SLT City Manager on "indefinite leave." Fire chief steps in as acting manager

The South Lake Tahoe City Council announced today that City Manager Nancy Kerry is on indefinite leave. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Meston has been appointed as the acting City Manager.

Kerry has been with the City since 2008, working in various departments and moving into the City Manager position August 21, 2012

"City Council will not be making any additional comments to respect Ms. Kerry’s privacy," according to a press release issued Wednesday.

At the end of Tuesday's City Council meeting there was a closed session meeting where, among other items, Kerry was to receive her performance evaluation. She has taken the City through tough financial times, including renegotiating retiree benefits and layoffs, saving the City tens of millions of dollars during a period when many cities were declaring bankruptcy. During Kerry's tenure the City has accomplished a lot, moving the City to a secure financial spot, and helping guide them through the tough subjects of cannabis and vacation home rentals.

Chief Meston has been with the City of South Lake Tahoe since 2013 and was also elected as President-Elect of the California Fire Chief’s Association in August 2017. The California Fire Chief’s Association is an organization that represents nearly all the 1,000 fire departments in the State of California. It was established around 1917 and currently has 925 voting members.

Acting City Manager/Fire Chief Meston can be reached at jmeston@cityofslt.us and inquiries to the City Council can be sent to City Clerk Susan Alessi at salessi@cityofslt.us.

*This story was updated at 5:00 p.m. 2/7/18 with the City changing the wording on their press release from "interim" for the chief's status to "acting."