STUART — A man who always wanted to be a city manager in Florida got his wish March 23.
Michael Giardino, a 26-year U.S. Navy veteran received unanimous approval from the City Commission here on a contract for the city manager’s job. But the approval came with contention between commissioners.
“This is a different caliber of person,” Mayor Christopher Collins said, following Commissioner Campbell Rich’s attempt to amend a motion to approve Giardino’s contract.
Rich wanted Giardino to get only two weeks of severance if he is fired for any reason in the first six months of work. Giardino’s contract gives him 20 weeks of severance if he is fired without cause.
Rich made the suggestion “in light of what happened with the previous hire that everyone was very enthusiastic about and which ended up costing the city and the taxpayers quite a bit of money,” he said.
But, Rich said, “I do not anticipate this happening.”
Annoyance
But Collins was annoyed.
“I don’t appreciate even that comment from you,” Collins said to Rich. “We are blessed that we’ve had him (Giardino) apply.”
Whether it was hiring Environmental Attorney Ruth Holmes and now Giardino, Collins said, “there has to continuously be a negative cloud from you and Mr. Campenni, your good friend.”
Tom Campenni is the publisher of the newsletter Friends & Neighbors, which has been critical of Collins and commissioners Laura Giobbi and Sean Reed.
Start date and salary
Giardino will be paid $195,000 a year as salary, plus benefits, and comes to Stuart after a long, successful military career, which included flying helicopters and helping to run Naval Air Station Key West. He retired from the Navy there in 2011 as a commander.
He begins his employment with the city April 27, according to city records. Giardino now works for New York’s LaGuardia Airport as deputy general manager overseeing about 300 people. Stuart has a similar number of employees, and Giardino will be the one leading them as the city’s top manager.
He will answer only to the City Commission.
Caution from the public
Despite Giardino’s solid credentials, resident Robin Cartwright urged caution that something unfavorable might be in the works.
She mentioned former City Manager Dave Ross, who resigned from the post seven months after he started, following accusations of taking undocumented time off and poor leadership.
“Certain community members are setting this up and even rooting for this to fail, including some closely affiliated with the city and including some of our friends and neighbors,” Cartwright said during the public-comment period.
“Speculation can be made as to why,” she said, “and I would hope that whatever the reason, it’s not really the case.”
His first words
But Giardino seemed to shake off any negativity. He thanked commissioners, Interim City Manager Roz Johnson Strong and City Attorney Lee Baggett following approval of his contract.
“The process was rigorous,” he said. “It was fair.”
Then he introduced himself to the public.
“To the citizens, I’m Mike Giardino,” he said.
He grew up in Rochester, New York, joined the Navy and “had a fabulous career,” he said.
“I finished in Key West, Florida,” Giardino said, “and I always wanted to be a city manager in Florida since I retired.”
“I am grateful to be here,” he said. “I am proud to be here, and I am ready to work.”
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Navy vet fulfills his dream to be a city manager in Florida
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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