01/05/2023 - SpecialThursday, January 5, 2023
5:00 PM
City of Clearwater
Main Library - Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Main Library - Council Chambers
City Council
Special Meeting Agenda - Final
Special City Council Meeting - Re Employment Status of City
Manager
January 5, 2023City Council Special Meeting Agenda -
Final
Welcome. We are glad to have you join us. If you wish to address the Council, please complete a
Comment Card. Comment Cards are on the right-hand side of the dais by the City Clerk. When
recognized, please hand your card to the Clerk, approach the podium and state your name. Persons
speaking before the City Council shall be limited to 3 minutes unless otherwise noted under Public
Hearings. For other than "Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the Agenda," a spokesperson for
a group may speak for 3 minutes plus an additional minute for each person in the audience that waives
their right to speak, up to a maximum of 10 minutes. Prior to the item being presented, please obtain
the form to designate a spokesperson from the City Clerk. Up to 60 minutes of public comment will be
allowed for an agenda item. No person shall speak more than once on the same subject unless
granted permission by the City Council. The City of Clearwater strongly supports and fully complies
with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please advise us at least 48 hours prior to the meeting
if you require special accommodations at 727-562-4090. Assisted Listening Devices are available.
Kindly refrain from using cell phones and electronic devices during the meeting.
Citizens wishing to provide comments on an agenda item are encouraged to do so in advance through
written comment. The City has established the following two options:
1) eComments via Granicus - eComments is integrated with the published meeting agenda.
Individuals may review the agenda item details and indicate their position on the item. You will be
prompted to set up a user profile to allow you to comment, which will become part of the official public
record. The eComment period is open from the time the agenda is published. Comments received
during the meeting will become part of the official record, if posted prior to the closing of public
comment. The City Clerk will read received comments into the record.
2) Email – Individuals may submit written comments or videos to
ClearwaterCouncil@myclearwater.com. All comments received by 5:00 p.m. the day before the
meeting (January 4) will become part of the official record. The City Clerk will read received comments
into the record.
1. Call to Order
2. Citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda
3. City Manager Reports
4. City Attorney Reports
5. Other Council Action
5.1 Discuss the employment status of City Manager Jon Jennings.
6. Closing comments by Councilmembers (limited to 3 minutes)
7. Closing Comments by Mayor
8. Adjourn
Page 2 City of Clearwater Printed on 12/28/2022
INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER
Citizen Comment Card
Name: J.e,ti'ti
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City: C 1e/4'Q3.0 Zip: 33 7
Telephone Number: 72 7 - -706
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Name:
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City: C eoct EPr Zip: 3 3-75
Telephone Number: 7J7-5 5.9
Email Address: koir 6) 1 lama/Thr 5404,
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Name: 4e,14. '5/n
Address: 3D 1f! "lad/40u Dom,
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Telephone Number: 1.274704- 107,4
Email Address: `4/t°,l'Ilatd to 49y1
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CaII, Rosemarie
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Daniel Holuba <dholuba12@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, December 28, 2022 9:29 PM
ClearwaterCouncil; Call, Rosemarie
MS Call, please read this into the official record
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
MS Beckman, (she/her & WTF?)
I do appreciate your return message.
I find expressing your gender preference odd to say the least. I guess in your liberal elitist snob world some subset of
your constituents has difficulty determining what sex you "Identify" with? In a new world where not of that is supposed to
matter, why add that? Are you sure everyone sees you as Caucasian? Maybe you should add that to your title as well.
How about publishing your financial net worth? How about adding the value of your residence to your identity? Your
crusade for the environment, homeless, downtrodden, LGBTQ, or whatever, in your case is just another avenue to enrich
yourself as a politician and personally. You come off as very disingenuous, and that is why you have communication
issues.
And then you quote Marther Luther King inappropriately? Is there any wonder why you have issues?
Your "honest feedback" as you describe it to me in your email does not facilitate legitimate city business and is the
epitome of local government overreach.
My Dear, from my perspective you are abusing your elected position which causes many of the "challenging
circumstances" as you describe, due to your lack of focus on city business.
No one, including Mr. Jennings, or his replacement, will display the obsequiousness you demand. That is because
your demands are incompatible with running a city and only cater to a subset of the citizenry.
Terminating Mr. Jennings, good job or bad, will not continue the "legend of Bill Horne" as
Mr. Hibbard desires. Throwing the city into further turmoil by going through another city manager selection process
will not advance your agenda, or that of the city. Kill the messenger ! That will only make you look like a fool. Add
that to your title? Kathleen Marie Beckman (Fool). I certainly hope not.
