Edgewater, FL - A surprise vote at an Edgewater city council meeting leaves the city manager fired and the mayor vowing to refuse re-election.
Last night's city council meeting in Edgewater originally started as a special meeting to discuss a police sergeant who had exhausted his family and medical benefits after being put on administrative leave following the shooting death of a suspect back in January.
But, the meeting instead took a turn when city council member Gary Conroy made a motion to fire current Edgewater City Manager Tracey Barlow (Left).
While the council discussed the sergeant's benefit extension, Conroy resorted to turn the tables on Barlow. Following the motion to extend the sergeant's benefits, Conroy made the motion to fire Barlow.
When asked by Mayor Mike Ignasiak (Right) about the motion, Conroy stated that Barlow refuses to give information and that employees have long complained about his conduct, some saying that they were told they couldn't retaliate against Barlow out of fear of being fired.
Conroy promised a list on more reasons for the motion at the council's next scheduled meeting.
Then, the council put the motion to a vote which ended in a 3-2 result to fire Barlow.
Soon after the vote, Mayor Ignasiak, who has been at the helm of Edgewater for four years, said that there was no legitimate reason to fire Barlow and that he refused to work with the council any longer.
He then said that if he is re-elected as the Mayor of Edgewater, he will refuse the position.
Ignasiak said the only thing that kept him from quitting that night was that he wanted to help with the hiring process of a temporary manager in Barlow's place.
Brenda Dewees, director of environmental services, will be offered the position.
