Commissioner (unnamed) pressed the commission on Monday about a Saturday incident in which former assistant city manager Vicky Gaynor entered city offices and removed boxes of materials, saying she had seen video evidence and wanted immediate dismissals. “Okay. We might as well talk about the elephant in the room,” Commissioner (unnamed) said, describing a letter commissioners had received and citing footage she said showed Gaynor gathering belongings in the building.

Interim City Manager Chris and other staff described the entry as coordinated and escorted. Interim City Manager Chris said Gaynor had lost access to her city computer and her city phone and that work-related materials had already been removed before Gaynor boxed personal effects. “She did not have any access to anything by herself that someone was not in the vicinity of,” Interim City Manager Chris said.

The city attorney told the commission the body’s ability to take employment actions is limited. “The commission's authority for employment actions is limited to the city attorney and the city manager. The city manager alone holds the authority to make employment decisions regarding any employee of the city subordinate to him,” the City Attorney said.

Despite that legal constraint, one commissioner moved to dismiss both the assistant city manager and the HR director and initially suggested arresting Gaynor; that part of the motion was later characterized by other speakers as inappropriate. The motion to dismiss was proposed on the basis of a letter and video evidence that, according to the speaker, show Gaynor removing unaccounted‑for materials. The transcript records no formal vote on that motion during the meeting.

Commissioners and staff debated whether Gaynor removed anything she was not entitled to. Interim City Manager Chris and other staff said much of what was removed appeared to be personal effects and that items classified as work‑related had been separated earlier. The interim city manager also suggested the city adopt or clarify procedures for handling personal property and city equipment when employees are placed on administrative leave, noting common practice is to inventory and box items in advance and escort the individual at pick‑up.

Several commissioners said they had referred possible statutory violations to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) under the city’s whistleblower policy; one commissioner said she had reported a potential violation and that related inquiries and investigations are ongoing. “When you're being attacked after reporting something under our whistleblower policy… I did what I was supposed to do,” a commissioner stated, referring to an FDLE referral.

City staff said an investigation under city policies is underway and that outcomes will be determined when that process concludes. The mayor and staff also acknowledged they had been informed that Gaynor would come to retrieve items and that staff coordinated her visit.

The commission did not take a recorded employment action at the meeting. Commissioners discussed next steps, including whether staff should clarify policy and provide the commission with video or documentation; the city attorney noted final personnel actions are within the city manager’s authority and tied to the pending investigation.

Ending: The commission recorded that an investigation is in progress and that any personnel decisions will follow the city’s investigative and personnel protocols. Commissioners asked staff to bring forward relevant documentation and to consider formalizing procedures for handling city property when an employee is placed on administrative leave.