Perfect and failing grades: Tallahassee city manager gets another mixed review from commissioners
City commissioners dished out nearly perfect performance reviews for the four appointed officials under their purview.
But for another consecutive year, City Manager Reese Goad received low marks from two of them, commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter.
The reviews are unlikely to result in any changes in city management despite the issue of Goad’s ouster becoming a key campaign issue in the races for mayor and two City Commission seats. Incumbents won the day, all but ensuring that a 3-2 voting bloc will continue on key issues before city leaders.
Goad received perfect scores from Mayor John Dailey and commissioners Curtis Richardson and Dianne Williams-Cox, who provided little comment in their assessments. Overall, each appointed official received a 5 out of 5 on their annual reviews, according to a memo from Dailey detailing cumulative ratings.
Even Goad received a perfect score in the cumulative rating, because Porter turned her review in late and the score was not included and Matlow's zero score did not register in the median calculation.
Read the evaluations:How city commissioners scored Reese Goad in 2022
Last year's reviews:Three perfect performance reviews for Tallahassee city manager; Matlow, Porter give failing grades
Williams-Cox noted: “Reese has kept a finger on the pulse of the community and the organizations and continues to help us policy makers deliver on promises made to our community for inclusion and improvement for all.”
But some of her commission colleagues disagreed.
Matlow, who has sought to oust Goad from his position, gave the city manager a zero out of five.
He wrote there were four areas — ethics, public participation, budgeting, implementation of City Commission directives — he would want to see improvement.
Porter, however, provided specific examples of where she felt Goad fell short while complimenting the work of city staff. She gave Goad a 1.
She noted how earlier this year top city positions were reorganized and more than $225,000 in raises given without the input of the City Commission and pointed to what she said was “misleading” and “bias” in presenting agenda materials to commissioners and the public.
She also pointed out “defensive and insensitive” response from Goad to her and the public when concerns were leveled about the Tallahassee Police Department training with Eddie Gallagher, who once faced war crime charges.
Back story:City manager shakes up City Hall leadership in reorganization, issues $225K in raises
Tallahassee Democrat investigation:What internal emails reveal about controversial TPD training with ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher
Reaction:TPD Chief Revell defends training, says photo with ex-Navy SEAL shouldn't have happened
“I have grave concerns about our city’ future under your leadership,” she wrote. “You have missed so many opportunities to rebuild the public’s trust, and instead have created a culture of hostility and intimidation at the City that extends to staff, residents, and community partners. I sincerely hope as we move forward that we can work together to make Tallahassee a place where all people can live with dignity and pride.”
Porter was the only commissioner who provided in-depth comments about the city’s appointed officials. She gave City Attorney Cassandra Jackson, Treasurer-Clerk Jim Cooke and Auditor Dennis Sutton 4.6, 4.5 and 4.5 respectively.
More:Cassandra Jackson evaluations
More:Dennis Sutton evaluations
All three received near perfect remarks from city commissioners. Matlow gave Sutton a 4.8 and noted exceptional performance in the “thorough reporting of investigations and audits.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee city manager review: Commissioners' highest and lowest scores
