The Jolly Man is gone.
One of the most visible figures at City Hall, who enjoyed overseeing City Council elections every other year more even than the winning or losing candidates, is history.
A month after mysteriously vanishing – some said he was banished — from City Hall, Martin Cole, 49 years old, officially has resigned as city clerk, surrendering his $197,000 salary.
Eleven years on the job, he submitted his official separation papers last week.
The triggering device was applied weeks earlier. Unannounced, he was relieved of his longtime secondary duties as assistant city manager.
The affable Mr. Cole’s herky-jerky closing act was as mystifying as his popular daily presence was laced with vividity.
Days after Mr. Cole was dumped as assistant city manager – a role whose precise duties remain as clouded as a typical June day – he disappeared.
The official City Hall line was that he was out indefinitely because of an immensely convenient Workman’s Comp alleged disability.
No one was aware of a medical inconvenience, possibly because of non-existence.
City Hall staffers were told to emulate a British mommy. They were to remain mum when nosey people inquired of Mr. Cole’s whereabouts.
City Manager John Nachbar said that Dep. City Clerk Jeremy Green will retain her position while a search begins for a successor to Mr. Cole.
(To be continued)
Makes you wonder what is going on in that City/City Hall. Glad I retired when I did which was right after Mr. Nachbar was hired. I liked Martin Cole and even though I am no longer working in City Hall, I will miss him when I stop in (not too frequently), to visit. May he be happy whatever he is about.
Very strange. And I thought that a democratic government thrived on transparency. I guess Culver City residents will just have to wonder about the disappearance of Mr. Cole, who was from all appearances a hard-working public servant. Smacks of something more afoot, but just what is the stuff that a second-rate British mystery writer might be best at solving.