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Commission begins review of manager on Monday

The investigation comes after John Coffey wouldn't resign after firing the building official.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published February 13, 2005

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - Last week, commissioners and the city attorney asked City Manager John Coffey to consider resigning.

He refused.

Monday, he will face a full commission investigation of his firing of Building Official Steve Andrews - an action that has drawn the ire of residents and commissioners, alike.

"This is the first city employee who has generated such an expression of support from our citizens," says Commissioner Jeremiah Carmody, who pushed for the investigation. "We have to do what's right, especially if a wrong exists."

Under the city's charter, the city manager has complete power to hire, discipline and fire most employees. The commission cannot, by its own law, force a city manager to alter those actions. It can, however, investigate, express its displeasure, or even fire the city manager.

"I like John and I don't want him to go, but I asked him to think about resigning, to consider his reputation. If it comes to a 2-2 vote, I will vote to fire him for the good of the city," Mayor Bob DiNicola said Friday.

Earlier in the week, DiNicola asked City Attorney Andrew Salzman to negotiate a severance package with Coffey. The city manager's contract does not allow for severance pay if he resigns. Coffey currently earns $69,672 a year. But if fired, he would receive three months' pay or about $17,418.

The city manager, who confirmed talking with Salzman, says he "stands by" all the decisions made by himself and his staff. "I have no intention of resigning. I have done nothing wrong, improper or inappropriate," says Coffey.

Carmody also asked Coffey to voluntarily resign "to spare the city the cost and embarrassment of the investigation".

"A resignation wouldn't have been bad," says Commissioner Jim Palamara. "A lot of mistakes have been made."

Commissioner Bill Ockunzzi says he is "not comfortable" with the facts the commission has learned to date.

"John has done a lot of creative and innovative things," says Ockunzzi, adding that he is "in the middle" over Coffey's future with the city. "Healing is what I am after."

The only commissioner who is strongly against the investigation is R.B. Johnson. At last Tuesday's meeting, he likened the pending commission investigation to a "witch hunt," adding that the commission is trying to "micromanage" the city manager.

"I don't think this is at all appropriate. No one employee is more important than the integrity of the system," Johnson said.

Commissioners said they have been inundated with telephone calls and even stopped in the street by residents angry over Andrews' firing. More recently, a number of e-mails and letters to commissioners show support for Coffey's actions and are critical of the commission's pending investigation.

"The situation has escalated beyond rationality," wrote Ralph Montgomery. "Indian Rocks Beach already is a laughingstock on the barrier islands because of this kind of pettiness."

Victor Wood called the investigation an "inquisition" and Coffey the "focal point" of "venomous attacks."

Coffey was appointed city manager a little over a year ago, replacing Tom Brobeil, who is now city manager of Gulfport. Previously, Coffey served as Brobeil's assistant and in a similar position in Newnan, Ga. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida and a master's degree in public administration from Florida State University.

Last fall, the commission praised Coffey's performance as city manager and gave him a 7 percent raise. Now, commissioners want to "get to the bottom" of how Andrews was fired.

Carmody said he is particularly concerned over personal journals that Coffey says have disappeared. "I want to know if there is any inappropriate action or destruction of public records," he says.

He also wants to know why Pinellas County building inspectors have "red tagged" so many projects since the county took over permitting for the city following Andrews' firing.

According to Pete Pensa, the city's development director, the county has denied 63 out of a total 112 inspections conducted since Jan. 25. In comparison, the great majority of inspections conducted by Andrews during the past year were approved - only 94 inspections failed out of 1,464 inspections between April 2004 and January 2005.

Pensa said that most of the construction problems are "minor," but that several multistory single family homes under construction must install sprinklers to meet fire codes.

Apparently this requirement of the state's building code revised in 2001 has not been enforced in town. "It appears that some projects were not built to code," said Pensa, who met with Pinellas County Building Official Jack Tipton Friday.

A week ago, Coffey gave commissioners a foot-high stack of documents relating to the Andrews case, including all internal communications, copies of the city charter and personnel manual, and past employment records for Andrews at another city.

These documents will be reviewed by the commission during a public meeting at 1 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:07:16]