Do commissioners want City Manager Recor to remain?

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/oct/16/editorial-if-fort-pierce-commissioners-have-lost/

Editorial: If Fort Pierce commissioners have lost faith in city manager, relationship should be severed

If Fort Pierce commissioners have lost faith in David Recor, delays in severing relationship would serve no good

editorial board

Sunday, October 16, 2011

If Fort Pierce city commissioners can picture David Recor as city manager three to five years from now and want him in that position, they should formally establish expectations for him and move on. If they do not, they should sever relations now.

Commissioner Eddie Becht had called for a vote of no confidence in Recor for Monday night.

According to the agenda for the meeting, however, commissioners are to discuss termination of Recor's contract and possible discussion on an interim city manager.

In a letter to the editor, Becht wrote, "I made a decision that Fort Pierce needed new leadership approximately three or more months ago, based on many factors. It was the result of my disagreement with many of City Manager David Recor's management decisions over the years. This is not about one thing he did or did not do, but many things."

Becht said he delayed proposing a vote on Recor until after the city budget was adopted. The budget was adopted Sept. 26 and Becht informed Recor of his position the next day.

Recor, 44, became deputy city manager in May 2005 and city manager in October 2008. During those more than six years, Recor has come under criticism from various commissioners over his management style, his oversight of city departments and his relationship with the public.

One of his chief critics initially was Mayor Bob Benton, who now firmly supports Recor.

If Recor is terminated, the city would owe him about $127,000 in severance and benefits, according to city Finance Director Gloria Johnson. But, Benton said that the total cost to terminate Recor, to recruit a successor and pay expenses for the relocation of that individual could be $200,000 to $500,000 — "in the long run."

"Isn't it easier to give him (Recor) another chance?" Benton asked.

While financial implications must be considered by the city, there are greater considerations, including whether elected commissioners believe Recor is the best person to be the city's top administrator. If he's not, the long-term costs of not having the right leader could far outweigh any six-figure investment in hiring a successor.

A rift between commissioners and Recor seemed evident when the budget for the coming year was adopted despite pleas from Recor to raise the tax rate to account for a potential budget gap in the future.

"It's sad to say that we are no longer a city of excellence," Recor said before the vote. "For someone who has a lot of pride in our past accomplishments, it's frustrating (and) disappointing to watch the evolution."

Becht described Recor's presentation as scare tactics.

City commissioners unanimously rejected the city manager's plea for the higher tax rate.

At the most recent meeting of the City Commission, Benton, with Becht absent, called on commissioners to express their support for Recor to avoid the potential termination vote now under consideration for Monday. Commissioners present didn't respond.

"I was surprised I didn't get any feedback," Benton said in an interview last week.

So the showdown is set for Monday. Regardless of the outcome, it's difficult to see how anyone could find cause for celebration.