Jose 'JJ' Balderas
The Reno City Council voted unanimously to pursue legal action, beginning with a cease-and-desist letter, against former City Administrator and Police Chief Paul Lilly after council members alleged he breached his severance agreement by making disparaging comments about the city.
The comments were made during Lilly’s recorded public interview Monday, May 18 with the city council of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.
During the interview, Lilly criticized decisions made by Reno City Council and described his time as city administrator as “a nightmare.”
At the Monday, July 20 Reno City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Vandenberg read the portion of Lilly’s severance agreement prohibiting him from making disparaging statements about the city, its current or former employees and elected officials.
Mayor Hector Bas said the clauses in Lilly’s severance agreement do not have an end date.
Bas said pursuing action was less about collecting money and that publicly addressing the comments would expose Lilly’s actions and allow residents and council members to know what occurred.
Place 2 council member Jennifer Vogle said a cease-and-desist letter would serve as a written warning.
She said if Lilly continues making similar comments after receiving the letter, the city will have a stronger reason to take further action.
Place 5 council member Darrin Talley made the motion to pursue legal action against Lilly, including but not limited to a cease-and-desist letter. The wording allows the city to send the warning while leaving open the option of pursuing other legal ramifications.
Council recalls police patch, city motto
In a separate vote earlier in the meeting, the council voted unanimously to discontinue the Reno Police Department’s patch and city motto introduced by Lilly during his tenure as the city administrator.
City Secretary Rachael Summerville said Lilly used the Princeton Police Department’s patch as the basis for the redesign of Reno PD’s patch.
“The previous city administrator had taken the Princeton police patch and has asked the patch company to make it red and put Reno,” she said.
Vogle said the color change was not significant enough to avoid potential copyright concerns.
“You have to change it by 30% for it to be used,” she said.
Although no legal action has been taken against the city over the patch, Summerville said the city’s attorney recommended beginning the removal process as soon as possible to avoid any potential concerns. The attorney also recommended placing the item on the agenda to show the city is attempting to remedy the situation.
Officials said Lilly purchased 700 patches for approximately $900 without clear explanation for why the quantity was needed. None of the patches were placed on officers’ uniforms or police vehicles.
Reno Police Chief Edgar Gonzalez recommended returning to the department’s previous patch design.
“I have plenty of these badges,” he said. “These were actually designed by our current sergeant, so I highly suggest we go back to these.”
The discussion continued with Summerville informing the council that the city motto provided by Lilly was already being used by the city of Caldwell.
She said the motto had appeared on the previous city letterhead, but the city attorney said there should be no legal ramifications if it is not used on future documents.
The city will no longer use the motto and will utilize the police department’s original patch.
