Lynn Haven commission places City Manager Vicki Gaynor on paid administrative leave pending investigation

The Lynn Haven City Commission voted 4-1 on a motion Friday to place City Manager Vicki Gaynor on paid administrative leave while commissioners conduct individual interviews and review records related to allegations that surfaced in a deposition in Bay County case number 23-14O5CA, Phoenix Construction Services Inc. v. City of Lynn Haven.

The leave was approved after several commissioners said they wanted distance while the commission gathers more information. Commissioner Ward moved to put Gaynor on administrative leave with pay until the one-on-one interviews are completed and the commission holds a special meeting to decide next steps; Commissioner Tender seconded. The vote was Ward — yes; Tender — yes; Commissioner Parnot — yes; Commissioner Peebles — yes; Mayor Nelson — no. The motion passed.

The action followed public discussion of a deposition that was circulated broadly and questions from commissioners about whether to suspend, terminate or investigate Gaynor. The city attorney and the city’s insurance defense counsel, Chad Dunn of the Pennington Law Firm, advised caution about taking public or recorded actions that might prejudice the ongoing litigation. Dunn told the commission, “I would just caution you. You're under a lawsuit right now. There's allegations in the complaint … taking an action today are not gonna change, fix, or make the suit go away.”

Why it matters: the deposition and related public attention concern procurement and personnel decisions at the city and have prompted calls from some residents for immediate action and from legal counsel and others for a deliberate…