Stuart commission votes 3–2 to terminate City Manager Michael J. Mortel without cause; interim appointed

The Stuart City Commission voted 3–2 on Oct. 27 to terminate City Manager Michael J. Mortel without cause and to appoint Jolie as interim city manager.

The motion, made by Commissioner Reid and seconded from the dais, came after a legal briefing by City Attorney Baggett about the terms of Mortel’s contract and the statutory standards for termination for cause. Baggett told the commission the contract treats the city manager as an at-will employee but that a 'for cause' termination would require identifying statutory grounds — such as malfeasance, misfeasance or neglect of duty under the cited Florida statute — and providing factual support and an opportunity for the employee to respond.

Baggett said the Mortel contract provides 20 weeks’ severance if terminated without cause; he contrasted that with the general employee handbook, which provides roughly 90 days’…