VTY Mr. Holuba
1
CaII, Rosemarie
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Joana Cleckner <joanacleckner@hotmail.com>
Thursday, January 5, 2023 12:42 PM
ClearwaterCouncil
City manager
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Per the meeting tonight, and as a resident of Clearwater, unfortunately I will not be able to attend but I would like to
make it known that I prefer to keep the existing city manager.
Kindly,
Joana Cleckner
421 Jasmine away
Clearwater FL 33756
Sent from my 1992 Guess see-through wall phone on a shared line.
CaII, Rosemarie
From: Race Ricker <race@rickerbunch.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 3, 2023 9:59 AM
To: Call, Rosemarie
Subject: Jon Jennings Revaluation
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hello,
It has come to my attention by a fellow neighbor that the first steps have been taken in firing Jon Jennings. My family
and I would like to express our appreciation for what he has done for the neighborhood. We would like to continue the
growth and hate to see him being fired when he has helped our community.
Warm Regards,
The Rickers
1
CaII, Rosemarie
From: Sarah Gauthier <sarahjgauthier@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 1:18 PM
To: ClearwaterCouncil
Subject: RE: Employment Status of City Manager Jon Jennings
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor Hibbard and Council Members:
My name is Sarah Gauthier and I am a mother and community member who resides in Clearwater.
I have been very impressed with the accomplishments of Mr. Jennings over the last year as City Manager. Mr.
Jennings has been instrumental in improving our neighborhoods. One of the driving factors in our family
moving to Clearwater was the strong community and having a place that my son felt supported and safe. Mr.
Jennings has increased the hours and accessibility to the North Greenwood library where my son has taken
classes. I homeschool my son and having resources for him through the Clearwater library has made all the
difference. He has addressed issues with the sidewalks so that we can enjoy time outside as a family riding
bikes or walking and has created a neighborhoods division with additional staff so that we have more
resources.
In the last year, Mr. Jennings has been instrumental in the betterment of our city and I sincerely hope that he is
given the chance to continue his work in improving our neighborhoods. I urge you to vote no on terminating
his employment status as City Manager.
Thank you for your time.
Sarah Gauthier
25 N Belcher Rd #164
Clearwater, FL 33765
480-248-4841
1
Call, Rosemarie
From: Robert King <robertleeking@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 11:52 AM
To: ClearwaterCouncil
Subject: on Jon Jennings
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Clearwater City Councilors
Below is the content of a letter I published. In my letter I avoided any mention of the Clearwater City Council
or its impending decision on Jon Jennings.
Whenever we disagree, isn't there always a path open that leads back to mutual agreement... to
reconciliation? And ultimately, shouldn't we judge a person by the content of her/his character? In the
letter below, I believe Jon Jennings did not override the City of Portland Public works decision. He asked his
assistant Gina Tapp to work with Public works for a mutual solution. And the result was an agreement that
allowed me to receive the medical treatment that saved my life and to return to my job upon recovery.
The letter
When Jon Jennings was Manager for the City ofPortland, Maine, he made a decision that demonstrated his
selflessness and compassion.
1 had been out of work for an extended period with Non -Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After two failed regimens of
chemotherapy, Oncologist John Winters Ill (New England Cancer Specialists) wanted me to enter a clinical trial
at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston with Dr. Austin Kim. This required temporary residency at Brigham
and Women's Hospital, 2 hours south of my Maine home, and paid for 100% by Kite Pharma (developer of
cancer immunotherapies). Dr. Winters said it was my only chance. I decided to go.
But Portland Public Works administration felt / had been out long enough, and / was deniedfurther leave. In
response, Nick Giampetruzzi (then union rep) said "We're going to see Jon Jennings."
At the meeting, Nick made the intro and / read my appeal, less than one page in length. Then Mr. Jenning
turned in his office chair, pointed to the closest picture behind him, and said, "This is my bestfriend. He died at
Dana Farber Cancer Institute". Then he said, "I'll see what I can do."
In the following week, *management worked together* to reach a "non -precedent -setting agreement". I was
allowed to complete the Car T -Cell clinical trial and / returned to my job after recovering.
Today, I am routinely checked every 6 months, once a year each at New England Cancer and DFCI. We believe
my cancer is cured, not in remission.
1
Without Car -T -Cell therapy 1 would have died in December 2018. Instead, I got to continue photographing and
writing about nature! Yippee!
Respectfully,
Robert King
robertleeking@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/itsaboutnaturenet/
www.itsaboutnature.net
2
CaII, Rosemarie
From: ralph kiosgroupusa.com <ralph@kiosgroupusa.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 3:07 PM
To: Call, Rosemarie
Subject: Jon Jennings
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hello Rosemarie,
I am a downtown Clearwater resident for the past 25 years and pay about $40,000.00 a year in property taxes alone.
