Loxahatchee Groves council approves town manager contract amid calls to delay

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council voted to approve Resolution 2025‑74, adopting an employment agreement for Town Manager Francine Romalia that carries an end date of Sept. 30, 2026; the motion on the record listed a base salary as “1.55.”

The vote capped more than two hours of public comment, written submissions and council discussion during which many residents urged the council to delay contract approval until outside complaints and investigations are resolved. Town Attorney Kurtz told the council the state attorney’s office had received a complaint but “the state attorney’s office has made no determination with respect to criminality.” Council members split on whether to approve the agreement now or wait for outside inquiries to conclude; the motion passed on the floor.

Councilmember Todd moved to approve Resolution 2025‑74 with an effective end date of Sept. 30, 2026; the motion as stated on the record included a base-salary figure recorded as “1.55.” The motion was seconded and, after public comment and discussion, carried on a recorded roll-call vote (tally in minutes: yes 3, no 2; individual roll-call names were not specified on the public record excerpt).

Nut graf: Why this matters The contract vote commits town staff time and budget authority while several residents and one public commenter said outside agencies have pending inquiries about the town manager. Commenters warned of legal and fiscal exposure if the council approves a multiyear agreement before those matters are resolved; others urged stability and continuity in town administration.

What the council heard and discussed Town Attorney Kurtz opened the agenda item by reading Resolution 2025‑74 into the record. Dozens of written comments were later read into the record and multiple residents spoke in person. Concerns raised by speakers included alleged ongoing investigations, the contract’s severance and benefit provisions, and whether the town’s attorney had prepared a written legal memorandum for the council.

Resident Cynthia Screnci accused the manager of conduct that prompted law‑enforcement attention and said: “If anyone watched the Mickey Mouse show that occurred here at the meeting last night, Francine would be fired immediately.” Cassie Suchi and other commenters urged the council to “delay renewing or renegotiating a contract until all of this stuff is cleared out.”

By contrast, supporters who submitted written statements and spoke in person cited the manager’s record and urged approval. A number of residents who said they work with town programs or have historical perspective asked the council to prioritize operational continuity.

Legal and fiscal issues discussed Multiple written commenters asked the council to seek a written legal opinion before voting. One submission referenced Florida Bar professional-conduct rules and the Florida Constitution and asked whether the town attorney had evaluated conflicts of interest arising from how the contract was negotiated. Kurtz replied on the record that the contract is legally sufficient to enter into and that, as of his discussions with the state attorney’s office, the outside office had not identified criminality or provided a timetable.

Speakers and councilmembers also debated specific contract provisions that commenters highlighted: a 20‑week severance clause for termination without cause, a $35,000 contribution described in the contract (appearing alongside retirement and health benefits), and language that indemnifies the town for employer liability. Several residents and at least two councilmembers said those provisions create elevated financial exposure and urged changes or delay.

Discussion, directions and formal action Discussion points: public speakers sought delay pending outside inquiries; commenters and some councilmembers criticized the process by which the draft contract was circulated and negotiated; other residents urged approval for continuity.

Directions: the council agreed to add a policy item to the October agenda for consideration that would clarify how written public comments are handled when meetings are continued. No formal instruction to delay the contract vote was passed in lieu of the final roll-call vote.

Decision: Resolution 2025‑74 was approved by vote (tally recorded in minutes: yes 3, no 2). The motion approved the employment agreement as read into the record.

Clarifying details and items the record left unclear - Motion salary language: the motion repeatedly recorded a base-salary figure as “1.55” on the record; the transcript does not record currency units or full numeric formatting. (clarifying detail: base salary recorded as "1.55"; units/scale not specified in the public read record.) - Written legal memo: multiple commenters requested a written legal memorandum from the town attorney addressing liability and conflicts; the council did not produce a written memo on the record before the vote. - Investigations: comment authors referenced case numbers and said they had spoken to the assistant state attorney; Kurtz reported he had spoken to Assistant State Attorney Alan Johnson but said the state attorney’s office had made no determination and had not provided firm timelines.

Proper names and institutions in the record Town of Loxahatchee Groves; Francine Romalia (town manager); Resolution 2025‑74; Alan Johnson (assistant state attorney, referenced by commenters); Monica Weber (memo referenced by email submitters); Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (referenced in public comment); Tercivia law firm (prior counsel referenced in discussion).

Ending: what comes next The new employment agreement takes effect as approved by the council. The council directed staff to place a policy item on the October agenda to clarify rules for accepting and reading written public comments after a meeting continuance. Several residents who urged delay said they will follow up if outside investigations produce new findings.