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During the 2020 election, the council president and another elected member were politicking heavily to get the city manager, Gretchen DiFante, fired. She was hired three years earlier as Pelham’s first city manager with the expectation to transition the city from a culture of favoritism based on familial relationships and friendships to one of discipline, consistency, fairness, and excellence.

DiFante’s role over the years has been fraught with leadership challenges. She replaced 13 of 16 direct reports and made operational decisions that were not popular among those who had benefitted from the previous culture. Individual council members were liaisons to Pelham departments and that approach created confusion and unfortunately fertile soil for litigation. After a particularly grueling month of council discussions, DiFante’s employment agreement was renewed in a 3-2 vote.

The speakers will discuss how their combined perseverance, hard work, and vision have made Pelham a success story. They will share practical strategies local governments can implement to improve relationships between elected officials and employees to increase public trust.

Presenters:

• Gretchen DiFante, ICMA-CM, City Manager, City of Pelham, AL
• Tracy Hill, Human Resources Director, City of Pelham, AL
• Joshua D. Arnold, City Attorney, Fortune Beard Arnold