Fernandina Beach commission votes 4–1 to terminate city attorney

The Fernandina Beach City Commission voted 4–1 on Jan. 7 to terminate the city attorney's employment agreement without cause and directed the city manager and human resources director to begin the search for a replacement.

Commissioner Pete Pointer moved to terminate the city attorney, citing a lack of confidence, and asked for 30 days advance written notice under the existing contract; Commissioner Janice Minshew seconded the motion for purposes of discussion. Pointer said the decision was made "in the best interest of the community" and urged the commission to remove political influence from the legal department. Vice Mayor Askew opposed the motion, arguing the commission should handle charter officers more carefully and warning the action mirrored a prior, poorly managed termination.

After brief discussion the roll-call vote was 4 in favor, 1 opposed. Mayor Mary Anton voted yes; Commissioner Minshew and other commissioners voted yes; Vice Mayor Askew voted no. The motion included instructions that the city attorney be placed on administrative leave during the 30-day notice period and that staff begin the process to identify a successor.

The action closes the meeting's personnel item for now; the commission did not provide additional public detail about the city attorney's performance during the meeting. The termination will proceed under the contract terms cited by Commissioner Pointer and the city manager and HR will handle next steps, including interim legal coverage and a search timetable.