Comments on: Century Extends Interim Town Manager’s Contract For Another Year http://www.northescambia.com/2020/12/century-extends-interim-town-managers-contract-for-another-year Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:50:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: CJ Lewis http://www.northescambia.com/2020/12/century-extends-interim-town-managers-contract-for-another-year/comment-page-1#comment-437316 CJ Lewis Sat, 26 Dec 2020 03:25:50 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=426728#comment-437316 The obvious issue is that right now it looks as if the town has two chief executive officers. The Town Charter gives that "constitutional" duty to the Mayor. I presume the Town Manager's contract gives him at least some chief executive officer duties - openly in conflict with the Charter - because that was what I heard discussed at a meeting in late 2019 and I recall reading, on this website I think, that the Town Manager was going to be the town's chief executive officer. The new Mayor, Town Manager and new Council President to sit down in January and come up with a proposed charter amendment that has two parts. They do not need anyone's permission to meet to come up with a proposal. In the end, the decision as to what to send to voters is in the hands of only the Town Council unless a private citizen wants to propose changes as state law allows to be done. The first change would be to reassign the Mayor's chief executive officer duties to the Town Manager. Because the Town Manager is more accountable, the Town Council could give the Town Manager more authority. The Town Council could also require that the Town Manager be a town resident as a condition of appointment, for starters ending the need for a car allowance because Century is very, very small. The second change would be to redefine the Mayor's duties that can be done at any time in a mayor's term of office. The Florida Attorney General addressed this specific issue in 2003. The Mayor should be made a voting member of the Town Council and its Presiding Officer. This immediately makes the Mayor subject to recall from office by voters and more clearly subject to Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law the Mayor no longer able to meet privately with council members to pressure them. The position of Council President would be abolished. The size of the new Town Council could be kept at six positions if that's what voters want. If kept at six, that makes a stronger case for removing the Mayor's veto power. Century is a nice place with nice people and lots of potential but it needs to organize for success making clear who does what and holding them accountable. By the way, if the sign out front of the Town Hall still reads - "City Hall" - and if Century is still so broke it cannot fix the sign, as Mayor McCall told me in 2009 - one cheap option is as part of any charger amendment vote to to ahead and amend the Charter to change the place from the Town of Century to the City of Century, there being no legal difference between a city and town in Florida. The obvious issue is that right now it looks as if the town has two chief executive officers. The Town Charter gives that “constitutional” duty to the Mayor. I presume the Town Manager’s contract gives him at least some chief executive officer duties – openly in conflict with the Charter – because that was what I heard discussed at a meeting in late 2019 and I recall reading, on this website I think, that the Town Manager was going to be the town’s chief executive officer.

The new Mayor, Town Manager and new Council President to sit down in January and come up with a proposed charter amendment that has two parts. They do not need anyone’s permission to meet to come up with a proposal. In the end, the decision as to what to send to voters is in the hands of only the Town Council unless a private citizen wants to propose changes as state law allows to be done.

The first change would be to reassign the Mayor’s chief executive officer duties to the Town Manager. Because the Town Manager is more accountable, the Town Council could give the Town Manager more authority. The Town Council could also require that the Town Manager be a town resident as a condition of appointment, for starters ending the need for a car allowance because Century is very, very small.

The second change would be to redefine the Mayor’s duties that can be done at any time in a mayor’s term of office. The Florida Attorney General addressed this specific issue in 2003. The Mayor should be made a voting member of the Town Council and its Presiding Officer. This immediately makes the Mayor subject to recall from office by voters and more clearly subject to Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law the Mayor no longer able to meet privately with council members to pressure them. The position of Council President would be abolished. The size of the new Town Council could be kept at six positions if that’s what voters want. If kept at six, that makes a stronger case for removing the Mayor’s veto power.

Century is a nice place with nice people and lots of potential but it needs to organize for success making clear who does what and holding them accountable. By the way, if the sign out front of the Town Hall still reads – “City Hall” – and if Century is still so broke it cannot fix the sign, as Mayor McCall told me in 2009 – one cheap option is as part of any charger amendment vote to to ahead and amend the Charter to change the place from the Town of Century to the City of Century, there being no legal difference between a city and town in Florida.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.northescambia.com/2020/12/century-extends-interim-town-managers-contract-for-another-year/comment-page-1#comment-437166 Charlie Wed, 23 Dec 2020 17:32:06 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=426728#comment-437166 Century is fortunate to have Vernon on board. He is an effective manager with tons of experience. Kudos to Ms Spencer and Mr Gomez for the foresight to keep some continuity on the team. Century is fortunate to have Vernon on board. He is an effective manager with tons of experience. Kudos to Ms Spencer and Mr Gomez for the foresight to keep some continuity on the team.

]]> By: Shaking My Head http://www.northescambia.com/2020/12/century-extends-interim-town-managers-contract-for-another-year/comment-page-1#comment-437149 Shaking My Head Wed, 23 Dec 2020 15:11:42 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=426728#comment-437149 Anyone else notice there's no daily headline of mismanagement in Century? Seems he is doing the job he was hired to do. Why not offer him the position full time? Come on Council, you can't be that dumb. Oh wait, yes you can. We have proof. Just look at the mess he's had to clean up. Anyone else notice there’s no daily headline of mismanagement in Century?

Seems he is doing the job he was hired to do. Why not offer him the position full time?

Come on Council, you can’t be that dumb. Oh wait, yes you can. We have proof. Just look at the mess he’s had to clean up.

]]> By: Chris http://www.northescambia.com/2020/12/century-extends-interim-town-managers-contract-for-another-year/comment-page-1#comment-437120 Chris Wed, 23 Dec 2020 10:37:30 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=426728#comment-437120 What a complete sham. What a complete sham.

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