Granite Shoals to consider outside investigation of city manager pay, city spending
Granite Shoals City Hall, located at 2221 N. Phillips Road, with its new fire engine at the entrance. Staff photo by Maci Cottingham
The Granite Shoals City Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, to consider whether to hire an outside firm to investigate internal complaints made about “city manager pay increase,” fire department equipment purchases, and travel expense reimbursements.
The complaints, made by an unnamed city employee according to Mayor Ron Munos, prompted the council to call for Wednesday’s special meeting, which was added to the municipal docket on Dec. 11. It is open to the public and scheduled for 2 p.m. at Granite Shoals City Hall, 2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road.
Munos told DailyTrib that the meeting will be used to evaluate the complaints and determine if there is merit to the allegations.
“You have to do these things the right way,” Munos said, emphasizing that any and all allegations must be handled seriously and can not be ignored.
Novo began serving as interim city manager in January 2024 following the resignation of former City Manager Peggy Smith. She was formally appointed in May of that year after a 90-day probationary period, with a salary of $158,000. Her starting pay was higher than Smith’s $150,000 annual pay but lower than that of Smith’s predecessor, Jeff Looney, who earned $162,000.
Smith resigned after months of public backlash related to her involvement in a 2023 discussion on lethal feral cat management methods. Looney was fired in 2022 amid allegations of poor professional conduct and ongoing conflict with a city council member at the time.
The city manager oversees city operations, including budget administration, policy implementation, supervision of all departments, and serving as a liaison between the City Council, staff, and the public.