NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:
Contact Information:
Administrator

November 25, 2014

Doug Schmitz, City

Phone & Email: 831-620-2000 -or831-620-2058

dschmitz@ci.carmel .ca.us

LONGTIME EMPLOYEE JOHN HANSON REINSTATED TO

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA JOB BY CARMEL CITY COUNCIL
Longtime Carmel-by-the-Sea employee John Hanson, who was terminated in
August 2013 , has been reinstated by the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Mayor Jason Burnett and fellow members of the City Council made the
decision to reinstate Mr. Hanson, who first started working for Carmel-by-the-Sea
in 1988 in the Department of Public Works. The decision to reinstate Mr. Hanson
came upon the recommendations of City Attorney Don Freeman and City
Administrator Doug Schmitz following Freeman's discussions with Hanson's
attorney, Michael Stamp of Stamp/Erickson. Hanson will be a full-time employee
as either Building Official or at a position agreed upon by Hanson and Schmitz.
Mayor Burnett said in a statement that the City Council "carefully reviewed the
actions by the City to terminate long-time employee John Hanson and strongly felt
he should be offered his position back. We appreciate all that Mr. Hanson has
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done for the community over his many years of service in various capacities and
we look forward to his continued efforts to serve our community."
Mr. Hanson held several positions in the Department of Public Works. He was
appointed a Building Inspector with Planning and Building in July 2007 and
became the Building Official in October of that year. He served as an interim
Building Inspector prior to being appointed full time to that position. Mr. Hanson
also served as a reserve police officer for Carmel for eight years.
Mr. Hanson is a retired first sergeant, United States Army and California Army
National Guard. He served his country on numerous assignments including service
in the airports after 9111, a tour of duty in Iraq, deployment to New Orleans in
2005 following Hurricane Katrina, and a tour in Afghanistan.
Mr. Hanson will receive back pay and benefits of about $134,000,
reimbursement for expenses he incurred while terminated and damages of about
$100,000, and attorney fees and related expenses of about $105,000. The total is
approximately $339,000. The City will be reimbursed in full for this amount by
the California State Association of Counties Excess Liability Insurance Group.
Statement from John Hanson and family:
My family and I wish to thank all of our friends who supported us through this
struggle. I am ready to come back and help heal and rebuild Carmel-by-the-Sea.
To those citizens who engaged in the process, thank you. Because of your efforts,
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we are here today. You have shown the true spirit of Carmel-by-the-Sea, which is
why I have worked for Carmel-by-the-Sea for so many years.
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