Last Updated: 9:26 p.m.
A week short of the two-year anniversary of the Flagler Beach City Commission’s decision to hire him, the commission this evening fired City Manager William Whitson on a 4-1 vote following an hour of withering criticism by several commissioners, some of it tempered by what some of them, including the mayor, saw as improvements in the last few months.
The vote, with Commissioner Jane Mealy in dissent, capped a rocky year for Whitson, who also faced criticism from segments of the business community. His departure leaves the city in a lurch for leadership again, after struggling for leadership well before August 2020, when former Manager Larry Newsom died.
The decision will be seen as either reckless or overdue–reckless by those, like Mealy (who’s been on the commission through more than half dozen managers and interims), who can’t see how a new manager on a learning curve will steer the city just as it is embarking on the biggest public (and some private) works in its history, with pier demolition and construction and a massive beach renourishment project ahead, plus the construction of a 100-room hotel downtown.
It will be seen as overdue by those who have endured what had often turned into an administrative theater of the absurd since last summer, starting with what is now a symbolic marker of a thousand duds: the fiasco that led to the cancellation of the city’s July 4 fireworks. There have been numerous stumbles since, and increasing reports of a demoralized city staff.
In a chaotic follow-up to this evening’s vote, the commission again appointed Rick McFadden, its interim before Whitson was hired, to assume the manager’s title at least until Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. The commission set a special meeting to decide on an interim manager. It had taken the commission a year to finally appoint Whitson.
Whitson was not terminated for cause. He will remain on the payroll until April, but on administrative leave, then will have a severance package as outlined in his current contract.
Commission Chairman Ken Bryan attempted to name one possibility for appointment possibly tonight: Jerry Cameron, the former Flagler County administrator. Bryan had worked with Cameron in St. Johns County, where Bryan was a commissioner and Cameron was an assistant administrator. But the rest of the commission did not so much dismiss the idea as it did not entertain it just then. Cameron, a shrewd backroom operator, has been angling for a job in Flagler and St. Johns since his departure from the county in June 2021.
Whitson’s fate was on the agenda for tonight’s meeting. But his job seemed safe after Commissioner Debbie Phillips, who’s always been the swing voter on Whitson issues, spoke in favor of keeping him early in the discussion, and even Mayor Suzie Johnston, formerly a harsh critic, said she saw improvements. But the mayor wondered why it had taken threatening Whitson’s job to see those improvements.
The tide turned when Bryan spoke. Bryan had been, with Mealy, a defender of Whitson until now. This evening, he spoke of him more critically than did Rick Belhumeur, the former city commissioner who’s made getting rid of Whitson his principal issue in his campaign to reclaim a commission seat.
“I’m not quite sure what kind of oversight you have Mr. Whitson, because what I see are holes in reporting, and also getting the job done,” Bryan said. “I see a lot of things around a city. That is not getting done. That tells me that somebody’s not doing their job.”
It got harsher from there. “I don’t want to hear the excuse. ‘I don’t have people over here. I don’t have people over there. They’re not responding to me,'” Bryan said, apparently repeating excuses he’s heard from Whitson over the months. “I don’t care. That’s your job. If you don’t do your job, you need to be gone.”
A tipping point for Bryan was a pay raise for employees that the commission approved in its last budget, and that has not been rolled out as fully as expected. (“Everybody got a certain amount,”Mealy noted, but she acknowledged that it was not the full raise). Commissioners Eric Cooley and James Sherman were equally critical on the pay issue, with Cooley saying the employees only got a cost-of-living raise, not the additional raise the commission had approved.
But he also used grim language to describe the look of the city on Whitson’s watch, city facilities especially. He called the front of City Hall “disgraceful.” Then he went through a list of priorities that were not getting done, hammering again and again: “That’s your fault.”
Bryan a few weeks ago announced that he would not run for re-election in the March 7 contest. Two seats are up–his and Phillips’s. Five candidates are running.
With Bryan now no longer providing any kind of cover for Whitson, Commissioner James Sherman–who, like Eric Cooley, has long been dissatisfied with the manager–found new momentum in what may otherwise have been mere criticism on the way to retaining Whitson a while longer. Sherman struck on several of the issues Bryan had listed, including the city’s “aesthetics,” he said “we need to move forward and move on.”
It was Mealy who made the motion that proved fatal–to keep Whitson. At that point, Phillips joined her, in a 3-2 losing vote. But that was the equivalent of a vote of no-confidence in Whitson. It still wasnot a vote to terminate. City Attorney Drew Smith told the commission that it would have to take an affirmative vote to fire the manager.
With Whitson sitting through it all, head hunched, the commission voted, this time with Phillips, having read the writing on all four walls, switching and voting for termination.
