Portsmouth City Manager alleges disparaging behavior from mayor, councilman

Portsmouth City Manager Tonya Chapman alleges that a series of disparaging and unprofessional remarks and behavior from Mayor Shannon Glover and Councilman Bill Moody breaches her contract.

In a letter addressed Oct. 7 to the mayor and council members, Chapman detailed a slew of continued incidents of “insolent behavior, disparate treatment, apparent bias and disparaging comments” from Glover and Moody since her appointment in June, and from members of the public during City Council meetings.

Chapman said the letter serves as a 30-day notice for Glover and Moody to correct their actions. While the notice can be extended for an additional 60 days, Chapman’s contract states that she could submit her resignation and potentially be entitled to severance pay.

Chapman’s contract includes a severance payment of $400,000 — or two years’ salary.

“Until these actions are corrected, I am no longer comfortable meeting with Mayor Glover or Councilman Moody without an independent witness present,” she said in the letter.

Chapman also alleges city staff have been threatened by “a member of a commission” that anyone aligning with her “will be fired upon the return of the former city officials,” which she said is creating a hostile work environment for her employees. It’s unclear whether Chapman was referring to a city commission and former City Council members or city staffers.

Glover and Moody opposed Chapman’s appointment in June following a divided vote to fire her predecessor, Angel Jones, in a heated meeting.

Chapman contended in her letter that Glover has fueled citizens’ reactions during council meetings by disclosing closed session discussions, incorrectly stating she was fired as police chief and not calling the chamber to order when attendees clap and shout. She also stated the mayor has allowed members of the public to levy personal insults at her during council meetings even though targeted criticism is prohibited.

“Although citizens should be allowed to voice their opinion on matters of public concern, I deserve the same deference as every other council member or staff (current or former) and should not have to endure personal attacks, as specified in council rules and outlined in the speaker’s statement,” Chapman said.

Chapman could not be reached for comment. Spokesperson Dana Woodson told The Virginian-Pilot the city wouldn’t comment on the personnel matter.

Reached by phone Thursday, Glover also declined to comment.

Moody told The Pilot that his public comments about Chapman were made before she had a contract in place.

But Chapman contends that in a July 6 meeting with Moody, he told her she’s not qualified, that her hiring was a “disservice” and that “it was going to be tough” for her. She added that Moody recommended she hold a news conference to dispel rumors that had been circulating since her departure as the city’s police chief, “as he personally knows the impact rumors can have.”

Moody, however, said Chapman asked him during that meeting what she should do about the rumors, and that she accepted his suggestion to hold a news conference.

Moody said he has not spoken with Chapman about the letter. He also said the city has sought outside counsel because it’s a personnel matter. Reached by phone Friday, City Attorney Lavonda Graham-Williams declined to comment.

Chapman contends that during her first meeting with Glover on July 5, he said he didn’t trust her and never would. She also said the mayor ignored her calls and text messages when she was first hired and that he rarely looks at her, and directs communication to other individuals during and after bi-weekly meetings to discuss the upcoming City Council agenda.

But Chapman said the mayor had shown some support before her appointment as city manager, citing a letter of recommendation for employment that he provided her in February 2021.

Her letter to City Council states Glover apologized in September for his past disrespect but that he reiterated he still feels the same way. In a meeting later that month, Chapman describes a heated exchange in which Glover allegedly told her she was hired through a backdoor process.

Chapman also said Glover has treated her with disrespect and undermined her authority during meetings to discuss funding requests with various organizations.

She noted Glover “berated” her on Sept. 20 for not inviting him to a meeting to discuss the Missy Elliott Boulevard renaming ceremony and parade that Vice Mayor De’Andre Barnes attended per an invitation from the organizers.

On Aug. 10, Chapman said she denied a request for a citizen to use a city boat ramp that had been damaged, according to the letter. She said Moody sent her an email saying, “I suggested that he check back next year when we might be more receptive.” Chapman said she could “certainly infer the meaning of his statement.”

Moody said that was an “off the wall comment” that Chapman misconstrued. He told The Pilot he meant that whatever work was being done to the ramp would likely be cleared up in time for the next boating season.

Chapman said Moody has continued to publicly “spew rhetoric” that she’s not qualified for the position, alleging he stated such in a City Council candidate forum.

During the forum, held at I. C. Norcom High School in September, Moody cited the firing of Jones and hiring of Chapman as one example of dysfunction in city leadership, though he did not name them.

“If you were a developer or owner of a business, would you want to invest in a city that makes decisions capriciously like firing a city manager (who’s) only been on the job 11 months, who I think was potentially going to do some good things,” Moody said at the forum. “Would you replace her with a city manager who had previously been fired from a position in the city and who had no previous municipal experience?”

Chapman was not fired from her police chief position; she resigned, but later described it as a forced resignation.

Barnes told The Pilot if the allegations are true, he hopes Chapman gets the respect she deserves. Referencing comments the mayor made in May about protecting Black women when Jones was fired, Barnes said Glover isn’t practicing what he’s preached.

“If the allegations are true, I think it’s sad that in these days and times, a qualified woman, specifically a Black woman, is still getting treated like they’re less than,” he said.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com