From a city employee’s point of view, if there was ever an upside to the mess that has become High Springs I suppose it’d be this: you can’t be fired.
Not that any of our fine, hardworking staff would ever do anything that would warrant termination, but even if they did, no one in the city government has the authority to fire anyone.
The city commission officially placed City Manager Jeri Langman on administrative leave Thursday night, after stripping her of her duties, keys, email access, and escorting her out with her personal belongings back on September 13. After being legally challenged on the procedure used to suspend Langman, the commission chose to give it a second try during a special commission meeting exactly one week later.
Both motions passed 3-2, with Mayor Dean Davis, Vice-Mayor Bob Barnas, and Commisisoner Gestrin voting in the affirmative.
The commission has named no interim manager, only giving some ‘light duties’ to City Clerk Jenny Parham, asking she inform them of any issues requiring action. Parham does not have the title of interim manager, acting manager, nor any other variant giving her control of the city’s day-to-day operations, leaving High Springs with no leadership in place.
As required by the city charter, the commission cannot take any action to hire or fire any employee, and all actions dealing with employees must be done through the manager.
The commission approached former Newberry City Commissioner John Glanzer, who just recently finished a stint as the City Manager of Archer, about filling the position in the interim. Glanzer declined saying, “At the advice of my legal folks, it’s not in my best interest to step in…I cannot expose myself to any potential legal issues.”
As for the other three vacant positions, former City Attorney Ray Ivey submitted his resignation over a month ago, with the stipulation he’d stay on until the city found a new attorney. Ivey stated the rigorous meeting schedule — often three meetings per week — as something he wasn’t expecting and was unable to commit to in the future.
After publicly requesting interested attorneys apply for the position, the city commission received no applications by the deadline, leading Ivey to give a definitive effective date, September 21st. As of Friday, no city attorney has been hired to fill the position.
Eluding to the political climate leading to no applications for the vacant position, Barnas stated on his newly formed personal website, “IS THERE A TRUELY BRAVE ATTORNEY ON THE HORIZON?”
The former City Engineer, who had been on the job less than four months, resigned from his post following the commission’s decision to cut his pay to part-time, and he was unable to continue service at a reduced pay.
Former City Planner Christian Popoli was terminated after the budget was amended mid-year by the commission eliminating the position in favor of a full-time engineer. Popoli, who often received outstanding reviews on his job performance, was said to be targeted for filing a complaint two years ago against Mayor Dean Davis. Davis asked Popoli to ignore a building code for a property Davis was actively listing as a realtor, the complaint alleged.
Eric May
Former elected official Eric May provides readers a view on government they rarely get: one from the inside. Eric currently works for a political consulting firm handling all forms of political media and communications. He is married to his beautiful wife Jenna, who both enjoy serving actively in their church and community.
Eric story title reminds me of that the old saying from WWII,:
BATTLING BASTARDS OF BATAAN
We’re the Battling Bastards of Bataan,
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam,
No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces,
No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces,
And nobody gives a damn!
Written by Frank Hewlett, 1942
This is just embarrassing for High Springs. There are so many bright and talented people here, it’s a shame to see the city continually blighted by these shenanigans. Kudos to Sue Weller and Scott Jamison for hanging in there throughout what is undoubtedly a trial of patience.
Embarrassing and then some. City employess are being personally bankrupted for the political get even Davis, Barnas and, Gestrin feed on. Along with the larger of citizens that are whole, suffering relentless attacks and, retaliation for no reason other than doing the right things. Commissioner Weller and, Jamison save our face and, thank you is just not enough for the even, intelligent and, high moral they present on our behalf.
The perpetrators of this massive display of egomaniacal use of power and position should each be immediately replaced by:
1. Recall and special election.
or
2. Action of removal from the Governor.
or
3. Tarred, feathered and ridden out of town on a rail.
(back off Barnas, this is a statement of extreme displeasure not a threat)
Seldom has there been a display of incompetence and self serving piety as we have seen displayed.
With the upcoming election the gentry of High Springs will have the chance to ‘start’ correcting the makeup of the City Commission. With a little effort and getting beyond our personal ‘comfort zone’ we can each work to give our fair city the relief it so desperately needs. I personally am tired of citizens in surrounding towns asking me ” Jim what in the H______ is going on in High Springs”.
Help!!….. get out and work for a new candidate, support a sensible direction for High Springs.
If YOU don’t the sycophants of current incompetent commissioners will surely guide us further down the road to becoming a ward of Gainesville and then may God help us all.
My view.
Jim Bryant
Mayor Davis was driving around yesterday placing Pat Rush signs. Nuff said as to the direction there. And, just because the Mayor got a few in the ground does not mean that support lies therein. And, everyone knows what that means. You know. Next Year. Right Mayor?
Maybe High Springs needs a City Psychiatrist?
Does commissioner Bob mean “an attorney DUMB enough” to take this position? The city of High Springs is seen as a HUGE clusterbomb. They won’t find an attorney to fill that slot. Am I wrong?
Stupid is as stupid does. What would it take to get that fool out of office?
As of Friday night 9/28/2102, if the informtion is correct, it appears that Edward Riess has thrown in the towel leaving Scott Jamison to retain Seat 5 unopposed. That leaves Patrick Rush to run against Byran Williams for Seat 4 the seat now held by Dean Davis who is all too friendly with Rush.
Dean’s close friend Robyn Rush instructed Davis to support Pat Rush and is going around town putting up “Vote For Rush” signs.
We must remember Pat Rush as the sole owner of “Pat’s Place” a coffee shop on Main street that went out of business. He couldn’t blame anyone else for his businesses’ demise because he made all the decisions. How can the citizens of High Springs even think of voting for someone who couldn’t successfully run his own small business to run our City’s big business?
Everyone should send the present triumvirate a clear message that we the people, who this trio works for, can’t take their lack of professionalism anymore. We will vote for Byran Williams because he has nothing to hide about his past and wants the chance to do damage control and better position High Springs to thrive once again by bringing in much needed jobs.
Eric, I’m glad you’re back in the factual communication’s arena since you were one of the first that saw how really bad this triumvirate really was.
I agree with Jim Bryant. A recall is a long expensive fight however.
What would it take to get the governor of Florida to act immediately on the plight of High Springs? If anyone knows PLEASE RSVP