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Tarpon City Manager Resigns

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BY MARK SCHANTZ

SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF

Published: May 3, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - Late last week, Ellen Posivach, Tarpon Springs City Manager for the last nine years, decided it was time to gracefully bow out after all.

Tuesday night, at the start of a special City Commission meeting called to discuss her future, Posivach agreed to leave.

"This would be a negotiated resignation, which is fairly common in this situation," City Attorney James Yacavone told commissioners.

Yacavone said Posivach last Friday proposed a deal under which she would resign in return for receiving benefits due her if she were terminated without cause. The offer to step down came through her attorney, Dave Linesch.

Tuesday night, Linesch told commissioners a mutually amicable parting of the ways would be a win-win situation, sparing both sides further discord.

Commissioners unanimously accepted Posivach's resignation and directed the city's legal staff to enter into severance negotiations with her.

After resigning, Posivach thanked residents, commissioners and staff for the best nine years of her career.

As part of her resignation agreement, Posivach asked for three months severance pay and to be paid for unused vacation time. She also wanted to be eligible for worker compensation payments.

Later Tuesday night, commissioners named Police Chief Mark LeCouris acting city manager. LeCouris has been acting city manager in the past.

Mayor Beverley Billiris said the city will advertise for a replacement for Posivach and conduct its own search in house. The process could take from four to six months, Billiris said.

The mayor sought to comfort staff members attending Tuesday night's meeting. Projects Posivach has been spearheading, such as building a municipal reverse-osmosis drinking water treatment plant, would stay on track and be completed.

After the meeting, Sue Thomas, president of the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, said the city should look for someone versed in economic development. The new manager should be able to work with the community to develop an economic plan for different areas of the city, Thomas said.

The city needs to devise a plan for its industrial areas, its downtown and the Sponge Docks tourist district, Thomas said. Then it needs someone willing to promote that plan fulltime, she said.

Posivach was recently by the commission for her technical abilities but criticized for her lack of people skills.

Early in her career she was credited with greatly improving the city's waste-water treatment plant, which had run afoul of regulators. This year she won praise for persuading state water regulators to award the city a $20 million grant to offset the cost of the city's proposed drinking water plant.

After learning Posivach had interviewed for the city manager's position in Goodyear, Ariz., a majority of commissioners said a wide gulf separated them and Posivach.

Two weeks ago the commission voted to begin looking for a replacement for Posivach but did not fire her.

When Posivach did not respond to the commission's decision to embark on a search for her replacement by resigning,

Commissioner Peter Dalacos send the city manager an e-mail message. In the message he expressed dismay over her apparent decision not to "bow out gracefully" and resign.

Tuesday night, Commissioner Chris Alahouzos said it is time for the city to move forward in a positive way. Commissioner Robin Saenger, who at an earlier meeting was willing to give Posivach a chance to address commissioners' concerns, said the city is at a crossroads and it is time to move forward.

Billiris said she was sorry the situation had to come to this but the turmoil has to end.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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