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Fort Pierce commission authorizes negotiations with Richard Chess for city manager; names Shay Johnson interim
Summary
After hours of debate over internal versus external candidates and a residency requirement, the Fort Pierce City Commission voted 3-2 to authorize contract negotiations with candidate Richard Chess and unanimously appointed Deputy City Manager Shay Johnson as interim city manager.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The Fort Pierce City Commission on Feb. 19 voted to authorize the city attorney to begin contract negotiations with Richard Chess to become the city—s next city manager and, pending those negotiations, unanimously appointed Deputy City Manager Shay Johnson as interim city manager.
The commission—s authorization to begin negotiations with Chess passed 3-2 after commissioners debated whether to hire an internal candidate, Linda Cox, or one of several outside finalists. Commissioner Gaines, Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Taylor voted in favor; Mayor Hudson and Commissioner Broderick voted against. The commission later voted, 5-0, to install Shay Johnson as interim city manager while final contract talks proceed.
The vote follows the commission—s interviews of a short list of finalists and a staff briefing that identified a residency issue for one outside finalist. City Attorney Hedges told the commission that "it is not a requirement within our charter that they live within the city limits, but it's…
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