Interim CM Scholl may want job permanently

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Retirement doesn’t seem to be working out for Interim City Manager Jim Scholl.

Only two years after retiring as Key West’s city manager and two weeks after temporarily resuming that position in the wake of City Manager Bob Vitas’ departure, Scholl made a surprise announcement Wednesday, July 23, right after city commissioners appointed a new committee to head up the search for a permanent top administrator.

“I might put my application in there,” Scholl told city commissioners moments after they voted to create a seven-person search committee. “Let’s see how the next few weeks go.”

If Scholl decides to officially pursue the job, and if a majority of city commissioners believe he is the best person for the position, it is possible the search committee could be disbanded before it begins its work. However, even if Scholl does apply for the position, commissioners may want the committee to move forward to ensure a thorough search.

But Scholl fits at least one criteria mentioned by Mayor Craig Cates, who asked that the first advertisements for candidates only go to Florida publications in an effort to find a candidate familiar with state and local issues, a move with which Commissioner Tony Yanitz agreed.

Scholl, a Key West resident, was hired on July 1 to take over for Bob Vitas, who agreed to leave one year before his contract expired after a dispute between him and City Attorney Shawn Smith spilled over into an emotional public airing at a City Commission meeting in June. Rather than go through a possibly protracted legal battle, Vitas agreed to a separation agreement that paid him a total of $120,000 – including 18 weeks’ severance pay, unused vacation and sick days, and reimbursement of payments made by Vitas into the city pension plan over the past two years.

Scholl, who was Key West’s city manager from 2007 to 2012, signed a 12-month contract to step into Vitas’ position at an annual salary of $180,000. However, both sides can sever that agreement with 60-days’ notice if it takes less than a year to hire a permanent city manager.

Each of the city commissioners appointed one person to the search committee. Commissioner Mark Rossi appointed former City Commissioner Barry Gibson. Commissioners Clayton Lopez and Jimmy Weekly also appointed former commissioners, Harry Bethel and Bill Verge, respectively. Commissioner Billy Wardlow appointed Kurt Lewin, executive vice president at First State Bank of the Florida Keys. Mayor Cates appointed Sam Holland, a Key West Planning Board member and owner of the Conch House inn. Commissioner Teri Johnston appointed Mary “Bunny” Smith, a former federal budget analyst. And Commissioner Yanitz appointed George Galvan, a general manager at the Spottswoods Companies’ hotels in Key West.

“We’ve got a great committee there,” Rossi said

While the commissioners wanted to hear from the search committee before setting any employment parameters, they did agree to make one change. The last search committee that led to the Vitas’ hiring had two, non-voting city employees on it. Those positions were eliminated at former search committee member Virginia Panico’s recommendation.

“They [city employees] felt uncomfortable being in there,” she said. “It’s like why were they there? They’re on the selection committee to pick their own employer?”

“We drastically overcomplicated it last time,” said Lopez.

“That’s not going to happen,” Rossi added.

 

 

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