Port Richey council OKs mayor reimbursements, funds fire‑station feasibility study and fleet purchase; directs interim city‑manager search

Port Richey City Council members approved several administrative and procurement actions and discussed long‑running infrastructure priorities in a meeting that also included public comments from residents who said recent storms damaged homes.

The council voted to reimburse Mayor John H. Hubert for legal costs from two matters and approved contracting for a fire‑station feasibility study and a replacement utility pickup for the fire department. Council members also directed staff to begin recruitment for an interim city manager and to solicit proposals from executive search firms for a permanent replacement.

The reimbursements followed two separate requests from Hubert after ethics and recall-related matters. Council approved reimbursement of $2,192.50 for attorney fees the mayor incurred defending an ethics complaint; Mayor Hubert abstained from that vote. Council later approved reimbursement of $1,137.50 for legal work tied to a recall threat. The council also approved a motion to pay the mayor’s attorney directly for the approved amounts.

The council approved a request to contract for a fire‑station feasibility and site study through a piggyback of Pasco County’s procurement (Fleischman Garcia Maslowski was the recommended firm), authorizing negotiations of an agreement not to exceed $35,000. The study will evaluate building size, bay configuration, access and flood‑resilient design options and include community outreach. Council had previously budgeted funds in the capital plan for station planning.

Separately, the council approved the purchase of a 2025 Ford F‑250 for the fire department, to be used as a utility/response vehicle and to tow the city’s air and water rescue trailers. Staff said the vehicle…