New High Springs City Manager to assume his duties on April 8

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – At a Special Commission Meeting on April 2 that lasted only a matter of minutes, the High Springs City Commission voted to approve a contract hiring Jeremy Marshall of Canandaigua, New York, as their new City Manager to replace Ashley Stathatos, starting April 8.

During the short discussion about the employment agreement, Commissioner Tristan Grunder said, “Long time coming.” Commissioner Byran Williams asked about the $85 cell phone allowance in the contract, and a staff member said that is the figure in their personnel manual, but many City employees use City-provided cell phones instead of receiving an allowance. 

Mayor Katherine Weitz asked Acting City Attorney Clay Martin about a possible misspelling in the contract, but there was no other discussion, and there were no public comments. 

Grunder made a motion to approve the resolution, and Williams seconded the motion. 

A roll call vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.

Weitz announced, “We have a new City Manager.” She thanked everyone for participating in the process and said they’d had many excellent candidates from which to choose. 

Marshall’s contract

Marshall will receive $112,500 per year, which the Commission may vote to increase at any time, based on their evaluation of his job performance. He is guaranteed to receive any annual cost of living adjustments given to all employees.

According to his contract, he is indemnified against any lawsuits or legal actions.

The City will pay for all of his professional dues and subscriptions, including travel expenses for conferences, short courses, seminars, and other expenses associated with his professional development.

As an automobile allowance, Marshall will receive $3,900 annually or $325 monthly. He is responsible for his own automobile insurance costs, and he is required to keep insurance coverage on his vehicle.

The City will pay for his computer and other necessary equipment and supplies, including an $85 monthly cell phone allowance.

The contract stipulates that no other expenses will be paid without approval by the Commission.

Marshall will be expected to attend all Regular and Special Commission Meetings and workshops. 

He will receive retirement benefits, and he has a few options to choose from. The City will pay for his health insurance coverage.

His contract begins with 240 hours of paid time off, and that increases by 9.23 hours per pay period. He may accrue up to 800 hours.

The contract specifies that Marshall serves at the pleasure of the Commission. He may be terminated “without cause” at any time, in which case he would receive 12 weeks of pay and benefits, plus whatever paid time off he has accumulated, not to exceed 20 weeks total.

If he is fired for misconduct or a crime, he will not receive any additional pay or benefits.

If he decides to resign, Marshall is expected to give 90 days’ notice unless the parties agree otherwise.