Atlantic Beach commission approves separation agreement for City Manager Bill Killingsworth; deputy to serve as interim

The Atlantic Beach City Commission voted 4-1 on Jan. 6 to approve Resolution 26-12, authorizing a separation-of-employment and general release and waiver agreement with City Manager Bill Killingsworth.

Killingsworth opened the special meeting by addressing commissioners and the public: “After careful consideration and having talked with the mayor, I’ve decided to step down from my position as Atlantic Beach’s city manager,” he said, adding that he was committed to ensuring a smooth transition.

Mayor Ford, who read the resolution and seconded the motion to approve it, described the terms the commission ratified. Ford said Killingsworth could have been entitled under his employment agreement to 20 weeks’ severance but agreed to 10 weeks if the commission approved the resolution. Ford also said Killingsworth would be paid through the end of January, would stay through Friday to say goodbyes to staff, and was permitted to retain his city laptop and cell phone provided IT removed city data.

The commission’s discussion included objections about notice and process. Commissioner Kelly said she was reluctant to approve an agreement with so little notice and argued commissioners had not discussed any change in the city’s direction before the resignation was negotiated. “I cannot support this mysterious contract without understanding what’s going on behind it,” Kelly said.

Other commissioners and many members of the public praised Killingsworth’s work. Commissioners and speakers on the public-comment roster highlighted projects completed or underway during his tenure — including lifeguard station reconstruction, acquisition and renovation of Marsh Oaks, and stormwater projects — and urged the commission to learn from the transition and to improve transparency in future city-manager searches.

Several residents raised legal and procedural concerns during public comment. Cindy Anderson, an employment lawyer who identified herself as an Atlantic Beach resident, said the separation agreement as presented lacked language she said the Age Discrimination in Employment Act requires — including a 21-day period to consult counsel and a seven-day revocation period — and urged the city to have qualified counsel re-draft the document to avoid exposure to litigation.

Mayor Ford told the commission that, by charter, Deputy City Manager Kevin Hogancamp would ascend to interim acting city manager if the commission approved the separation; Hogancamp is expected to serve while the commission discusses the search process. Ford said the commission would resume discussion at the regular meeting on Monday to outline a search committee and consider whether to retain a search firm.

In a roll-call vote, Commissioner Kelly voted no; Commissioners Ring, Bull, Grant and Mayor Ford voted yes. The motion carried 4-1.

The commission adjourned after the vote; Ford said the group would continue planning next steps at the upcoming meeting and invited members of the public to return for further conversation.