Prior knowledge?
To the editor:
It is clear to me that City Council violated several sections of the City Charter and Florida Statutes at Monday’s City Council meeting:
Several council members admitted to knowing about the motion to remove the city manager before the meeting. If discussed, this is a violation of the Sunshine Laws. (Florida Statute, Chapter 286) This alone should nullify the motion to fire the city manager.
The Procedures for removal as outlined in the City Charter (Article V, section 5.02) were not followed: • All council members were not present (Paragraph 1) • No preliminary resolution was made (Paragraph 1) • No opportunity for the City Manager to request a public hearing and or respond in writing (Paragraph 2) • No adoption of a final resolution (Paragraph 3)
I believe the right thing to do would be for the new Council and Mayor to rescind the firing and re-instate the city manager with full pay and benefits. If the new council chooses to fire the city manager, they could then do so according to the procedures outlined in the city charter.
George Starner
Cape Coral