The Jacksonville City Council personnel committee voted to place Peggy Sidman, the council director, on immediate paid administrative leave while members and counsel negotiate terms of a potential separation or other administrative resolution.

The committee's action followed hours of testimony about intercepted holiday packages, staff anxiety and complaints about workplace culture. Councilmember Ron Salem moved to authorize the council president to sit down with Sidman and work toward a solution that could include paid administrative leave, resignation or another negotiated outcome; Councilmember Nick Howland seconded the motion.

Committee members then amended the motion to assign a committee designee to negotiate terms in private. The assembled committee approved an amendment that administrative leave would commence immediately, that Sidman would perform no official duties during the leave, and that the leave would be paid. The panel also authorized the council president, working with the Office of General Counsel, to execute any written agreement unless there is a legal reason to return the matter to the committee.

Council members who spoke said the decision was prompted by a pattern of complaints about council office culture and by the confusion exposed in the gifts and mail discussion. At the meeting, several council members cited anonymous complaints, exit emails from former staff, and ongoing morale concerns.

Sidman addressed the committee before the vote and said she regretted falling short of expectations. "I regret that I fell short of your expectations," she said, and added that she has spent decades in public service.

The committee did not publish vote counts in the hearing transcript; the motion and subsequent amendments passed on voice votes and the committee chair said the measures carried. The committee indicated it will return to the body if further action is necessary or if negotiations do not produce a mutually agreeable outcome.

The personnel committee chair asked the president or designee to work with the Office of General Counsel to document terms of the administrative leave and to report back to the committee if legal or procedural issues require additional public action under the city code or the Sunshine Law.