Manhattan Beach Sex Payoff

City manager Dolan got $270,000 — instead of being fired for misbehavior

Comments (0) By Paul Teetor Thursday, Mar 31 2011

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"It's not corruption on the same scale as Bell, but it's corruption of the same type," McKee says. "They handed out public money improperly, and then worked overtime to cover it up and confuse the public."

When the City Council first confronted Dolan about the anonymous allegations, he vehemently denied them. But the council had heard rumors about Dolan's behavior toward women, and under members' pointed questioning, he grudgingly admitted to "inappropriate behavior," according to a council member who requested anonymity.

Dolan insisted his bad behavior was in the past and that he had apologized to the women involved.

But two City Council camps quickly emerged: Cohen, Tell and Ward leaned toward Wadden's advice to pay Dolan off and avoid an expensive investigation while Dolan was placed on paid suspension. Powell and Montgomery argued that the city had good cause to fire Dolan — and should call his bluff.

The documents show that Dolan's contract allowed him a six-month severance package of $195,000 — but only if the city fired him with no warning. His contract did not entitle him to the money if he resigned.

Yet Wadden advised the council that it could ignore the contract. He warned that Manhattan Beach faced potential civil suits from at least two of Dolan's alleged victims if the city fired him, and said that none of the city department heads, most of them Metlox Dogs, had ever complained about Dolan's behavior. Some council members found it bizarre that Wadden seemed to be simultaneously representing both the City Council and Dolan.

At the second closed-door session, Dolan offered short, dismissive answers that bordered on insubordination. The council became determined to get rid of him quickly, even on Dolan's pricey terms.

It ended quietly at a Saturday-morning closed session that the city, illegally, never informed the public about. Dolan the Mastermind had proved to be the smartest guy in the room.

He now lives in Lawndale. His wife, Marilee, moved to Boulder, Colo., where she became the real estate partner of his brother, Patrick Dolan.

Reached for comment in Lawndale, the normally smooth Dolan screamed, "Fucking reporters!" and slammed the phone down.

He sounded more like "Ratso" Rizzo than the Mastermind.

** Correction: Due to an editing error, the original story misstated the nature of the $20,000 legal fee paid to an outside attorney by the city.

Contact the writer at paulteetor@verizon.net.