Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 03-18-08 special minutes — reading text

City Manager. L Mr. Minich called a point of order. The Mayor noted Council is talking about the Finance Director motion. Dr. Pullen expressed he is fully aware of that. The Mayor asked Mr. Minich his point of order. Mr. Minich stated Dr. Pullen is speaking about the City Manager and the motion on the floor is to fire the Finance Director. He said any comments directed negatively toward the City Manager do not have to do with the motion. The Mayor agreed with the point of order. Dr. Pullen added he supports the actions of the Finance Director. He thought she has done the job she was asked to do but they did not give her the support she needed to do it. He felt sorry for the City if they' let her go because there is no checks and balances in the City at all. He said he has seen the overspending, the blatant disregard of the directions of the City Council, and he has seen the City Manager. . . Mr. Minich called a point of order and said that Dr. Pullen is not speaking to the motion; he is speaking about the City Manager once again. Dr. Pullen said he is speaking to the motion. Mr. Minich asked to hear the Mayor' s ruling. The Mayor requested Dr. Pullen to refrain from bringing the City Manager into it that they are talking about the Finance Director. Dr. Pullen agreed and said the Finance Director has pointed out to Council the overspending, the spending beyond the financial limitations established by Council for the City Manager. The Mayor noted Mr. Hartwell withdrew his discussion, so that is not relevant at this time until that point comes back. The Finance Director requested to speak. The Mayor stated she had an opportunity during public comments, they closed the discussion on the floor, and now they are in the debate on the motion. The Finance Director stated she would like to make some tasteful comments if it would be acceptable. Mr. Minich asked the Finance Director what she wanted to say. 4 Sspecial Council 3- 11- 08 DISCUSSION OF MOTION cant. The Finance Director stated she has listened to people who do not know her sayan awful lot of stuff about her. She has seen articles put in the newspaper that, probably now they all have Google, she will never be able to get a job again in her career. She said a lot of people out there are angry and think she deserves this; she did not agree. She said she is very upset with the fairness of Mr. Mattimore' s report. She wished there was something she could do about it, but there is not. She said she is very upset with the fact that there will be a lot of bad documents put into her file. She said she is very upset about the anonymous letters and other things that have been put in her file since she started working here. She I said there is nothing she can do about it. She said she is most upset, and very sorry, for the four people in the green shirts sitting over there, and that is all she can say about that. She thought there is one person sitting in front of them by the name of Melissa Jones that really personally did things that caused a lot. The Mayor interjected to remind the Finance Director she was going to make tasteful comments. Mr. Hartwell requested the Mayor control the audience or to have them cleared from the Chambers. The Finance Director stated she is not the whole issue but she did appreciate the thought that is going to go into the vote tonight. She did think it is so overwhelming out there that she understood their point of view. She said she understood Virgil Miller and she appreciated him for all he has done for her. She said she appreciated Dr. Pullen, and greatly appreciated Mr. Hartwell and she wished he would not resign and continue to fight. She wished that other members of City Council would not have treated her in the way they have. She complimented Mr. Minich on his leadership. Mr. Minich said it was not his intention, through the motion, to make it so that Ms. Absher cannot work again. He said it is just as he stated before, she is not the right fit for this job and he thought by terminating her contract in accordance with her contract, it will give her enough time to move forward, and he is sure she will be able to find something different. Mr. Miller asked if they could call upon their Labor Attorney for guidance on liability protection by doing this since he negotiated the contract with the Finance Director. The Mayor said that was not necessary because it is in accordance with the contract. He said they have had their discussion on Council, provided Ms. Absher an opportunity to speak, and it is time to vote. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to terminate the Finance Director' s employment immediately with the City in accordance with her contract and it carried by a vote of 4 to 3 with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, and Minich in favor and Miller, Pullen, and Hartwell opposed. Ms. Absher left the meeting. Mr. Hartwell said he would like to call a Special meeting to discuss termination of the City Manager for cause. The Mayor suggested Council discuss that as a future agenda item during the regular Council meeting tonight at 7: 00 pm. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p. m. ED: ~ Jl~ J I l/! AT: RKa~ ITY ~ ddm