Palaca commission votes 4–1 to terminate city manager and names police chief acting manager

The Palaca City Commission voted 4–1 on April 23 to terminate City Manager Marcia Cardi, following a contentious public meeting and a roll-call vote. Commissioner Davis moved to terminate Cardi "effective at the close of this meeting," citing what she said were unmet conditions tied to Cardi’s earlier cure period, including documented coaching, employee workshops and progress toward city-manager certification. Commissioner Campbell seconded the motion.

The action came after an exchange in which Commissioners pressed staff for updates on whether agreed conditions had been completed. Public commenters urged the commission to provide Cardi a public hearing and criticized the timing and process. Robbie Kron told the commission he had repeatedly experienced unreturned commitments from the city manager; another speaker called the process "unethical" and asked that a properly noticed hearing be held.

In the roll call on the motion to terminate, Commissioner Davis voted yes; Commissioner Campbell voted yes; Commissioner Borum voted no; Commissioner Jones voted yes; Mayor Pereira voted yes. The motion carried 4–1. Immediately afterward, the commission voted unanimously to appoint Police Chief Shaw as acting city manager for the immediate period and directed staff to contact professional associations (Florida League of Cities and FCCMA) and other networks to identify interim and permanent recruitment resources. The commission also directed staff to return candidate options for an interim manager for prompt consideration.

Miss West, the city attorney, advised that a name-clearing hearing had been afforded earlier in the administrative process and that the termination followed the contractual notice and cure provisions cited in the motion. Commissioners and staff noted Cardi had been given the opportunity to remedy deficiencies under her contract before the termination motion was filed.

The commission also directed IT and human-resources staff to manage administrative access and transition tasks in coordination with Chief Shaw. A majority of commissioners stressed the need to expedite selection of an experienced interim manager and to begin a formal search for a permanent replacement while ensuring continuity of city services.

Next steps: Chief Shaw will assume acting duties immediately; staff will provide the commission with interim-candidate options and consultant contacts from professional associations to begin the recruitment process.