It was a humiliating, public dressing down unseen in the county, at any level of government, in any of the local governments, since the time then-Commissioner Milissa Holland tried to fire then-County Administrator Craig Coffey, who was in his third year as administrator. Holland preceded her motion with litany of complaints themed around what she called a performance laced in “mediocrity.” Her motion to fire him ailed on a 3-2 vote. (See: “Holland Fails in Move to Fire County Administrator Coffey; He Gets 1 More Year.”) Coffey went on as manager for nine more years.
One of the more cogent statements of the evening was delivered from the floor by Brenda Wotherspoon, a South Central Avenue resident, who has seen the city “trend backward” over the past seven years. “These are troubling times for our city,” she said, “and more than ever, we need to have a sober evaluation of our government structure to discover who is part of a team, who’s using their position to undermine for personal gain, and most importantly, who can move us toward a proactive direction and out of the self-destructive, reactive approach that has plagued our city for years.”
A dejected Mealy after the scheduling of Monday’s meeting asked her colleagues to adjourn the meeting and spare Whitson, who had been in the room the whole time, having to present commissioners’ comments. After a few comments from the public, some of them hostile–more toward the commission than anyone else, but not necessarily over the firing of Whitson–the commission adjourned.
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Melissa says
Mealy needs to GO. Another do nothing who seems to like a title just like her former partner in crime, Belheumer. Take them to the old folks home and get some fresh thinking and actual progress to replace them.
FlaglerBeach Tim says
You seem to have Belhumeur confused with someone else. He and Mealy rarely agreed on anything, and Rick always worked for the city, not himself. He went to Talahassee to try and get funding for the dune project, and even went as far to trim city streets before the implementation of the landscape crews. Check your facts, Melissa. Vote Rick Belhumeur.
Lance Carroll says
Definitely NO on Belhumer.
FlaglerBeach Tim says
People either love Rick or hate Rick. I venture to say those who hate him, dont know him very well.
Bian says
Boy didn’t see this coming this soon .Ken Bryan stepped up .How about flip flop Phillips, first she’s fine then switches vote when it didn’t matter .Flagler Beach voters can not vote for someone who always go with the flow . I mean you give him a review, then vote to keep him and then flip . FlaglerBeach got what it wants and needs to vote in a new direction.please show up at Women’s Club February 21@7pm and see who should be elected.I know who Im voting for
Duncan says
Headline should read, Dysfunctional Flagler Beach Commission slay their scapegoat; who’s next?
Lance Carroll says
Sounds about right.
Jimbo99 says
Whitson was their punching bag from the start. Crappy reviews all year ? To only get a year & then open this for the next guy. Just reshuffling the same, old “deck of cards” ?
Is this a joke? says
Cameron? sweet baby Jesus there are some stupid people on these boards. If you bring Jerry back into this county, you need your heads examined. That’s lazy on your part. Hire a real damn manager.
Been There says
Please please please for all that is decent in this world, keep that man out of our County. What will be next; bringing Mullins back?
Disgusted says
Flagler Beach has been falling apart for many years — it just didn’t start with Whitson. Yes, he has been floundering for a while and it is time to let him go. Time to show the door to the department heads too.
We now need new blood and new idea ideas. NO former Mayors or Commissioners need apply. You all have been part of the problem.
Time for this town to get rid of the dead weight, grow up, and function as a city should. The negativity from the Flagler Beach Facebook Groups needs to stop. You all are part of the problem too.
James says
Flagler Beach is in some trouble now. They better hope Jerry Cameron comes on board. I would stay retired if I was him, this Commission is wacky.
JohnX says
So he’s not bad enough to be fired for cause. Which costs the city a lot more money. Seems like just letting his contract expire would have been fiscally sound. Or if they wanted to get rid if him, then have a good enough reason for it to be “for cause”. Plus the next one will want some upfront money and an iron clad severance package, having seen this play out. Two months paid salary, plus accrued annual leave, plus severance pay (an unusual gap in FL’s thorough reporting-but lets assume a years pay), plus the next person’s hiring costs, this seems like about a half a million dollar swing for some fairly nebulous complaints. Something about the front of city hall.
Albert Zigler says
I lived and worked in Flagler Beach from 1991 to 2015. It was a great small town with a homey feel. Everyone knew everyone. Then it changed. More police, more drugs and more people trying to change it into what they fled from in other states. I don’t even go and visit anymore. Glad I got out.
