If the Los Banos City Council ever decides to fire City Manager Joshua Pinheiro again, it will encounter a few more roadblocks.
City leaders voted 3-1 last week to repeal a section of the municipal code that allows the city manager to be removed or suspended by a majority vote. Terms of termination will now be outlined in employment agreements, which in Pinheiro’s case, stipulates a unanimous vote by the City Council.
The change was necessary to “correct what three lousy city officials did,” said Councilmember Brett Jones, referring to Pinheiro’s 2022 firing.
Just one of those officials is still on the dais. Councilmember Deborah Lewis was the only member to oppose the rule change last week.
Pinheiro was welcomed back by the city on Feb. 21 and received a $1.8 million settlement. The reasons for his initial termination have never been disclosed.