Palatka commission votes 3-1 to terminate city manager after follow-up on cure plan

The Palatka City Commission voted 3-1 on April 23 to terminate City Manager Marcia Cardi after a commission motion said she had not completed steps set out in a prior cure agreement. The motion passed on a roll-call vote that recorded Commissioners Davis, Campbell and Jones in favor and Commissioner Borum opposed.

The action followed a staff update and several commission questions about whether Cardi had completed requirements included in her reinstatement: engaging an experienced city manager as a coach, scheduling employee workshops through human resources to improve morale and employer relations, and completing designated professional training toward city-manager certification. Commissioner Davis moved for termination, saying the conditions were not met.

Cardi spoke briefly and then chose not to remain for the remainder of the meeting. Public commenters addressed the item during the required public-comment period; some urged due process and an advertised hearing, while others supported the commission's decision. A community member warned that abrupt removal could prompt legal action if procedural guarantees were not observed; a different commenter said Cardi "does not do what she says she's going to do" and urged removal.

After the vote the commission invoked the city charter to designate the police chief, Chief Shaw, to fill the city-manager duties at the close of the meeting. Commissioners then directed staff to contact professional organizations (Florida League of Cities and FCCMA) to identify interim-manager candidates and to present options for an expedited recruitment of a permanent city manager. The commission also included a condition that the interim manager would not be eligible to apply for the permanent post.

The commission's motion and public discussion focused on compliance with the contractual cure steps and on the need to stabilize operations while a recruitment and vetting process proceeds. City staff were instructed to secure immediate operational continuity and to report candidate options back to the commission.

The commission did not adopt a separate resolution explaining remedial steps before termination; the action was taken by motion and roll-call vote on the April 23 agenda. The commission directed staff to start the interim search and to return with formal options for a longer-term hiring process.