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Candidate's approval reveals dissension among official
By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer CRYSTAL RIVER -- When it came time for the City Council to consider the contract City Manager Phil Lilly had worked out with his choice for public works director, John Kendall called for a timeout. He had received the document shortly before Monday's meeting and said he knew nothing about the candidate, Kerry Lewis, who sat in the front row. Kendall said he would need time, and a resume, before making a decision. His comment would expose a rift in the council and touch off a debate about the role of the city manager and council. After a discussion about the terms of the contract, which called for a $56,000 salary, Kendall made a motion to delay the vote until the next council meeting. Susan Kirk voted against the motion, which passed. She suggested her colleagues were "micromanaging," a reference to criticism Kendall had made of the previous council, which dismissed David Sallee as city manager. "This is pretty much a standard contract," said Kirk, whose husband, Mike, was asked by Lilly to review the candidates for the job. "I take exception to being publicly admonished by another member of this council," Kendall replied, adding it was his duty as an elected official to review expenditures of taxpayers' money. "She doesn't know her job," Kendall said in an interview Wednesday. Kirk said the contracts were delivered by 5 p.m. Monday, two hours before the council meeting began. She said she read the City Charter and interpreted it to define the council's role as either confirming or denying Lilly's decision. "It was not our position to pick apart the contract. I saw our manager being humiliated in public." The council eventually voted to rescind Kendall's motion and took a 15-minute break to read over the contract. It was approved, but not before several adjustments were made. A provision that would have extended insurance to Lewis' family was dropped, for example. In an interview, Lilly explained that he had finished negotiations Sunday and the contract was not typed until Monday. He apologized to the council for its lateness but said he had called them earlier to inform them of his top pick and his qualifications. He said he asked Mike Kirk to review the resumes weeks ago because Kirk is an engineer and could provide insight into the qualifications. Lewis, who is deputy director of public works in Fernandina Beach, begins March 18. His resume states that he has a bachelor's degree in engineering from Old Dominion University and a master's of business administration from Webster University in Jacksonville.
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