Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Politics

Manager faces surgeries

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published April 18, 2007

City Manager Tom Brobeil could undergo two surgeries in upcoming weeks to be treated for ongoing medical problems that have left him feeling physically weak, he said in an e-mail to the City Council last week.

Brobeil, Gulfport's city manager since 2003, told staff members last week that he was suffering from health problems that appeared to be worsening and, as a result, would not be able to attend a city meeting Thursday to discuss a proposal to install a mooring field.

On Tuesday, Brobeil said he has been suffering from a number of medical conditions for the past 10 years that doctors believe to be some sort of immune system disorder. He hopes to have a diagnosis soon.

"I don't have a terminal disorder," he said in a recent telephone interview. "It is one of these things that if it is not kept in control, it can become life-threatening. But if the doctors watch it and I watch, it is not life-threatening.

"There are a lot of people who have demanding jobs who are in worse shape than me, so this isn't a matter of poor Tom," he said.

"City managers typically put in 50 to 70 hours a week. ... It's kind of hard for me to maintain the pace, so I am trying to take care of this as quickly as I can."

Brobeil missed four days of work last week and was expected to take Thursday off this week. He has been receiving treatment at a Weston clinic in Broward County.

"During my time at the clinic I went through several diagnostic procedures, of varying degrees of invasiveness. At this time my health is such that I am able to function, but at levels of intensity far below those which you are used to," he wrote in the e-mail to the City Council on Friday. "At this time it appears that I will need at least two surgeries."

Brobeil said he expects to be fine once he completes a brief recovery period after the surgeries. It is unclear exactly how many days of work he could miss.

It was not necessary for him to speak at the special City Council meeting Thursday, he said.

"It's just a matter of them making a choice," he said. "And, of course, the public will want to weigh in as well."

City Council members said they are waiting for more information on Brobeil's condition.

"I don't know if this is outpatient surgery or if he is going to be out of the office for six weeks," council member Michele King said. "I don't think any of us will know until after he goes back for further diagnosis."

"Hopefully he will be okay," said council member Bob Worthington. "I would like to keep him around."

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified April 17, 2007, 19:45:21]