Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
While details remain to be worked out, City Manager Joe Gerrity announced his resignation at the beginning of last night’s Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) meeting. In a brief statement, Gerrity said that he was not angry or upset, but that after the last FBCC meeting he had concluded that he would resign in the best interest of the city. He said that he had informed the mayor of his decision in advance of the meeting at which time he told him that he did not want to become a political football in the run up to the November election. He said that the city needs to heal and move forward.
A more detailed report of the meeting, Gerrity’s remarks, and comments from commissioners and the audience will follow.
Yea, like this had nothing to do with this…
http://fernandinaobserver.org/2015/02/27/city-of-palatka-terminates-czymbor/
I’m betting it has more to do with the City’s request for mediation in the Robin Marley whistleblower case at the end of this month. It happens to be one of the most egregious examples of Gerrity’s malfeasance.
Great, more musical chairs with city managers due to unhappy city commissioners. Maybe we should have elected city managers. This revolving door is bad for business. And if they bring Czymbor back, they should follow Gerrity out the door.
Why people think Czymbor would even consider coming back is a mystery to me. Let’s hope the next City Manager will be hired transparently and not out of Sunshine like Gerrity was.
so he can play golf for free…lol
Hate to see Joe go. I think Joe was a strong Bridge between the Progressive and the Conservative factions in this Town. With his background ,long History in Fernandina Beach, and his personality, He seemed a great fit. Joe, we only had a couple dealings on City Issues, but I always found you available, and responsive to our needs. With always Good Cheer. Best of luck to you and your family. I do wish this Town could figure a way to keep this extreme Important position (continuity) shielded from politics. It would be so much more efficient, and productive for this City.
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Ps, Everybody. Remember tonight, The Rep. Adkins Round Table on Citizens Issues with the PORTS OF FERNANDINA MASTER PLAN. The Peck Center, Tonight at 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Please Plan to attend. News Flash: Yesterday The Georgia Dept. of Transportation Denied Kinder Morgans request for a “Certification of Need” for the Palmetto Pipeline. Which means they will be Denied the huge Power of EMINENT DOMAIN. They will not be allowed to Take Property from Folks that do not want a Pipeline running through their lands. Seems the Georgians get their backs up when a FOR PROFIT Company wants the Power to just acquire anything they want. Governor Deal, was against the Pipeline, as was Mr Billy Morris. Owner of the Savannah Morning News. The Florida times Union and many others. Last week, Kinder Morgan’s Surveyors were arrested for Trespassing on Mr. Morris’s property. The Company spokesman Said” They had pulled off the main highway onto Mr. Morris’s property.” The local Sheriff said “He found the Surveyors one and a half miles inside Mr. Morris property putting down surveyor stakes” Who ya gonna believe? The Georgians are a good “Firewall ” for our future, But Kinder Morgans Lawyers will swarm, and descend on Georgia with all their Fury.It’s not over yet, stay tuned.
Remember, Kinder Morgan is just the new name for ENRON
For those who actually watched the meeting last night Joe presented himself with class and grace and did what he felt was best for the City. You may agree or you may disagree. You may like the way it happened or you may not. You may like the sitting Commission or you may not. Now is not the time so sling mud folks. The Commissions did what they felt was needed and Joe did what he felt was best.
My hope would be that the Citizens of the City show the same class and support Joe till his replacement is in place. Each Commissioner had a view point, each expressed it, and Joe made a choice as to what he felt was best.
In complete agreement with Tony Crawford. Joe is a nice guy and showed class when he resigned. As to why he resigned, some memories need a reminder. For the first time in many years, Joe asked the City Commissioners who hired him for a Deputy City Manager, and they gave him one. He said there was too much work for him alone to handle. Ok, he had my respect for admitting he was in over his head and asked for help. The point is that three years go by and the railroad crossings and the missing sidewalk issues are unresolved. Until private citizens had enough and got involved. It was at that point that the railroad crossing repairs and the missing sidewalk issues were resolved. Those are the two most obvious issues. There were others mentioned.
One more thing, if any of the complainers have ever bothered to do any research, they would have seen on the resumes of the applicants for the City Manager position when it came vacant last time, City Managers turnover is high in most cities.
Our City had one of tbe highest turnover rates of every year or two for almost twenty years. Until Czymbor and Gerrity. The fact that Czymbor lasted six years and tbrough three different Commissions says a lot about his abilities. Like him or not, he was very good at his job.
Bottom line, City Managers tend to change whenever there is a sea change with the City Commissioners.