Palatka commission ends city manager's administrative leave, orders external investigation

The Palatka City Commission voted Sept. 15 to end paid administrative leave for City Manager Connie Carty, appoint Chief Shaw to serve temporarily as the acting oversight for her direct reports, and launch an external, outside investigation into multiple staff complaints.

Commissioners spent more than an hour debating how the leave was handled, citing disagreements about whether the action should have been decided in a public meeting and whether the commission followed its own procedures. The vote to end the leave, appoint temporary oversight, and begin an outside investigation was moved by Commissioner Campbell, seconded by Commissioner Davis, and carried unanimously (5–0).

The issue began after human resources received staff complaints in early September. Mayor Carrera told the commission that HR had provided complaint statements and that a letter placing Carty on paid administrative leave had been delivered; she said three complaints had been on file when the initial leave decision was made and additional statements arrived later. "At that point, also, the concern was for Ms. Carty," the mayor said while explaining how the leave letter was delivered.

Commissioners raised questions about process. Several members said they had not all been part of a single, public deliberation before the leave began and voiced concern that the decision had been made by a subset of the commission through email and phone contacts. "I don't agree with how we got to this point...I think it's a slap in the face to Ms. Carty," Commissioner Jones said, adding that the commission should treat its sole employee with more direct, public oversight.

Other commissioners defended the leave as necessary to protect complainants and allow time for a fair inquiry. "Because of the number of reports, I believe they warrant her being on leave," Commissioner Davis said, describing her view that the complaints merited removal from direct supervisory duties while they were examined.

City Attorney West advised the commission that an external investigation is the safer legal route. "It is definitely my legal advice that an external investigation be conducted," West told the commission, saying internal probes can present legal pitfalls. West also noted a conflict between the grievance-policy language requiring a supermajority and the city charter, which governs termination and uses a simple majority; she said the charter controls where they conflict.

HR Director Miss Jones outlined next steps if the commission chose to reinstate Carty: return the city manager to work, call a special meeting so the full commission could meet with her and decide whether to proceed to other steps, and, if appropriate, start an investigation. Jones also summarized two investigator options staff had identified: a vendor who could begin immediately with a quoted fee around $7,500, and another investigator charging $400 an hour with a 25-hour cap (about $10,000). Chief Shaw told the commission an outside investigation done full time could take about two weeks; part-time, it could take about a month.

After public comment — including remarks from Allegra Kitchens, who said the commission should have made the leave decision in a public meeting and asked that Carty be treated fairly — Commissioner Campbell moved that the commission "move forward again with, releasing the administrative leave, allow Ms. Carty to return back to work, appoint an assistant city manager for employees to report to, and launch the external investigation on Ms. Carty." Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. The roll call vote was recorded as unanimous (5–0). The commission then moved and approved a separate motion to select Chief Shaw to serve in the interim oversight role while the investigation proceeds.

The commission set these immediate operational directions: (1) restore Connie Carty to her duties as city manager, (2) have all of the city manager's direct reports report to Chief Shaw in the temporary oversight role, (3) begin the external investigation as soon as a contractor can be engaged, and (4) direct HR and legal to receive the investigator's work and to keep the commission from having direct communications with the investigator or complainants during the fact-finding process. The mayor said she would contact Ms. Carty to notify her of the return; she indicated she would reach out that night so Carty could report the next day.

Commissioners and staff discussed cost and procurement: staff told the commission that an earlier budget authorization of roughly $30,000 (from a prior, unused allocation) exists and that the identified investigators were within that range; the commission authorized moving forward immediately with an external investigator who could start quickly. Staff reminded commissioners of restrictions on communications: the commission should not contact complainants or the investigator about the investigation while it is underway.

Why it matters: the action affects city operations, employee supervision, and potential legal exposure for the city. Commissioners said they sought to balance staff protections, due process for the city manager, and the need to maintain city services during the inquiry. The investigation's findings will be returned to the commission for further action if warranted.

Next steps: HR and the city attorney will coordinate hiring the external investigator, Chief Shaw will assume temporary oversight of the city manager's direct reports, and the investigator is expected to deliver findings when the review is complete. The commission's motion did not set a firm deadline for the investigation but staff described a likely timeline of two weeks if the investigator works full time or up to about a month if scheduled part time.