Meston to resign as acting SLT city manager

Updated April 6, 5:30pm:

By Kathryn Reed

South Lake Tahoe acting City Manager Jeff Meston has told the City Council that he wants to step down.

Meston’s full-time job is fire chief of the city.

He has had the added responsibilities since Feb. 7. That is when the council put then City Manager Nancy Kerry on leave before eventually permanently separating ways for reasons that still have not been disclosed.

Jeff Meston

Meston sent a note to the council saying, “I am unable to complete my duties as the fire chief while working as the acting city manager. I respectfully request that we move ahead in the next 30 days to find and hire an interim city manager.”

Mayor Wendy David was not immediately available for comment.

In Meston’s letter he cited the structure of the fire department and how with him being pulled out to do city work not related to his department it is taking a toll.

“We have several critical issues pending which include finalization of the Standards of Cover Document (council goal), hiring additional personnel, our communication system replacement plan as well as the lawsuit over the ladder truck. I am unable to complete my duties as the fire chief while working as the acting city manager,” Meston’s letter said.

The council also needs a city attorney because the firm acting as interim legal counsel has said they will no longer be performing those duties as of the end of summer.

The council last month had a brief conversation about what to do about the two leadership positions which it has control over. However, it is not clear what the five really want to do.

Meston had told the council he is trying to find a search firm to find a city manager.

The minutes from that meeting were on the April 4 council agenda. They were inaccurate regarding that conversation and had to be revised. The minutes fraudulently stated a motion, conversation and action that never occurred.

The council has not made any official decisions about what it wants to do with a city manager or city attorney. The resignation of Meston as acting city manager will now press their hands to do their job.