Pelham has placed both of its top administrators on paid leave, though not at the same time: City Manager Gretchen DiFante and Police Chief Ed Delmore are now sitting out while an independent investigator looks into complaints about city leadership. Delmore was placed on leave late the previous month; the Pelham City Council recommended DiFante's leave after a lengthy closed-door session. Delmore says his own leave came right after he raised concerns about DiFante's behavior to the mayor.
A Formal Complaint and a Public Break in Silence
A Formal Complaint and a Public Break in Silence According to WVTM 13, Delmore submitted a formal written complaint regarding city leadership while he was on administrative leave. According to 1819 News, he spoke at a Sunday press conference, telling reporters that his leave followed reports he made to Mayor Rick Wash about DiFante's conduct. Blue RAM Media reported that Delmore described her behavior as manic, paranoid and inappropriate, along with signs of intoxication. Delmore also said at that same press conference that Mayor Wash explicitly assured him there were no allegations of misconduct against Delmore himself when he was placed on leave, per 1819 News.
The city, for its part, has stressed that administrative leave is not a finding of wrongdoing for either official, per WVTM 13's reporting. City officials have declined to share further details about the specific allegations against DiFante, citing the ongoing personnel matter and concern about compromising the investigation, the station reports. Both DiFante and Delmore are expected to remain on leave until the investigation concludes.
Closed-Door Session Preceded the Leave Decisions
The Pelham City Council met behind closed doors during a special work session at Pelham City Hall on September 28, discussing the job performance and character of public employees as well as potential legal options for pending or likely controversies, according to WVTM 13. That executive session ran more than two hours, according to a Muck Rack-hosted broadcast covering the meeting. State law allows such closed sessions for personnel and legal discussions, and it was out of that meeting that the council recommended DiFante's placement on leave.
Assistant City Manager Justin D. Smith formally announced Delmore's leave, according to WVTM 13. City officials have assured residents that daily operations and public safety services will continue without interruption, WVTM 13 reports. Acting Chief Deputy Kevin Davis has been designated to lead day-to-day operations at the police department in Delmore's absence, according to the same Blue RAM Media account.
Two Leaders With Long, Separate Histories in Pelham
DiFante was appointed as Pelham's first-ever city manager in August 2017. 1819 News reported that she served ten years in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Her tenure has not been without friction before now: in 2020, after she replaced 13 of the city's 16 department heads, the Pelham City Council renewed her employment contract on a narrow 3-2 vote, as detailed in materials from the ICMA.
Delmore, meanwhile, took over the Pelham Police Department in April 2025, succeeding former Chief Brent Sugg, after spending 15 years as police chief in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Mayor Rick Wash took office in late 2025 after five years on the Pelham City Council, where he had worked alongside DiFante during her administrative tenure, according to a post from WTAT. Wash succeeded 13-year Mayor Gary Waters.
How Pelham's City Government Is Structured
The current standoff matters because Delmore publicly complained about DiFante, Pelham's city manager.
The independent investigator hired by the City of Pelham plans to interview city employees and review the broader situation before issuing findings, according to WVTM 13's reporting. No timeline for the investigation's conclusion has been made public, and city officials have not said when either DiFante or Delmore might return to their posts.