Lance Carroll says
Flagler Beach is rapidly becoming a sh**hole.
scott "chambo" chamberlain says
I’m somewhat bewildered how this will help our community in the near-term…To Jane’s point, now is not the time to change leadership, with three monumental projects imminently approaching (beach replenishment, hotel, pier), not to mention the strides of recent improvement noted by a few commissioners/mayor, I believe our best course of action would have been to stay with Mr. Whitson at the helm…Before retiring, I too, understood the constraints he works within, as well as the demands of the commissioners/public…”Rising Expectations & Shrinking Budgets” is a mantra across all of corporate America, and whereas some criticize Mr. Whitson’s speed of ramp-up, not all fully understand the complexities of his job, the many projects/departments he oversees, not to mention he too, inherited the job during/after major storms which do tend to monopolize focus/efforts. As new to the area, we have attended Jane’s Citizen’s Academy (which we strongly encourage everyone to do) and have learned of the many, many intricacies and nuances on how our city operates, along with many rules, laws and guidelines of parameters in which Mr. Whitson has to operate. Mr. Whitson and his staff have appeared at a few meetings, and we have appreciated his insight, approachability and candor as well as his grasp on the many issues he is (was) currently facing. I believe his was aware of the urgency, and his team was as well, and they all seemed committed to righting the ship. Now with this vote, I’m afraid all we have done, is delay a similar outcome, albeit many many months later…
Leila says
When did we become a civilization which enjoys debasing people publicly? Why couldn’t this have been handled quietly, without putting this man through this torture? There are too many in this community who delight in watching scenes like this one, too many more than willing to celebrate the destruction of others.
It is becoming a national sport. If you knew how ugly it makes our community, I wonder how many would keep it up? There will never be a human being who is acceptable for a job such as this until that ugliness changes.
Bill C says
I agree… could have been handled more professionally, in a private conference- “a little bit better”, like in the movie Casino:
Remo Gaggi : Frankie, they found a guy’s head in the desert, did you know about that?
Frank Marino : Yea I heard, yea
Remo Gaggi : Everybody’s talkin about it, makin a big deal about it, it’s in all the papers.
Frank Marino : Whadaya gonna do?
Frank Marino , Remo Gaggi : And I mean, that’s no good. Ya got to tell them to take care uh things a little better.
Frank Marino : I’ll tell ’em, Remo
Linda Hagman says
Besides experiencing Mr. Whitson’s indifference to citizen’s concerns, his proven incompetence in securing grant money, negotiating a fireworks contract, and letting so many issues go unresolved and neglected, I was relieved to hear he is dismissed.
As a taxpayer, we cannot afford to train a city manager! When I went through the citizen’s academy in 2019, I was so impressed by the years of experience and talent this little city had secured on it’s police force and city management. Many of the personnel we met, expressed how much they loved serving the City of Flagler Beach having come from much more difficult and challenging environments.
If hiring an experienced and competent city manager is just too difficult for certain members of the current city commission, perhaps it’s time they step aside and let’s elect people who know how to “manage” resources and personnel. We, the tax payers, deserve better.
blerbfamilyfive says
And why is Mr. Bryan supporting Jerry Cameron as the new manager. Interesting…….
Please Not Cameron says
How Jerry Cameron has bestowed the roll of a “mess cleaner” is beyond me. Everywhere he touches becomes a mess.
Concerned Citizen says
This is one of the most dysfunctional Commission’s I’ve ever seen.
When Commissioner’s aren’t sleeping with the mayor they are fighting more than doing business. How much time is being wasted on city time? What true business is being handled. Yet residents keep re-electing over and over. And then whine.
And for the love of god. Do not let this Commission bring back Jerry Cameron. A simple back ground check and a more indepth one before Flagler got him would have showed much. If you do hire him you deserve every bit of what you get. Because you knew before hand.
Mothersworry says
WOW!! What a s**t s**w!
I gotta ask who hired him? Thought it was the city commission. Could they be the problem? Isn’t odd that they have 2 or 3 candidates waiting in the wings to fill the position. This was a hit job and nothing more.
Is Jane the only one capable of independent thought?
With all the projects in the pipeline how is a new manager going to get up to speed?
Lance Carroll says
Interim manager is already up to speed.
I'm not coming to Flagler Beach if they hire "That Guy"..... says
Cameron!
Do ya really think the County was run ant better. He supported that lower Mullins, made back-alley deals. Kept things from the County Commission until things were bad then smeared them about like nothing was wrong.
This guy needs to stay away.
I’ll tell you right now if they hire Cameron I’ll boycott the Great Flagler Beach until they fire him.
Robert says
Most dysfunctional town I ever lived in. Finally got out of town and could not be happier
Dave Shank says
Incompetence, inexperience, failure in leadership or simply over his head……all possible factors in his release, but what an unnecessary public lynching. Having moved to the area 12 months ago, it’s been tough watching the city attempt to overcome a failed fireworks plan followed by back to back hurricanes (news flash…..each of these are an annual occurrence); am sure there are other issues worth discussing. Recommend a ‘control-alt-delete’ for all city leadership to rally and develop an enduring plan within budgetary constraints to make Flagler Beach an area where people want to live and visit.