HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-05 NP manager resigning amid criticism (Palm Beach Post)6B THE PALM BEACH POST • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2003
w s c
North Palm manager resigning amid criticism
By SARAH EISENHAUER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
NORTH PALM BEACH —
Village Manager Dennis Kelly
on Friday will leave the job
he's held for 13 years — after
enduring months of sharp
criticism from residents who
say they've lost confidence in
him.
Village council members
accepted Kelly's resignation
during an emergency meet-
ing Monday night, and voted
3-2 to provide a $56,062 sev-
erance package that includes
$42,585 for five months' sala-
ry, $1,288 for health benefits
and $12,189 for accrued vaca-
tion and sick leave.
Kelly, 56, said Tuesday he
doesn't plan to move out of the
village and is exploring a job
opportunity with a national
consulting and management
firm. He declined to comment
on claims by his critics.
"I'm taking the high road,"
he said. "This
is an opportu-
nity to move
forward."
The coun-
cil put Kelly,
who received
a $99,000 an-
nual salary, on
a six-month
probation in
September after giving him a
mediocre annual review. At
the time, council members
Kelly
Charles O'Meilia and David
Norris, who argued Kelly's job
performance has slipped over
the past three years, appeared
ready to fire him.
O'Meilia and Norris voted
against Kelly's severance
package, saying they'd sup-
port only three months of
severance pay. They also
didn't like the idea of giving
Kelly until noon Friday to step
down.
"The effective day ought
to be immediately and it ought
to be tonight," O'Meilia said.
Late last year, more than
150 residents signed a petition
demanding Kelly's ouster and
several submitted letters to
council members criticizing
him, citing a general lack of
maintenance in the village,
poor sidewalks, low staff mo-
rale and poor communication.
"Since that time, it's been
virtually impossible to move
forward on the business of the
village," Councilman Joseph
Tringali said. "Let's terminate
this relationship without any
finger pointing, without any
accusations from anybody.
Let's end it and move on from
here."
The council scheduled
another special meeting for 5
p.m. Thursday to appoint an
acting village manager while
the board searches for a per-
manent replacement.
p sarah_eisenhauer@pbpost.com