- November 18, 2024
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Palm Coast's utility director was fired after just five months for yelling at and being demeaning to subordinates.
This is the second time in 2024 that Palm Coast is without a utility director. Amanda Rees was hired on as the director in June, replacing former Director Steve Flanagan who stepped down into a smaller management role in March in preparation for his retirement.
The city has a standard six-month probationary period for new employees, or one year for its firefighters, during which time they are evaluated, according to city documents sent to the Observer. Though a condition of the probationary period is that employees can be fired at any time within the probationary period without cause, city administration had received multiple complaints that Rees had "addressed utility staff in an aggressive and inappropriate manner" during her reign, the documents stated.
Rees was fired from the position on Nov. 14, effective that day.
The complaints included yelling at employees, using a demeaning tone and discussing an employee's performance with that employee's peers or subordinates, the documents stated.
Rees received a written warning over the behavior on Sept. 30 from acting City Manager Lauren Johnston and Human Resource Manager Renina Fuller, which Rees refused to sign. The write up states that "such behavior does not align with our standards of professional conduct and mutual respect in the workplace."
"It is important that all employees, regardless of position, are treated with dignity and courtesy," the write-up stated. "As leaders in our organization, it is essential to set a positive example and foster a respectful and productive work environment."
Communications Director Brittany Kershaw said in an email that the decision was made based on Rees' performance. In the meantime, Deputy Director Pete Roussell will fill in for the position.
"We remain focused on ensuring the highest level of service for our community and will provide updates as we move forward with leadership in this department," Kershaw wrote.
Rees' termination comes as the city is facing a decree from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to upgrade its Wastewater Treatment Facility 1 by 2028. The plant — which serves the bulk of Palm Coast’s wastewater treatment needs — is permitted by the FDEP to treat 6.83 million gallons per day but has averaged at or higher than that allotted amount of water flow in at least four of the last 12 months, according to an October presentation to Palm Coast's City Council.
Because of that, the FDEP issued a consent decree — a legal document formalizing the city’s plan to increase its wastewater treatment capacity — to the city to address its overflow by expanding the plant.
