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Michael Renshaw had been selected unanimously (5-0 vote) by the Palmetto Bay Village Council to become the new village manager, but after a subsequent council meeting to approve the contract broke down due to a disagreement over the amount the new manager would be paid, Renshaw backed out of the agreement and decided to stay where he currently is working.
A special virtual council meeting took place on July 23 for the sole purpose of deciding the next step in finding a new village manager. Two options were included in the agenda.
3. RESOLUTION WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED
A. A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A PROCEDURE FOR THE SOLICITATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF VILLAGE MANAGER AND A TIMELINE FOR THE SELECTION; ALTERNATIVELY, APPOINTING _______________AS PERMANENT VILLAGE MANAGER AND ESTABLISHING A START DATE FOR THE POSITION; EXTENDING THE INTERIM VILLAGE MANAGER’S SERVICES ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (Sponsored by Mayor Karyn Cunningham)
A few public comments from residents not present were read, and Beatriz Herrmann, who attended the meeting in the lobby of Village Hall, had a comment.
“I just want to tell all of you that I hope you do the right thing,” Hermann said. “In my humble opinion what I think you should do is use the same procedure to search and pick the right candidate. I know you all approved the candidate Mr. Renshaw.”
Mayor Cunningham said that she appreciated that the community got involved in the selection process of the three candidates in broadcast Q&A sessions after the Mercer Group executive search had presented six applicants for the job. She said she hoped they would be able to get a new manager in place soon.
Councilmember Marsha Matson (Seat 3) said, “I think what you said is wonderful. I’m all in favor of having another selection process in an expedited manner.”
Vice Mayor John DuBois Village echoed the view of Matson.
Councilmember David Singer (Seat 2) read from a prepared statement about the previous selection process and his criticism of the mayor, focusing on the second option in the resolution.
“I do not know who this permanent manager might be,” Singer said. “Appointing a permanent manager right now would be wrong.”
Councilmember Patrick Fiore (Seat 1) said, “I’m going to concur with Marsha Matson and David Singer that we had a really good process.” Regarding the new selection process, he wanted “some concrete parameters in place so we don’t have the problem we had before.”
After some back and forth council discussion that also involved Village Attorney John C. Dellagloria, Mayor Cunningham said she was in agreement with deleting the second option of the resolution about appointing someone then. There was a unanimous vote to remove that section.
Mayor Cunningham agreed with Councilmember Fiore about determining the benefits ahead of time. There was general agreement about using the Mercer Group again.
Fiore said that the village could use the Mercer Group services, and advertise for candidates, but he suggested they use someone other than Village Clerk Missy Arocha to handle the ads announcing the job opening, since she already was overworked.
Vice Mayor John DuBois said, “I don’t think there is any issue with fringe benefits; we just went along with whatever was in the former manager’s package. But time is of the essence.”
DuBois suggested Sept. 30 for the six finalists to be supplied by the Mercer Group since four weeks of ads, time to evaluate the applicants, getting resumes and information and final selections would bring them close to that date.
Their representative with the Mercer Group was logged into the streaming video session and said that they could be done by mid-September.
Regarding the time frame, Mayor Cunningham opposed that approach because she would like the selection to be made sooner, but the other four members of the council were in favor.
There was discussion about having a base starting salary of $175,000 annually.
Councilmember Singer suggested it be less — $170,000 or $165,000. There were a few suggestions that the amount be kept open — not stated in advance.
“No,” said Councilmember Fiore. “I think we need to set a salary.”
Mayor Cunningham didn’t think it should be set too low.
“If we’re able to attract somebody with experience we don’t want to shortchange ourselves,” she said.
Vice Mayor DuBois suggested a range of $160,000 to $220,000.
“I’m inclined to go along with a set figure, given our financial status and problems caused by COVID-19,” Council Member Matson said. “I would say $175,000.”
That amount, with the benefits separate, was voted on. It passed 3-2, with Matson, Fiore and Singer voting “yes” and Cunningham and DuBois voting “no.”
The benefits were to be negotiated. It would be a two- to three- year contract, with no outside employment and all other sections of the former manager’s contract to remain the same. Estimated total cost would be a little over $200,000.
The amended resolution was passed 4-0, because Vice Mayor DuBois had left the virtual meeting before the final changes and vote.
