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On Monday September 10, 2012 the City Administrator for the City of Angels Camp (Michael McHatten) terminated Craig Hadley's contract with the city, apparently without explanation, despite multiple requests from Hadley.
After speaking with Mr. Hadley, we understand that McHatten not only refused to give him
any reason for the termination, but then instructed him not to speak to any members of the City Council, Museum Commission, Museum Foundation or staff, or he would forfeit his 30 days severance pay.
From what we've been able to discern, it appears that McHatten did not consult anyone on either the Museum Commission, Foundation, or City Council before making this decision.
Also, the termination occurred a week before the City Council was to vote on Hadley's full-time contract and while key members of the Museum Commission were apparently either out of town on vacation or about to leave town.
After speaking with Mr. Hadley, we understand that McHatten not only refused to give him
any reason for the termination, but then instructed him not to speak to any members of the City Council, Museum Commission, Museum Foundation or staff, or he would forfeit his 30 days severance pay.
From what we've been able to discern, it appears that McHatten did not consult anyone on either the Museum Commission, Foundation, or City Council before making this decision.
Also, the termination occurred a week before the City Council was to vote on Hadley's full-time contract and while key members of the Museum Commission were apparently either out of town on vacation or about to leave town.
In the nearly 19 months Hadley worked for the museum as a part-time director by contract we saw the many things he had accomplished, including: Increasing the overall revenue at the museum, increasing overall attendance, also raising approximately $60,000 in donations and grants that we know of, tripled the number of museum members and worked with the Native Sons to acquire on long-term loan one of the oldest stagecoaches in California for display in the Carriage House.
Hadley also acquired the Sam Choy historic building for the museum from the City, designed and installed new outdoor interpretive panels, designed and installed a new interactive Artisan Exhibits area, created a professional dress code and uniform standard for the museum and created and implemented a professional training program for museum staff members in museum interpretation.
His future plans included fulfilling the plans for an in-classroom 4th grade school program on the Gold Rush and implementing the position hired through the city of an Education Coordinator specifically to run school programs and take charge of Gold Rush interpretations.
Hadley also created and implemented the monthly museum lecture series.
Hadley also acquired the Sam Choy historic building for the museum from the City, designed and installed new outdoor interpretive panels, designed and installed a new interactive Artisan Exhibits area, created a professional dress code and uniform standard for the museum and created and implemented a professional training program for museum staff members in museum interpretation.
His future plans included fulfilling the plans for an in-classroom 4th grade school program on the Gold Rush and implementing the position hired through the city of an Education Coordinator specifically to run school programs and take charge of Gold Rush interpretations.
Hadley also created and implemented the monthly museum lecture series.
Hadley has worked with museums and historic sites around the country for more than 20 years (with such institutons like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the History Channel, & numerous museums) and he tells us that his biggest regret with this museum is that he will not be able to implement many of the exhibits he had planned and was in the middle of designing for the museum.
What a shame and a great loss to the City of Angels Camp!
What a shame and a great loss to the City of Angels Camp!
12 comments:
McHatten is running the museum now. That's a laugh!
no, i think the miller's are taking over, maybe offered to do it for less money or something.
the miller's wouldn't do that. they're just helping out.
Ultimately, this is the fault of our City Council who allow things like this to take place.
things will start disappering now. you watch!
well, now the people who work there will not have to follow any rules, will they? I heard they don't like rules. they liked it the way it was when Emily was there and would do anything to get rid of the new boss.
This is ridiculous. You can't fire a wonderful contributor to the success of our community and NOT give a reason. What I really want to know, and the question we ALL should ask is this: Is Mr. McHatten getting PAID to do this interim director job, because if he is? That's your answer. How do we learn the answer to this?
What I want to know if McHatten is getting paid to do this interim job, and how long interim means? He run out of money?
We all saw the City agenda. It said Employee Discipline for the closed session. Now they don't want to tell anyone what he did. Give me a break!
I think you owe him a big apology, and if i were him i would sue!
It is a shame that something so important gets caught up in political power plays.
Very difficult to form sound judgements without full knowledge of the situation, one can only speculate. Generally there's a fairly reasonable explanation, and sometimes new information behind such extremes.
Better look at Hadley's past work record much more closely.
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