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Residents press council on transparency, alleged bypass of hiring process
Summary
Two residents at the Aug. 6 Juno Beach workshop urged the council to explain why a proposed citizen review committee was rescinded and asked whether the hiring process was bypassed; they asked for full disclosure of proposed manager contract details and whether the town attorney had additional compensation to draft the agreement.
During the public-comment portion of the Aug. 6 workshop, two residents urged greater transparency and answers about the hiring process for the town manager.
Bob Rudolph of 840 Ocean Drive asked whether the town had checked with the town attorney about alleged canvassing or "sunshine" violations and whether any exposure might arise from the hiring process. He asked the council to confirm whether the attorney had been consulted regarding canvassing concerns.
Carrie Williams described how the council initially invited residents to help review resumes through an ad hoc committee but later rescinded the committee by a previous vote. "The proposed agreement appears to be substantially different in both format and content from previous contracts," Williams said, citing differences in provisions such as continuation of health insurance as severance, annual longevity pay, unspecified bonuses and a provision described in the draft as "occasional personal time off." She asked whether enhanced benefits in the draft were available to other town employees and whether the town attorney received additional compensation to prepare the agreement.
Town officials responded in public. The town attorney said his office had not engaged in polling of council members and emphasized that the office takes potential sunshine-law violations seriously. Council members said staff would provide comparative contracts and the attorney would prepare a revised draft documenting council direction. The remarks moved council discussion into a paragraph-by-paragraph review of contract language later in the workshop.
The public comments prompted council direction to circulate a redrafted employment agreement to the council for review before any offer is transmitted to the candidate.
