Mansfield, Dreyer comment on city transparency, manager position at most recent city council meeting

Ocala City Manager Sandra Wilson listens during the Ocala City Council meeting at Ocala City Hall in Ocala on July 6, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

During the Feb. 2 regular meeting of the Ocala City Council, Councilmember Barry Mansfield brought up some concerns he found “troubling” about how the City of Ocala conducts its business.

“I’m not saying anybody is doing anything wrong, but I want to make sure that we are in the light,” said Mansfield to the council and the assembled public in the audience. “A lot of the people that voted for me…that was one of their biggest concerns. They’re afraid that government is spending money that we shouldn’t.”

Mansfield’s comments came after council had decided to table until March 1 a vote on a contract to purchase six parcels in downtown Ocala from Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church to build a four-story parking garage.

The contract’s arrival on the agenda frustrated Mansfield, who confessed to being unaware of the specific purchase before the meeting.

“I don’t remember going over this,” he said. “I just want to make sure that we’re picking the right spot. It’s a lot of money. I just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing.”

Along with including the public more in the conversation, Mansfield said that running the city was like “running a billion dollar business,” adding that “our shareholders are the public.”

“We’re supposed to take care of them,” he said. “We’re supposed to make sure that we’re doing them a good job. That’s our business.”

Mansfield would next bring up the job of city manager, a position that has been occupied by Sandra Wilson since 2020.

“I respect Sandra, but my feeling on the City Council is…I believe we need to have somebody who is outside of the community,” said Mansfield. “I think they have to be the conduit between us and the City of Ocala.”

“Sometimes, it seems like, again, it’s my perception, but it seems like the tail is wagging the dog,” he added. “It seems like sometimes the city itself is running, trying to bring stuff in front of us, saying ‘Hey, we just want you to vote on this. Don’t ask too many questions. We just want to vote on this.’ That’s really how I feel.”

Wilson’s contract is up on October 31, 2022, unless city council extends it another two years. She had originally been appointed to the role on an interim basis after John Zobler abruptly resigned in 2019; and was officially hired over former Fire Chief Shane Alexander and Assistant City Manager Bill Kauffman on June 2, 2020.

With more than 30-combined years of municipal government experience, Wilson is the first African-American to hold the city manager’s post. Prior to taking over the top spot, she had previously been assistant city manager and director of human resources and risk management.

Mansfield, who holds an active Certified General Contractor license for Construction Business since 2004, and is president of Cullison-Wright Construction, said on Feb. 2 that he’s not trying to fire Wilson.

“I think she’s been a great employee,” said Mansfield. “But everything that is brought before us has to do with like building, engineering or civil…or something like that—and I think that expertise has to be there.”

State records indicate that Wilson herself has maintained an active license as a general contractor since 2006.

Councilmember Kristen Dreyer said she was concerned primarily with the city’s transparency, but she also was open to hiring outside Ocala for a city manager.

“Transparency is a big deal for me. But there’s a certain level of disconnect I think in the times that we’ve spoken about what’s going on and what’s coming before us,” said Dreyer to Wilson. “That is something of great concern to me because despite having an amazing staff, they can’t be running the show. They still need you to drive the vision and lead them.”

Dreyer next outlined an instance where Wilson had instructed her to refrain from bringing up “certain things” at council meetings.

“I’ve been asked by you, and by one of your direct reports, to stop or to not discuss certain things,” said Dreyer. “And, from a transparency standpoint, I have a huge problem with that. That is a concern. And so, if it’s inevitable that come October, we may be looking outside, I don’t know that it’s completely out of line to start that search now.”

Wilson asked Dreyer what she was referring to. Dreyer said that Wilson approached her before a city council meeting and asked her not to mention a certain lawsuit.

“Our pending lawsuit?” asked Wilson.

“I don’t know. It was nothing I was going to mention. I don’t know why you even mentioned it,” replied Dreyer.

Councilmember Jim Hilty asked Mansfield when Wilson’s contract was up, did he want to start looking for outside candidates. Mansfield said he thought they should starting looking now.

“Sandra could apply, as well as anybody else,” said Mansfield.

Council Chair Ire Bethea confessed his confusion at hearing Mansfield’s earlier comments on Wilson’s expertise.

“I don’t know where you’re going to get a city manager that has all the building knowledge, all the engineering knowledge, all the sanitation knowledge that she has. I hear you, but I don’t really understand what you’re saying,” he said.

Councilmember Jay Musleh expressed doubt over any perceived success the city might have from hiring outside the city.

“We tried that with Ricky Horst, who I think was a pretty good city manager. The problem was I don’t think he really wanted to live in Ocala, which is what you get with an outsider. All of a sudden, they move to Ocala and realize their family is in Utah or Wisconsin or Washington or wherever, and they decide they want to go back,” said Musleh.

He added that he didn’t think it was the right time to discuss hiring the next city manager.

“I respect your opinion,” said Musleh to Mansfield, “but I don’t think it’s the right time to go there. I agree with Mr. Bethea that I don’t think you’re going to find a city manager that has all the expertise in all the funds that we run. You’re not going to find that individual. I think you’re setting yourself up for failure out there.”

Musleh clarified that any decision to hire or fire the city manager is the city council’s decision alone, excluding the mayor.

“Yes, you can fire her or him at any time, at any meeting,” he said of the city manager position. “But I would be cautious. Any new city manager you get, they’re going to look how you treated the past city manager.”

According to the City Manager’s contract, in the event the Council does not reappoint the Manager or provide at least a 90-day notice, the city would have to pay Wilson a lump sum cash payment equal to 20 weeks compensation as “severance,” to include benefits and perquisites such as retirement contribution, deferred compensation payments and car allowance.

The contract also goes on to state that the Manager shall be credited with three months of administrative leave that will be paid out in the event the Manager is terminated without cause at any time. In the event the Manager is terminated by the Council without cause, all life, health, dental and disability insurance, and all other Employer-provided benefits, shall continue in force and coverage, at Employer’s expense, for a 20-week severance period or until similar coverage is provided to Manager by a subsequent employer, according to the contract.

In the event the Manager is terminated for “cause,” then the Employer’s only obligation to the employee is to pay all compensation and benefits accrued but unpaid at the date of termination.

The city manager receives an annual base salary of $225,500.