Commission approves three‑year employment agreement for City Manager Jeremy Marshall amid mixed public comments

The High Springs City Commission approved a three-year employment agreement with City Manager Jeremy Marshall, including a base salary the city presented and standard benefits and severance terms.

The commission discussed the proposed contract — described in the meeting as a three‑year agreement with a $122,500 base salary, cost‑of‑living and merit increases as applicable, participation in ICMA retirement, health insurance for the manager and a modest automobile allowance — before voting to approve the contract by voice vote.

Public comment on the item was extensive and mixed. Several city employees and community members — including Police Chief Antoine Shepherd, the chair of the Mayor’s Youth Council, and multiple department staffers — spoke in strong support of Marshall, saying he had improved morale, prioritized fiscal responsibility and advanced city priorities. Supporters credited Marshall with early actions on debt reduction, transparent budgeting, and personnel decisions that supporters said stabilized city services.

Other speakers raised concerns. One resident who attended a meeting with Marshall described an incident in which Marshall became visibly angry, banged his fists on a desk, and later said they had filed a complaint with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office; that resident asked the commission to initiate a formal investigation and said they would submit a written complaint. The record shows that the resident reported filing a complaint with law enforcement; the commission did not open a formal investigation during the meeting but accepted the comment for the record.

Commissioners who participated in the hiring process and those who have worked closely with Marshall described his performance as stabilizing and praised his engagement with staff and community groups. Several speakers — including Marshall’s spouse and department heads — described his background, leadership style and work in the first year, and urged the commission to retain him.

Staff summarized contract administrative terms reported in the discussion: three‑year term, base salary reported as $122,500, ICMA retirement participation, health insurance with dependents at employee expense, a termination/severance provision capped at 20 weeks in accordance with Florida law, paid time off accrual with an annual cap, and a modest automobile allowance. The contract was presented as consistent with prior city manager agreements used by the city.

A motion to approve the employment agreement was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Marshall addressed the commission after the vote, thanked staff and said he would continue focusing on staff development and city operations.

The commission did not vote to open an investigation into the complaint raised during public comment; any further action on that complaint would require a separate, formal request or referral.