- April 25, 2024
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Bunnell City Commissioner Elbert Tucker has no regrets over his motion and vote against Armando Martinez, who will be removed as city manager in October, after two other commissioners joined Tucker in a dramatic meeting that ended after 1 a.m. June 11.
According to Tucker, he has his reasons for being against Martinez, but he would prefer not to talk about it just yet. “I will probably reveal that a year or so from now,” he said.
In the meantime, the city will need to find a replacement. If no one is hired by the time Martinez’s contract is up in October, the city clerk will become the interim city manager, Tucker said.
The only problem is, the city clerk resigned in April. In that meeting, the City Commission voted 3-2 to keep Martinez (Tucker and Commissioner John Rogers opposed). In protest, then-City Clerk Dan Davis resigned, saying he couldn’t work for Martinez any more.
And so, the city appointed Sandy Bolser as acting city clerk. Tucker said it was likely the city would get things straightened out in plenty of time so that an acting city clerk would not become the interim city manager.
At the June 10-11 meeting, City Commissioner Jenny Crain-Brady also accused Tucker of violating the Sunshine Law. That law forbids local elected officials from discussing any city business except in a public meeting, to prevent any collusion. Crain-Brady’s implication was that Tucker must have discussed Martinez with Commissioners William Baxley and/or Rogers before the meeting to ensure that they would join him to vote against Martinez.
Tucker denies that accusation. “I haven’t talked to Mr. Baxley since the first vote, and I have not discussed it with John Rogers. … I put it on the agenda. I wasn’t going to argue the point, and if it would have failed, I would have given up.”
After the vote Martinez’s executive assistant, Barbara Harkin, resigned.
In other news, Lonnie Groot is the new city attorney for the city, replacing Sid Nowell.
City offices closed July 4
All city of Palm Coast offices will be closed Thursday, July 4, for Independence Day. Offices will re-open at 8 a.m. Friday, July 5. Recycling and garbage collection will proceed according to the regular schedule.
The city will also host, at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 4, its the Independence Day Ceremony at Heroes Memorial Park, 2860 Palm Coast Parkwy N.W. Also, the city will have Independence Day fireworks at 9 p.m. Friday, July 5, at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast.
For more information on the holiday closing, call Cindi Lane at 386-986-3708.
