Lodi City Manager Scott Carney was placed on paid administrative leave last week after accusing city officials and staff of misusing public funds and altering documents to cover up their misconduct.

A key figure in the city of Stockton’s rehabilitation following bankruptcy more than a decade ago, Carney alleged during an April 1 special budget meeting of the Lodi City Council that City Attorney Katie Lucchesi and City Clerk Olivia Nashed altered official staff reports without his knowledge or approval.

Carney said portions of documents he had signed off on were redacted to shield certain employees, while also citing internal reviews that allegedly uncovered widespread misuse of public funds, including the use of city-issued credit cards for personal purchases. He also described internal resistance to his efforts to investigate and warned of a broader breakdown in the city’s stewardship of public trust.

Mayor Cameron Bregman cut off Carney during the meeting, later adding that Carney had introduced personnel matters and raised issues not listed on the meeting’s agenda, prompting concerns of a potential Brown Act violation. (The Brown Act is a California law regulating how public government meetings are conducted.)

“The City of Lodi wants transparency through this process, but never at the expense of breaking the law,” Bregman said in a statement. “No one is above the law, and we’re exploring options related to this release of information.”

In a 3-2 vote eight days later during a closed session to review Carney’s job performance and consider potential disciplinary action, the City Council placed Carney on paid administrative leave. Councilmembers Lisa Craig-Hensley and Alan Nakanishi voted against the motion.

Carney has more than 35 years of experience in city, county and state government, according to his biography on the Lodi city website. Prior to his role in Lodi, Carney served as deputy city manager in Stockton, where he was recruited in 2014 during the city’s recovery from bankruptcy.

Carney was credited with helping stabilize Stockton’s finances, drawing on his background in finance and organizational development. Over his five-year tenure, Stockton exited bankruptcy and was ranked among the nation’s most fiscally sound cities in four consecutive years. His oversight included administrative services, community development, public works and municipal utilities.

The Lodi council voted 4-0 on Friday during another closed session to appoint Christina Jaromay as acting city manager. Jaromay, who has led the city’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department for four years, will serve in the role as the city searches for an external candidate and during a third-party attorney’s investigation into Carney’s allegations.

A longtime public servant, Jaromay previously spent 11 years with California State Parks, most recently as director of its Partnerships Division, where she managed concessions, sponsorships, volunteers and interagency collaborations.

“Under Mrs. Jaromay’s direction, the City of Lodi will continue to provide essential services and work closely with our residents to ensure consistent collaboration as public servants,” the city said in a statement.

The council is expected to revisit the appointment at its Wednesday meeting to consider a non-internal candidate for the acting role.