Brentwood will pay former City Manager G. Harold Duffey a total of $124,252.35 after he resigned on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, Mayor Susannah Meyer announced at the start of a special City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 19.
Why it matters: Duffey had been on paid administrative leave since June, after text messages from his time in Oakland were made public. He held the job a little over a year.
What the city is paying
- $104,550.13 in settlement compensation, which Meyer said equals four months of salary.
- $19,702.22 for accrued unused vacation and personal leave.
- In exchange, Duffey agreed to a general release of claims arising from his employment and separation, Meyer said.
The council authorized the separation agreement unanimously in closed session on Oct. 5, on a motion by Councilmember Jovita Mendoza seconded by Councilmember Orlemans, Meyer said. Duffey and the mayor signed it Oct. 16.
How it got here
Brentwood hired Duffey, then Oakland's assistant city administrator, in a 5-0 vote last October. In May, Oakland released text messages between Duffey and then-City Administrator Jestin Johnson that Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee called "degrading and unprofessional communications" about female colleagues, The Press reported. Johnson resigned in May. Brentwood employee associations later wrote to the council about concerns over "gender-based discrimination."
At the Oct. 5 meeting, Duffey defended his record during public comment. "I do love the city of Brentwood," he said, and asked the council to "remember the record that you have established."
What's next
Assistant City Manager Terrance Davis said he remains acting city manager "until the Council takes further action," according to the Contra Costa Herald. The Herald also reported that the Oct. 16 closed session did not appear on the city's online agenda page and said city officials had not answered its questions about public notice.