Carson Clerk Jim Dear allowed back at City Hall in limited capacity. Carson City Clerk Jim Dear, ordered to stay away from City Hall this week out of concern that he might harm co-workers, was allowed to return to his office Friday as City Council members began censure proceedings against him.

Interim City Manager Ken Farfsing implemented increased security measures in the wake of an independent investigator’s findings that 13 employees said Dear verbally abused, harassed, bullied and threatened them. He also is accused of marginalizing black employees, making racist comments to City Hall staff, spying on them and forcing officials to hire his girlfriend.

At a special meeting Thursday night to discuss Dear, four members of the City Council voted to support Farfsing’s recommendations that the clerk’s staff be moved to another office and interact with Dear only on the phone and via email.

The council also voted 4-0 to begin proceedings to censure Dear — an official condemnation of his behavior. His ally, Councilman Elito Santarina, abstained from the votes, saying he wants to know more about the investigation. The council majority also approved anti-harassment, anti-discrimination and anti-workplace violence training for Dear and all staff. The council limited Dear’s duties and ordered him to only have access to areas in City Hall necessary to do his job during office hours. Employees reported fearing that he would “snap or go postal,” and the city is working on a resolution to prohibit weapons in or near City Hall and protect employees from any attempts to seek retribution.