Loxahatchee Groves hires Grey Robinson to negotiate former manager’s exit, sets May 12 deadline

Mayor Elle Ramey announced the council had voted to hire Janica Simpson of the law firm Grey Robinson to negotiate a settlement related to the town manager’s employment, then moved and won council authority to pursue a negotiated proposal with a May 12 deadline and a special meeting to consider any offer.

The vote to engage Simpson’s firm passed 3–2 after debate over whether to hire outside negotiators or simply terminate the contract without cause. Vice Mayor Sood moved to retain Simpson, saying the firm had already reviewed the employment agreement, prepared a negotiation strategy and had the capacity to escalate to litigation if necessary. Sood said hiring Grey Robinson gives the town “the full weight of her law firm and her senior partners to be involved if this matter goes to litigation, political, or public consideration.”

Opponents on the council argued the town should avoid or minimize legal spending. Council member Coleman urged a clean break, including the option to terminate without cause and accept the contractual out to obtain a release rather than incur additional fees. Acting Town Manager Oates cautioned that negotiation generally requires concessions from both sides and noted quoted negotiation fees in the interviews were “about $5,000 to $10,000.”

Mayor Ramey then moved to authorize the acting town manager to accept a negotiated proposal no later than May 8 and, if none were received, to proceed with engaging an investigator. After council debate about the tightness of that window, Ramey amended the direction to set a May 12 deadline and scheduled a special meeting for that date to consider any settlement. The amendment was seconded by Vice Mayor Sood and the revised motion passed 3–2.

Janica Simpson, on the line for Grey Robinson, told the council an eight-business-day turnaround was tight but feasible and said the firm could discuss a 14-day internal window if required. Members of the public who spoke at the meeting urged clarity about whether the council’s action authorized only negotiation or also an investigation, and cautioned that a short deadline could appear coercive to the manager.

Council’s action: the council voted to engage Janica Simpson of Grey Robinson to negotiate a settlement and directed the acting town manager to pursue a negotiated proposal, with a May 12 special meeting to consider any offer. The council did not announce findings of wrongdoing; members described the vote as a step to secure a negotiated release or, if no acceptable offer appears, to consider further action at the May 12 meeting.

Next steps: the acting town manager was authorized to execute the firm’s contract under the town’s existing purchasing authority (as clarified by council staff), and the council will reconvene at the special meeting on May 12 to accept or reject any proposed settlement.