BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On Tuesday, the Shafter City Council may decide on the future of their City Manager Scott Hurlbert.
According to a posted agenda, it appears Hurlbert may be released or submit his resignation, and a new acting City Manager will then be appointed.
Hurlbert has been with the city since 2005. He became the acting City Manager for Shafter in 2014, after being promoted from the Assistant City Manager.
Hurlbert was given a renewal contract for the next five years and is now in his fifth year of serving in this role. According to the website Transparent California, In 2017 Hurlbert made over $240,000 a year, including benefits.
During his tenure, community members, city officials, and other corporations have called Shafter the 'fastest-growing city in the county.'
Walmart in 2018 announced they would be creating a new distribution center here calling Shafter a 'sweet spot' based on its location.
Bharpur Brar, one local businessman and owner of the Los Amigos liquors in Shafter says he has experienced the economic impact.
"The city is doing really good," said Brar. "The City Manager approved so many houses over 3,000 and they have created several new trade centers, allowing the city to have a lot of new business."
Brar says that he once served on the Chamber of Commerce with the current City Manager Hurlbert and is pleased with the continuous growth since Brar has left.
"I think he is doing really good with everything," Brar said. "I think we have really good management and even city PD, I don’t have any problems as a business owner, no crime. I have been here for over 25 years doing business in Shafter."
23ABC reached out to all council members about Hurlbert's future and were told the following below.
“By law, we are not allowed to discuss about any closed session unless there is an actionable item and they must disclose."
23ABC also spoke with Hurlbert who says he can not comment at this time and will not be attending Tuesday's meeting.
