Hawthorne fires City Manager

In a 3-2 vote, commissioners in Hawthorne voted Thursday night to fire City Manager Ed Smyth who has been on the job there since October 2009.

The move came amid a review of the city’s budget which had been approved in September, but later found to be out of balance.

As discussions about the city’s finances were beginning Thursday, a frustrated Commissioner Deloris Roberts said she wanted to note they were about to embark on reviewing the seventh proposed budget.

As the meeting wore on, those frustrations seemed to resonate with other commissioners and residents.

About an hour and a half into the meeting, Commissioner William Carlton said, “I think we need to quit beating this dead horse and hire us a city manager who can give us a balanced budget and be done with it.”

Roberts called the budget process “disturbing,” adding, “And what’s even more disturbing is that we are two months into the fiscal year without an adopted budget.”

“We need to get someone in here that can do [the budget].

“We’ve given our present, current city manager opportunity after opportunity to do this,” she said.

Minutes later, Robert followed up her comments with a motion, saying, “Because of a lack of fiscal responsibility, my recommendation would be to terminate the service of the city manager so we can get someone in here that can do it.”

After Carlton seconded the move, another hour of discussion ensued about the possible firing.

Roberts said, “It just doesn’t stop with the budget,” as she recounted several payments amounting to several thousand dollars paid out to an accounting software company, and the sale of a city-owned automobile for $200.  Roberts even drew attention to a fire pumper truck that was sold for $1,000.  But Smyth promptly responded that the commission authorized that truck’s sale after it was parked roadside with a “for sale” sign on it.

Smyth’s wife stood up and spoke in his defense.

“This is a lot more than about the budget.  Some of the commissioners haven’t given my husband a chance from day one.

“If you go out into the community, there is a lot more going on than the budget,” Mary Smyth said.

Directing her comments to Ed Smyth, resident Cheryl Elmore said, “My heart hurts for you.  You’re in the hot seat, but at the same time, you’re not helping yourself.  We want to like you.

“I’ve lived here for 30 years and I’ve seen a lot of poor management decisions and it’s got to stop.  It’s got to start with our city commission and it’s got to start with our city manager.

“The answer is not always raise the rates,” Elmore said.

Vice Mayor Matthew Surrency who had been working alongside Smyth to rectify the budget woes waivered in his support Thursday.

“I like Mr. Smyth.  What was advertised to me, hasn’t been given to the City of Hawthorne,” Surrency said of Smyth’s performance.

Surrency said he was not opposed to terminating Smyth’s employment, but that he preferred to do so via a clause in the contract which allowed for a 90-day notice.  Under the terms of the contract, Smyth is to be paid three-months salary if his employment is terminated for any reason other than criminal activities.

“If we’re paying for something, we could at least get a return on it,” Surrency said of the three-months severance pay.

Commissioner Harry Carter concurred with Surrency, saying that he was instrumental in bringing Smyth to Hawthorne.  But he followed up that comment saying, “It appears he’s had problems with this budget.”

Smyth asked that he be permitted until the close of business the following day to remove his personal belongings.

Surrency, Carter and Randall all echoed sentiments of appreciation to Smyth for what he did do while serving as the City Manager.

The commission did not nail down a plan for how to proceed with finding a new manager for the City, but they did discuss obtaining interim assistance from the Florida League of Cities and former Alachua City Manager Clovis Watson, Jr.