Town Council · special and regular meetings of Tuesday, Sept. 1
Town Manager Adam Wolf Forced Out Amid Retaliation Allegations Against Ravasio
At a marathon Sept. 1 session split between a special meeting and the regular Town Council meeting, Corte Madera's simmering dispute over Town Manager Adam Wolf boiled into the open. Dozens of residents packed both sessions to defend Wolf, alleging he was being pushed out in retaliation for reporting a Brown Act violation by Councilmember Pat Ravasio.
“For any council member to take personal revenge on our town manager for action directed by this council as a body is immoral, unfair and in my view likely against the law.”— Councilmember Beckman, the lone vote against Wolf's departure · ▶ Watch this exchange
By night's end the council had voted 4-0-1 (Beckman abstaining) to sweeten Wolf's severance from four months to nine months' pay plus continued health benefits and a $2,500 lump sum, accepted his resignation effective September 22, and appointed Adam Pulitzer as interim town manager effective September 23 on a 4-1 vote, with Beckman opposed.
Speakers were blunt about what they believed was really happening. 'This is not an increase in severance pay. This is a settlement agreement so that Adam Wolf does not sue Pat Ravasio and sue the town of Corte Madera for wrongful termination,' said resident David McPherson. Glenn Roth read aloud from an email he attributed to Ravasio: 'Your overreach regarding the Brown Act is not only embarrassing for me but also for the town... is why I have come around as the third vote against him.'
Councilmember Beckman was the lone vote against Wolf's departure, and Mayor Thomas defended the council's handling, saying the town's foundation 'is very very strong' and crediting staff without detailing the reasoning behind Wolf's exit. A separate item — hiring outside investigator Andrew Bland to examine the closed-session conduct at the heart of the dispute, at a cost of $10,000 to $12,000 — ran out of time before the council could vote and was pushed to the next meeting.
Town Council · introduced Tuesday, Sept. 1; second reading pending
Council Narrowly Introduces Ban on All Tobacco and Nicotine Sales
Corte Madera will move to ban the sale of all tobacco and nicotine products in town after the council introduced an ordinance on a 3-2 vote Sept. 1 — Beckman, Casissa and Azio in favor, Andrews and Mayor Thomas opposed. The ban would become operative February 1, 2027, following an Aug. 4 hearing where the council sent staff back to reword the measure and extend the transition period for existing retailers.
“I ask you council members not only to think about us here in this room, but to think about the people who aren't here tonight, the ones that we've lost.”— Mari Silva, Redwood High School student · ▶ Watch this exchange
Two Redwood High School students urged the council to act. 'Every day I walk into the bathroom and people are smoking... kids whose brains are not fully developed enough to understand the risks,' said John Watson. Vice Mayor Casissa framed the vote as a moral stand: 'Why should Corte Madera, a little town in Marin County, take on this giant predatory marketing system that addicts our children? Because we can.'
Industry representatives pushed back hard. Brian Lamb of the California Fuels and Convenience Alliance argued the town should let its existing tobacco policies work before layering on a full ban, and retailer Monty Wallia asked the council to 'measure the results' first. Councilmember Azio sided with critics, saying young adults 'should be able to take personal responsibility for their decision,' while Mayor Thomas said she'd 'wrestled with this a lot' but wasn't comfortable voting yes.
The ordinance still needs a second reading before it can take effect.
Town Council · public comment, meeting of Sept. 1
Neighbors Demand Answers After Hillside Tree Removal Near 800 Corte Madera Avenue
At 800 Corte Madera Avenue, neighbors told the council Sept. 1 that a significant tree-clearing operation on a steep hillside was authorized months earlier under the town's fire-prone-tree exemption — without notifying nearby residents or coordinating between the fire authority and town departments.
“There should be documentation, coordination between the fire authority and town departments and a clear process so town staff and affected residents know what has been authorized before significant work begins.”— Brenda Brown, neighbor · ▶ Watch this exchange
Bonnie Brown asked whether drainage and erosion impacts were evaluated before the trees came down, and Judith Cesy asked the council to direct staff to report on how the removal was authorized and to determine whether an erosion assessment is now warranted.
Resident Lucinda Smith added to the confusion, telling the council: 'We are concerned that this hearing was about a case that there's supposed to be some sort of settlement agreement... but we don't know what's going to be discussed.'
No staff recommendation or council action was recorded on the matter; residents are waiting to see whether the council directs a formal review of how the removal was authorized.