Clearwater Council Agrees To Negotiate Hiring Interim City Manager

CLEARWATER, FL — The Clearwater City Council opted to save the $26,500 for a national search to find a replacement for ousted City Manager Jon Jennings and give the job to Interim City Manager Jennifer Poirrier at Thursday night's city council meeting.

In doing so, the council overruled Mayor Frank Hibbard who continued to advocate for a national search.

"There's a likelihood that Miss Poirrier will still be selected city manager (after the search), and I'm thrilled with the work she's been doing and I also know there is some concern, obviously, internally when we don't have a permanent city manager," Hibbard said. "It makes it more difficult to fill some of the directors' positions. So, to have things put on hold for four or five months while we do a search, there are certainly drawbacks to it. But I'm concerned about not following the process and, frankly, I think it would be beneficial for Miss Poirrier if we do go through a process."

While council member Lina Teixeira agreed it's good government to go through a process, she said she doesn't believe this is the right time.

"An analogy came to mind," she said. "I truly feel the last few weeks we are treading water and there's a couple of sharks around but there's a perfectly great boat right there. In this circumstance, I just don't think it's (a national search) the wisest thing to do. I think we're tying the interim manager's hands at a time when it's very important for great leadership, and we are in a crisis. Our environment right now is at such a point that we need swift action by someone that, to me, has really shined in the light of adversity."

She noted that the last two national searches for a city manager never received more than 20 female applicants, none of whom made it to the final rounds.

Council member Mark Bunker agreed.

"I believe a search is a really good idea but it means we wouldn't have anybody in the post until September, probably, at the earliest and we won't be filling those department heads. We won't be taking action that really needs to be taken now. And Jennifer is solid."

Bunker said his only concern is how Poirrier will handle the transition from human resources director where she had to negotiate tough employee contracts that didn't always endear her to staff.

"How are you going to bridge that relationship?" he asked Poirrier.

"This role's completely different than that of HR," Poirrier responded. "I'm still the same person. I'm a strong personality. I am assertive. I'm not afraid to make decisions. But my role here as the interim city manager is much more collaborative, and I know that my peers and even the union leaders have seen a difference because it's a different role. I'm showing not necessarily a softer side but a collaborative side while maintaining who I am."

A little more than a year after hiring Jennings, the city council, concerned about a lack of communication and conflicts over the handling of some city issues, voted to fire Jennings in January.

Poirrier, who was appointed assistant city manager by Jennings after serving as the city's human resources director, was named interim city manager in the wake of Jennings' dismissal.

Resident Patrick Rafferty added that Poirrier's appointment as assistant city manager by Jennings followed by the council naming her interim city manager already represents a vote of confidence.

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Hibbard took exception to comments that the city is in crisis.

"This city is not in crisis. I take exception with that comment, I really do," he protested. "The things that get headlines have to be fixed. There are so many functions in this city that are operating perfectly on a daily basis. The problems that have occurred like the recycling, like the tree program have been identified and they're being fixed. But to say that this city is in crisis is just false."

"While we're not in crisis, I agree, we are a large city with complex issues and we're at a complex point in our development and in our year with budget decisions and major projects that are going on, and the direction we need to give staff," said Vice Mayor Kathleen Beckman. "So we have 219 vacant positions, four of them director-level positions that are open, we're getting ready to enter budget discussions, we're getting ready to engage in strategic decisions, negotiations with the Phillies, finalizing city hall plans, plans for our marina improvements, we have ongoing conversations with the African American community and others about graves, the challenge of activating our second CRA (community redevelopment district) and plans to open our beautiful $84 million park this summer.

"Those are significant things for any city manager to come on board and get his or her arms around," Beckman said. "Miss Poirrier knows our city, she intimately understands our hiring challenges, she has proven herself to be capable, honest, transparent and incredibly hard-working."

Clearwater resident Mike Reardon ran his own head-hunting firm for eight years and said there's a good time and a bad time to do a search.

"You don't want to do a search until you've ruled out all your qualified personnel," he said.

He added that Poirrier's previous role in human resources is an advantage.

"Human resources is like internal affairs. They have the pulse on everything," he said. "They know what's going on."

With that, the council voted unanimously to start negotiations with Poirrier.