Councilwoman Gusse asks Marchione to resign

Maricopa City Councilwoman Julia Gusse asked for Councilman Alan Marchione’s resignation in an email she sent to media outlets Friday afternoon.

According to the email, sent about 3 p.m., this is the second time she has asked Marchione to resign.

“After reading the initial workplace complaint by City Manager (Brenda) Fisher and during the investigation, I asked Mr. Sims to request your resignation on my behalf,” Gusse wrote in the email. “Mr. Sims later informed me that he did submit my request to you and that you refused.”

“Mr. Marchione I ask you once more – please submit your resignation,” she continued.

Marchione said during a phone interview Friday afternoon he will not resign.

Gusse said she is requesting Marchione’s resignation because the behavior described in the complaint filed by Fischer “is unbecoming.” 

Also, during an interview Friday afternoon, Gusse said “several citizens have already approached me about a recall effort.”

“The recall process costs money and we don’t need that right now,” Gusse said.

Gusse said in the email she had her own complaint filed against Marchione, which is also being investigated.

“I am sure you have been informed by Mr. (Bill) Sims (the investigating attorney) that my formal complaint against you is under investigation and per your request, it is being handled independently from the complaint filed by City Manager Fisher,” Gusse wrote. “Since this is an active investigation, I will not mention this matter any further.”

Marchione, however, said he did not request the complaint be investigated separately.

“That’s not true,” Marchione said. “I was made aware that she made a complaint.”

In the email, Gusse refers to a complaint against Marchione for improper workplace conduct filed by City Manager Brenda Fisher in May.

The report that came out following that complaint and subsequent investigation was released to the media Wednesday.

The general findings of the report were that Marchione could be perceived as threatening or “abrasive” by staff and administration members but that no employee said the councilman ever “ever touched, groped or otherwise requested sexual accommodations from the employee,” the report states.

“I’d rather not comment on the report’s findings,” Gusse said.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Sims made policy recommendations based on the report’s findings and suggested to the board six measures to improve the work environment for the city staff, administration and council themselves. 

The measures were unanimously adopted by the city council in a 6-0 vote (Marchione recused himself from the discussion).