The city manager of Brentwood, a city in the Bay Area, has received a notable pay raise while on paid leave due to a texting scandal and workplace discrimination allegations. G. Harold Duffy’s annual salary increased from approximately $304,515 to about $313,650, marking a 3% rise. This adjustment comes even as he has been on leave since June.
The Brentwood City Council unanimously approved this increase, which is set to take effect from July 16. According to Interim Human Resources Director Teresa Fairbanks, Duffy’s employment contract contains a “compaction clause.” This clause keeps his salary at least 5% higher than that of the highest-paid employee he reports to directly, a situation that changed when Walter Ogrodnick was appointed police chief, reducing the gap to 2%.
Despite the pay increase, Duffy’s position remains uncertain. He has been on administrative leave since June, with city officials not disclosing if the leave relates to the recent controversies or other allegations regarding gender discrimination.
The texting scandal surfaced when Duffy’s former colleague from Oakland, City Administrator Jestyn Johnson, abruptly resigned in May after numerous public records were released, revealing inappropriate communications between city employees. These messages included suggestive remarks about female colleagues made by both Johnson and Duffy.
In one message from 2024, Duffy referred to a female official in an unflattering manner, which was followed by Johnson’s comment about having to force himself to look her in the eyes during a meeting. There were also references made to another female official that seemed demeaning.
Mayor Barbara Lee of Oakland condemned these messages, calling them “degrading and unprofessional,” and stated they were not compatible with her administration. Duffy’s background includes roles as assistant city administrator and director of public works in Oakland, but he left that position late last year to join Brentwood’s administration in November. His tenure, however, has not been without issues.
Just under two weeks after Johnson’s resignation, four employee organizations in Brentwood voiced serious concerns to the City Council regarding Duffy and accusations of workplace sexual discrimination. One male worker shared observations of derogatory treatment toward female colleagues, alleging a pattern of unequal treatment in responsibilities and expectations.
Debra Gary, president of one of the employee associations, urged the council to suspend Duffy pending an independent investigation. Eventually, in June, the council opted unanimously to place him on paid leave.
Mayor Susannah Meyer highlighted that this decision was not final, citing the legal and privacy challenges of discussing the matter. During a public input session, a resident requested that the raise be postponed until Duffy’s situation was clarified, though the increase was ultimately approved.
As for Duffy, his future remains ambiguous. A performance review was scheduled during a closed session, but Meyer later mentioned there was nothing to report. Duffy can only lose his position through resignation or a decision made by the City Council. Previously, he held leadership roles in Compton, Grand Terrace, and Oroville before coming to Brentwood.
The Brentwood City Council and Duffy have been contacted for further comments on the situation.
