A 2023 Islamorada council session saw disagreements and tense moments, which heated up during the departures of Dan Gulizio, then development services director, and Ted Yates, then village manager. Aside from the moments of division and dysfunction, the council chose a new trash hauler for 2024 and placed a moratorium on residential building permits. Village officials cut the ribbon to new dog park upgrades, while fire rescuers visited a local library to deliver an AED.
ISLAMORADA PARTS WAYS WITH GULIZIO
The village’s director of development services was let go by Village Manager Ted Yates on May 30, following more than a year of service. Gulizio dug into the village’s land development regulations and comprehensive plan, ultimately leading to several presentations to members of the public and council members outlining inconsistencies and gaps in the language. But Gulizio faced severe hardships performing his job. During a May 18 meeting, Gulizio acknowledged instances in which he was told by staff members that he’d be fired or that he was “resigning today.”
During a special July meeting, Yates told council members that a parting with Gulizio was an administrative decision based on what he felt was best for the village. A letter by Gulizio’s attorney was sent to the village in November seeking unpaid severance plus damages for comments by Yates about Gulizio’s departure. Gulizio has since found employment as a senior planner with the city of Key West.
COUNCIL VOTES 3-2 NOT TO RENEW YATES
Council members voted 3-2 during a July 17 special call meeting not to renew the employment contract of Ted Yates. Roughly four hours of heated discussions and intense questioning, shouting among council members and the gallery, as well as gavel-pounding and head-shaking culminated in a decision to go a different direction.
Action taken by the dais was met with groans from many residents in the gallery supporting Yates and wearing “Team Ted” stickers. The meeting mirrored a gathering just 11 days earlier, when council members, supporters and opponents of Yates fought over a proposal before the council to forgo a second year with Yates and begin a third village manager search in three years.
Yates has since found employment with SD Marine as general manager. Islamorada council continues the search for a new village manager. Finalists are expected to visit Islamorada in January to meet council members for interviews.
COUNTY AIDS VILLAGE WITH INTERIM MANAGERS County Administrator Roman Gastesi stepped in to help the village by providing some of his department heads as interim managers. In early August, village and county officials approved a 60-day agreement to send Bryan Cook, county employee services director, as interim manager. Following Cook’s stint, the village and county approved another agreement, this time with Ed Koconis, county permitting director who previously worked at village hall. A third agreement between the county and village welcomes the services of Kimberly Matthews, senior director of strategic planning and libraries, as interim village manager for 60 days. She begins Jan. 6.
