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Loxahatchee Groves places town manager on paid administrative leave amid transition
Summary
After newly seated council members were sworn in, the Loxahatchee Groves council voted to place Town Manager Francine Romelia on paid administrative leave effective immediately and directed staff to negotiate an accelerated departure and return options for independent special counsel. The move follows Romelia’s notice that she would not renew her contract.
The Town of Loxahatchee Groves placed its town manager on paid administrative leave on April 7 after a tense council meeting that followed the swearing-in of new council members.
Town Manager Francine Romelia told the council she had provided notice she would not renew her contract and intended to retire at the end of her agreement on September 30. After more than an hour of public comment and council debate, the council voted to suspend Romelia with pay and to appoint an acting town manager while the council pursues an accelerated transition.
Why it matters: The town manager runs day-to-day operations and oversees staff delivering services residents notice every day, from roads and drainage to permitting. The sudden administrative-leave vote puts interim leadership and a short schedule for transition at the top of the council’s agenda and triggers an immediate need to designate negotiating counsel and an interim chain of command.
What the council did: Mayor Lisa El Remy read a motion placing Romelia on paid administrative leave “effective immediately,” removing her authority to act for the town and directing the manager to return town property and preserve town records pending an independent inquiry and negotiation. The motion also designated Valerie Oaks, the town clerk and assistant manager, as acting town manager and directed staff to bring back options for independent special counsel to advise on the personnel and contract matters.
Romelia responded to the council before the vote, saying she had given six months’ notice “to allow the council time for succession and transition planning” and asked for a “dignified process” that would minimize expense and disruption. She told the council she was willing to discuss an accelerated transition if it could be handled in a way consistent with her contract and that she wished to avoid “wasted time and extra money” for the town.
Council members said they were seeking stability and an orderly handoff, but some also expressed concern about the town’s exposure under the manager’s contract and the cost of a termination. Town Attorney Jeff Curts briefed the council on legal thresholds: suspension could proceed with a 3–2 vote, but termination without cause triggers contractual severance provisions and a 4–1 vote requirement for an immediate termination with the town’s financial obligations.
Next steps: The council directed the acting town manager to return with at least three independent special counsel options—each screened for conflicts and with scope, timeline and cost estimates—within two weeks. The council also authorized the acting manager and designated negotiator(s) to begin discussions with Romelia’s representatives about an accelerated transition, but final approval of any separation agreement will return to the full council.
What residents can expect: Town staff said daily operations will continue under the acting town manager. The council asked for a short list of candidates for independent counsel so the town can move quickly; they also signaled they want any negotiated separation to minimize cost and preserve continuity of services.
The council adjourned the meeting after the vote and asked staff to organize a special meeting or workshop to consider independent-counsel proposals and to refine the transition plan.
