Citizens deliver 1,000-signature petition; commission debate over city manager ends in 2-2 tie

After more than an hour of public comment from business owners, longtime residents and neighborhood leaders, the Sanford City Commission on April 14 heard a petition the city clerk said contains more than 1,000 signatures asking for a change in city leadership.

Petition organizer Christina Hollerbach told commissioners the signers include current Sanford residents (52 percent), other Seminole County residents (8 percent) and former or regional supporters (40 percent) who cited permitting delays, public-works failures and a string of high-profile incidents that they said show poor leadership at City Hall.

The petition and broad public criticism set the stage for a heated commission debate. Commissioner Britton moved to terminate City Manager Norton Bonaparte without cause. The motion was seconded; after discussion that included legal staff reading the manager’s contract and describing suspension and removal procedures, the commission voted. The motion failed on a tie vote, 2–2, leaving Bonaparte in his post.

Why it mattered: Petitioners and multiple speakers — including longtime residents and downtown business owners — said permitting delays and infrastructure problems have discouraged investment and harmed public confidence. Speakers cited a 2024 sewage spill, recurring water-main breaks, permitting and occupancy delays for new businesses, and repeated complaints about city communication and responsiveness.

What speakers said: Nelson Beverly, a lifelong Sanford resident and business owner, said the petition reflected “frustration, disappointment and a growing belief that Sanford deserves better,” and called on the commission to “act out of courage.” Leon Konecki detailed his experience with a long-delayed downtown development (the Heritage Park/Catalyst site) and said the city’s failure to complete projects cost taxpayers millions. Several business owners described permits and fines they said were handled unfairly; one speaker said her family faced fines and threats of foreclosure over a matter she said was resolved.

Supporters of the manager defended his record. Former Commissioner Patty Mahaney, who said she participated in hiring Bonaparte and worked with him through difficult periods, emphasized his leadership during major crises and warned that repeated public attacks would make it harder to recruit future senior staff. Several speakers noted Bonaparte’s regional reputation and urged the commission to consider the risks of replacing a long-serving manager.

Legal context and process: City Attorney Lonnie Group read the section of the city manager’s employment agreement that governs removal and severance. The contract allows removal without cause by majority commission vote and authorizes suspension for up to 45 days while the commission follows a preliminary-resolution procedure; it also lists specific grounds for termination for cause (for example, criminal adjudication, ethics violations, malfeasance or misfeasance).

What the vote means: The commission did not adopt disciplinary action or a suspension. Commissioners who opposed removal cited improvements already underway (for example, staffing changes in communications and permitting) and warned that firing the manager could destabilize operations. Commissioners who supported removal said the pattern of operational failures and poor communication amounted to insufficient leadership and justified termination without cause.

Next steps and context: Petition organizers said they will continue to press the commission for changes. Commissioners discussed — but did not adopt at the meeting — alternate options such as formal performance directives or a suspension while the commission documents specific performance deficiencies by contract standard. The commission did approve, elsewhere on the agenda, staffing and procurement items aimed at addressing several operational complaints raised by residents.

Ending: The vote left Sanford continuing under Bonaparte’s management while debate over accountability and operational performance remains active in public and at future commission meetings.