today. “I wish her the best in her endeavors.”