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Offended, city planner takes parting shot
By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer CRYSTAL RIVER -- Tucked at the end of his resignation letter, which admonished a City Council member for comments made during a meeting on Monday, planner Richard Hughes made this statement: "Effective Monday, March 4, 2002, I shall begin employment elsewhere." The disclosure took some council members by surprise, as days earlier they had approved moving the planning position under the oversight of City Manager Phil Lilly. Lilly also planned to give Hughes a substantial raise, something some council members said was unclear. It was all part of Lilly's efforts to keep Hughes on board. Until Friday, few people knew Hughes had secured a job with Citrus County in January. Knowing that, some people considered Hughes' resignation letter a cheap shot at council member John Kendall, who had criticized Lilly's request to reassign the planning position. Kendall said he opposed the move because it eliminated checks and balances and "would present the perception of opportunity for collusion and deal making." Taking that as an attack on his integrity, Hughes quit Thursday, saying he found Kendall's remarks offensive and inappropriate. "He has the right to give his opinion, but to say he is quitting because of John, that's not right," said council member Kitty Ebert. "The whole thing is wacky." Hughes, when contacted Thursday, declined to comment on his future employment or the overall issue. On Friday, he referred questions to Lilly. Despite Hughes' offer with the county, the planner had agreed to stay with Crystal River, Lilly said, seeking to dispel speculation of the motives behind Hughes' letter. "Were it not for Mr. Kendall's remarks Monday, he would be a city employee," Lilly said. He added that he raised the issue of a raise in earlier conversations with council members. Hughes, who Lilly said was earning in the low $20,000 range, will earn $30,000 with the county. Chuck Dixon, the county's Community Development director, said he had understood that Hughes might be given a counteroffer but basically agreed to take the job weeks ago. "I just assumed everything was squared away."
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