In a Special Meeting of the Vernon, Florida City Council on Thursday, February 17, 2022, a motion was made by City Council member Chad Jackson, then seconded by Councilperson Gwen March and passed with a 3-1 vote following debate and discussion, to terminate the employment of City Clerk Tracy Walker.
Threatening a lawsuit, Walker expressed disbelief and confusion, but City Attorney Michelle Jordan advised the City Council that the action was permissible and appropriate, citing the action to be a ‘vote of no confidence’, which is allowable when an employee works at the pleasure of a sitting board of directors, part of Florida enjoying status as an ‘at-will’ employment state.
Not the first time that the threat of a lawsuit has been mentioned by the Clerk, the evening was the culmination of several months of open argument and contention between the City Clerk and the City Council members.
The contention has been present in Council proceedings for the past six or eight months, according to Councilperson Joey Brock, who was the dissenting vote.
The change in personnel comes just as Vernon is preparing for an election of City Council members.
Fortuitously, an accounting firm headed up by Chipley’s Lee Steverson was recently secured by the City of Vernon, so payroll and other basic office accounting duties should be able to continue without a lapse.
Deputy City Clerk Michelle Cross has been retained, at least for the present, and has been tasked with temporary City Clerk duties until the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, February 22, 2022, when more discussion and longer-term planning can be accomplished.
