Pelham city manager placed on leave amid investigation

PELHAM, Ala. —

The city of Pelham has placed its city manager on paid administrative leave alongside the police chief as an independent investigator looks into concerns raised about city leadership.

City Manager Gretchen DiFante was placed on leave following a recommendation from the City Council. The move comes after Police Chief Ed Delmore submitted a formal written complaint regarding city leadership. Delmore had already been placed on paid administrative leave late last month.

According to a statement released by the city, an independent investigator has been hired to interview city employees and review the situation. Officials stressed that being placed on administrative leave is not a finding of wrongdoing, and both Delmore and DiFante will stay on leave until the investigation wraps up.

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The leadership shake-up follows a special City Council work session held Monday evening at Pelham City Hall. The council met behind closed doors to discuss the job performance and character of public employees, as well as potential legal options for pending or likely controversies.

Delmore, who previously served as the police chief in Gulf Shores for 15 years, took over the Pelham Police Department in April 2025. Assistant City Manager Justin D. Smith initially announced Delmore’s leave but did not provide specific reasons at the time.

Despite the ongoing investigation, the city assured residents that daily operations and public safety services will continue without interruption. Officials declined to share further details about the specific allegations, citing the ongoing personnel matter and a desire not to compromise the investigation.

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest stories with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here.