- November 15, 2024
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Bunnell has become the second city in the county to find itself scrambling to find a new city manager before the busy holiday season begins. Flagler Beach was the first.
But unlike in Flagler Beach, where City Manager Bruce Campbell has requested numerous times to step down but repeatedly been induced by the City Commission to stay, the vacancy in Bunnell was unexpected: Bunnell City Manager Larry Williams, who has been with the city for about two years, resigned suddenly just weeks after asking for a 2% raise, which the city granted.
"I told them on Tuesday. It came about Sunday night," he said in an interview. "I was talking to my wife, and I said, 'You know, I'm really doing keep-busy work, and that's just not me. I can't justify getting paid to sit at a desk for eight hours a day. I can't do that.' So that was it; it was very spontaneous."
Bunnell city commissioners, in a Monday, Nov. 9 meeting, thanked Williams for his service to Bunnell, formally accepted his resignation — noting some of his key accomplishments, like balancing the city's budget and pulling the city out of the planned-for purchase of the old courthouse building — and then voted 3-2 to advertise for the position.
Commissioners Elbert Tucker and Bill Baxley objected, preferring to search for an internal candidate first.
"I would rather see us look internally first before we go advertise to go through another 84 applications, like we did last time," Tucker said. "If it fails and we can’t find somebody in the city of Bunnell … then we can go out to advertise."
Baxley agreed.
"It’s always better to go from within, because you’re letting your staff know you’re looking at them first," he said.
Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson said advertising the position wouldn't keep internal applicants from applying, noting that several staff members had applied for the city manager position the last time. And there isn't much time to find someone: Williams' last day will be Jan. 4.
Two people speaking in the meeting's public comment period also urged the city to advertise widely.
"Like it was previously said, time is really short with the holidays coming up and things that need to be done," said local pastor the Rev. Sims Jones. "And I think we should go outside. … I think we need some new ideas, some fresh ideas and maybe some other qualifications that may be out there."
Williams thanked the commissioners for their support.
"I applied to the job thinking I could do something good," he said. "I was able to, through staff and through your votes, we were able to get through it all. I’m at the top of my game, and I feel that when you’re at the top of your game, it’s time to move on. … I thank you for listening to me, for hearing me out, and I thank you for supporting myself and the staff."
