NP manager resigns after 8 months (PBP) 7-21-04Pm-m Oz-Ac4-i Posr
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N. Palm manager resi ns a ter
ne village of cites health
and stress as he quits abruptly
during a favorable job review.
ByJENNIFER SORENTRUE
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
NORTH PALM BEACH — After only
eight months on the job, North Palm
Beach Village Manager Dennis Red-
mond has called it quits.
Redmond abruptly resigned at a
special meeting Monday, citing health
concerns and the stress of the job.
"It's the hardest thing I've ever had
to do, and I want to make sure you un-
derstand it," Redmond said during the
meeting, which was to discuss his an-
nual performance evaluation.
"I resign. I resign," he said. "I can't
do my job here properly, and I'm mak-
ing things worse. I have not applied for
a job. I spent 32 years in this work. I
have never spent a worse three
months in my entire life than I have
here." Redmond said he had an "episode
Friday and will undergo tests at the
hospital this week.
"My blood pressure went through
the roof, and I went blind in my right
eye," he said. "I tender my resignation
effective when I find out what my med-
ical condition is."
Mayor Don Noel said he believes
Redmond's decision was "rash." He
will try to persuade the manager to
stay once he sees a doctor.
"We'd like to make sure he's not
doing this out of the heat of the mo-
ment," Noel said Tuesday. "We'd rath-
er see him make a decision not under
the duress of having a health issue."
Redmond, who could not be
reached for comment, received a satis-
factory evaluation Monday, Noel said.
During Redmond's public resigna-
tion, he criticized village leaders for
the way they have handled several
controversial issues, including claims
of sexual harassment in the public
services department. He also took aim
at a neighborhood weekly newspaper,
criticizing its coverage of the village.
Noel agrees that Redmond's job is
stressful, but said the manager
seemed to be "balancing it all."
"He had a lot on his plate," Noel
said. "It was just a stressful time. I
think coming into NorthPalm with all
of the things we have going on, I don't
think he was totally prepared."
A special meeting will take place
Thursday to discuss his replacement.
Noel said the village has a short list of
candidates. Assistant Village Manager
Doug Smith will fill Redmond's void
until a replacement is found.
Redmond began work Nov. 15 at a
yearly salary of $105,000 and was the
village's first new top administrator in
more than 13 years.
Before the village council hired
him, he worked for the small town of
Maysville, Icy., for 31 years, an extraor-
dinarily long time considering the vola-
tility of the business.
In North Palm, Redmond is credit-
ed with his work to expand the vil-
lage's boundaries through annexation
and renovations at the village's golf
course.
"In my opinion, he was doing a
great job for us," Noel said. "He is 'a
great communicator. The people who
work hard for the village like him a
lot."
Q jennifer_sorentrue@pbpost.com