The Marathon City Council spent July 14 sorting out two combustible topics: questions surrounding its Fourth of July celebration and a second challenge from former Fire Chief James Muro over his termination.
Councilman Kenny Matlock began with a discussion of the city’s annual festivities at Sombrero Beach on Independence Day, a longstanding partnership between the city and Marathon Rotary Club.
Questions over the event’s funding arose earlier this year when the cost of the city’s fireworks display exceeded the city manager’s discretionary spending limit, requiring council approval for the first time.
Matlock and Vice Mayor Debbie Struyf also questioned event advertising and sponsorship solicitations, saying the city’s role wasn’t clearly acknowledged and donors could mistakenly believe their contributions directly funded the fireworks display.
While Marathon itself has for years paid the cost of the evening fireworks show and “sky concert,” the daytime celebration, with food, drinks and entertainment, is also funded by an annual $15,000 contribution from the Key West Airport – one of several given to Rotary clubs throughout the Keys in support of July 4 events. Matlock said he felt wording in county resolutions suggested the funds should be used directly for fireworks.
Founding Marathon city councilman Randy Mearns, who helped organize and grow the city’s fireworks celebration decades ago, said the airport sponsorship was intended to support the overall event rather than specifically pay for fireworks, as donations from the county may not be paid directly to the city. Funds have for years been directed to the Marathon Rotary, which in conjunction with all-day fundraising efforts uses proceeds from the event to support community donations and scholarships.
“The end result is that Rotary does good things for the community throughout the Florida Keys,” said Mearns. “The way things are going with property taxes, it’s going to be harder for nonprofits to get any help from the government. This is an avenue that works, and I think we should let it continue to go.”
Rotary Club president Kelly Williams defended the group’s impact in the Middle Keys, detailing more than $450,000 in funds returned through scholarships, disaster relief and nonprofit donations. Marathon attorney and Rotarian Patrick Stevens referenced Monroe County’s initial resolution establishing the airport donations, clarifying that funds could be used for “youth development, tourism, economic development, government relations, community leadership, diversity and inclusion.”
Interim City Manager Steve Williams said logistics for future celebrations, including funding, parking and advertising, could be laid out in an advance resolution for approval by the council.
City manager applicants
Williams told the council that scoring is complete by a staff panel for the 69 applicants for Marathon’s vacant city manager post. With multiple council members requesting input on an upcoming round of in-person interviews, HR director Evie Engelmeyer instructed each to submit a list of their top five to 10 qualified applicants as their top choices, adding that time is of the essence as top candidates could be hired elsewhere.
Councilman Lynn Landry suggested that candidates with incomplete applications should not be eligible for interviews, while multiple members emphasized management abilities over technical knowledge, as the city’s department heads could bring a new manager up to speed on complex regulatory systems.
“I apologize to those out there who think that we’re not doing this in a timely manner,” said Mayor Lynny Del Gaizo. “We’re not going to throw someone in there right away – it’s on our minds every day, and we want to get the right person, not just any person.”
Muro challenges firing
Fireworks returned later in the meeting as former Fire Chief James Muro returned to challenge his termination earlier this year.
Addressing the council for the first time since his traffic ticket and misdemeanor hit-and-run charge were dismissed in relation to an April crash on the Overseas Highway, Muro insisted that the decision to dismiss him was made before review of all video evidence for the crash. He objected to alleged violations of city policies relating to drug testing and accident reporting, stating that policies cited by the city were not in effect at the time of his termination, and noted that the city did not issue a correction to its initial press release announcing the charges.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that this was an artful professional assassination, based less on the accident and more for a conversation that had been going on for quite a while,” Muro said. “I think this board has the power, regardless of what the charter says, to look at facts, and facts matter. … If you’re wondering why there were so many people willing to speak on my behalf, it was because I cherished the role of leadership.”
While Williams repeatedly stated that he wished to avoid a public exchange with Muro due to pending litigation stemming from the April crash, Matlock and Struyf criticized the effects of extensive email chains between the former fire chief and city staff challenging his dismissal. Matlock specifically cited a memorandum of understanding signed and enacted by Muro and former City Manager George Garrett with temporary staffing changes to Marathon Fire Rescue – a document he said allowed for increased costs and should have instead been approved by the council in a supermajority 4-1 vote.
“I would have liked to believe you were fired because you didn’t follow policy – I was willing to come to bat with you over that simple policy,” said Struyf. “But this has become a push and pull – it’s a personal thing.”
Asked by council members to share greater background defending the city’s decision, Williams cited public records concerning allegations of harassment during Muro’s previous fire rescue positions in Boca Raton, along with questions regarding his firefighter certification expiration and a previous arrest for grand theft.
According to a South Florida Sun Sentinel article from January 2014, Muro sued the city of Boca Raton after he was fired in 2011 for contacting employees during an ongoing investigation against him. While Muro sought to return to his previous post, the suit was later dismissed.
“I don’t want to dig up any more back and forth – I think we know the outcome of this,” said Mayor Lynny Del Gaizo. “The morale (in Fire Rescue) has really gone down, and I can’t even walk over there and smile anymore. … I don’t want any more bashing on either side. It’s been months, and it was a disappointing situation.”
In other news:
- At the request of Struyf, the council will schedule a workshop session following its budget discussions to explore policy and procedural audits of city departments, especially focusing on permitting and administrative processes.
- After expressing concerns over boat trailers blocking traffic on one of Marathon’s heavily-trafficked roads, the council granted conditional approval for a boat ramp at 62 Coco Plum Drive. Owned by Key Colony Homes LLC, the ramp would not be opened for public use, a condition added by the council.
- The council acknowledged current Code Compliance Director Ted Lozier for five years of service to the city.
- Upgrades to the city council chamber’s A/V equipment, currently an analog system that has seen frequent technical difficulties during council meetings involving virtual appearances, will be discussed during the city’s 2026-27 budget cycle. Landry said he was disappointed the upgrades hadn’t arrived yet, as the council was told the equipment had been ordered earlier this year, while Williams said the upgrade would be a six-figure change to the city’s budget.