I feel that Mr Jennings has done more in his short tenure then most have done before him the entire time they held
their position. It is unjust that it has to come down to a vote to keep good people doing their job. It is my opinion that
some of the present officials are using their position for personal gain versus the good of our city.
I vote mr Jennings remains at his job.
Sent from Ralph Rugo
1
Call, Rosemarie
From: Robyn Rin <robynrinberger@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 9:40 PM
To: Call, Rosemarie
Cc: Lisa Lanza; Joanne Kliesh; Whit Altman; Melissa Stamos; Yort Watson
Subject: Resident comment for city council meeting tomorrow
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
I'm currently in TN caring for my aging in-laws and cannot attend this council meeting. Please I would appreciate if this
following opinion would be entered into the citizen portion of the meeting.
Thank you.
It's very disturbing during these times of global and National upheaval that we cannot even have peace, decency,
courtesy, and common sense in our own small piece of the planet
This city council, with the exception of Mark Bunker, is doing everything they can to appear to be nothing more than a
group of power -mad bullies determined to have their way, admitting to residents IN WRITING that "it's our decision to
make," regardless of, and contrary to, the opinions and suggestions of residents.
I thought we lived in a representative democracy at this local level, where city council members were to LISTEN to the
concerns of their constituents and make decisions accordingly. When residents spoke up about health concerns of
Jennings, we were ignored because "he had experience" and "he will be a strong manager and speak up." Well, now
that he's a strong city manager, and speaking up for residents, suddenly the "health concerns" are a problem NOW?
How convenient, maybe Jennings is too strong and too concerned about serving the residents of Clearwater, and not
compliant enough for this runaway city council? Maybe that's what's really happening? It sure appears that way. He's in
the same health he was when you all hired him, so what's really going on here?
This vote to terminate Jennings also gives the impression that because residents wouldn't agree to a "strong mayor"
we're being punished by a city council who is ousting the city manager so that they are enabled to act as strong mayors.
YOU are giving that impression!
Furthermore, this vote to terminate him will likely be at tremendous expense? severance? (I frankly hope he sues for
agism because this is shameful), a new "search firm" at tremendous expense?, a new contract with hiring bonus/moving
expenses? etc. applicants will likely have us over a barrel because they will see what has happened here. Smart
candidates will not even apply. What a disaster. Jennings if they vote you out I hope you sue this city into oblivion - you
have done NOTHING to violate your contract that we've been made aware of.
A dark day in the history of Clearwater. We were once a very nice beach community and nice town with community
values. Very sad. We're becoming a laughingstock as residents fail to vote and speak up.
Robyn Rinberger
Property owner/resident in the Marymount neighborhood
From my iPhone. Please forgive typos.
2
January 4, 2023
Clerk of Court
Rosemarie Call
600 Cleveland Street
6th Floor
Clearwater, FL 33755
Dear Ms Call,
I have been a resident of Clearwater for over a decade. I have attended many
neighborhood outings and love my neighborhood.
I want to let you know Jon Jennings got all our sidewalks fixed and did a good job.
I would like to have him continue to be our City Manager.
I look forward to more work being done with our neighborhood and more
improvements in our City of Clearwater.
Sincerely,
u'a631
Jill Tucker Waybright
320 Sunburst Court
Clearwater, FL 33755
nn__
D`F e_cLT t,J 1t- - cS r'LQ- ck " c
cam-,
January 4, 2023
Clerk of Court
Rosemarie Call
600 Cleveland Street
6th Floor
Clearwater, FL 33755
Dear Ms Call,
I have been a resident of Clearwater for over a decade. I have attended many
neighborhood outings and love my neighborhood.
I want to let you know Jon Jennings got all our sidewalks fixed and did a good job.
I would like to have him continue to be our City Manager.
I look forward to more work being done with our neighborhood and more
improvements in our City of Clearwater.
Sincerely,
of S
16/A1 OLUJI-
eco
1,_cute St
etaCAoLoAicARFJ.) S
Cover Memo
City of Clearwater Main Library - Council
Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
File Number: ID#22-1417
Agenda Date: 1/5/2023 Status: Other CouncilVersion: 1
File Type: Action ItemIn Control: City Council
Agenda Number: 5.1
SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss the employment status of City Manager Jon Jennings.
SUMMARY:
At the December 15, 2022 council meeting, a motion was made to terminate City Manager Jon
Jennings. The motion carried as follows:
Ayes: 3 - Mayor Hibbard, Vice Mayor Beckman, and Councilmember Teixeira
Nays: 2 - Councilmember Allbritton and Councilmember Bunker
Per the Clearwater City Charter, “The council may remove the city manager by an affirmative
vote of four council members or a majority of the council members at two separate meetings
held at least two weeks apart.”
Council scheduled the second meeting for Thursday, January 5, 2023.
Page 1 City of Clearwater Printed on 12/28/2022