St. Denis under fire

Town attorney David Persson confirmed to the Longboat Observer that he called each member of the Longboat Key Town Commission last week to inquire what kind of annual performance evaluation they were likely to submit for Town Manger Bruce St. Denis’ performance, which is expected to be performed by the end of the year.

The evaluation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

St. Denis deferred any comment to Persson, who confirmed for the Longboat Observer he made the calls at the end of last week.

“It’s pretty obvious over the last many months, there have been some issues between the town manager and the commissioners,” Persson said. “So, the mayor (Jim Brown) told me that based on the negative feedback he was receiving, he requested that I talk to commissioners individually and relay the information to the town manager out of respect for him.”

Persson said the information has been relayed, and St. Denis is now in the process of meeting with commissioners individually to discuss the feedback.

The preliminary feedback provided by three commissioners was indicative that a negative review would be presented to the town manager’s office.

Brown requested the annual written review for the town manager be reinstated after a three-year absence and has expressed displeasure publicly this summer regarding St. Denis’ handling of the 2011-12 fiscal year budget.

Brown did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Vice Mayor David Brenner hesitated when asked what kind of review he would give St. Denis.

“To be honest, there are some things he hasn’t done super well,” Brenner said.

Commissioner Phillip Younger, meanwhile, said he “looks forward to a review process.”

When asked what kind of review he would give St. Denis, Younger said it’s common knowledge what kind of relationship he has with St. Denis.

“Anybody who has sat in a meeting has seen incidents where it was obvious I was not pleased with the input I was receiving from the town manager,” Younger said.

Town Clerk Trish Granger confirmed that St. Denis was meeting with several commissioners throughout the day Tuesday, Sept. 13.

When asked if all commissioners met with the town manager on a regular basis, Granger said she could not recall the last time Younger and St. Denis had entered a room together that didn’t involve a scheduled meeting that required them both to attend.

Commissioner Lynn Larson, meanwhile, explained she told Persson “she was less than pleased” with St. Denis’ performance.

“I will not be giving him a stellar review,” said Larson, who said St. Denis has not responded to several of her requests for public information.

Larson doesn’t feel St. Denis has done enough to help revise or work toward terminating employee pension plans she and others say are causing too much of a drain on town funds.

“I feel the commission is put in place by voters who expect us to be responsive to them,” Larson said. “If the town manager is less than open with us in sharing information, I don’t feel we can properly respond to our constituents.”

Every commissioner who was interviewed said they believed St. Denis has made many contributions to the town over the last 14 years.

But Larson doesn’t think that means the town manager is doing a good job today.

“The town has changed,” Larson said. “We don’t want a town manager who we don’t feel comfortable talking with or asking questions. Bruce has done the job commissions have asked for in the past. But this is a different commission, and we want problems solved — not problems pushed into the future.”

Commissioner Hal Lenobel was the only commissioner interviewed who told the Longboat Observer he would give the town manager “a very favorable review.”

Commissioners Pat Zunz and Jack Duncan did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story.

Speculation is looming that St. Denis could resign before going through a negative public review process. Any performance review by the town manager is required to be held as part of a public meeting.

Brenner said he was unsure if St. Denis would consider resigning.

“Look: It’s the nature of the beast to have friction between the commission and any town manager,” Brenner said. “The town manager must decide if he can handle a little more friction than usual at this juncture.”

A super majority of five comissioners (see editor's note below) of the commission is needed to terminate St. Denis’ employment with the town.

In 2007, St. Denis received a $25,000 salary increase (to $177,000) after commissioners discovered he was a top-10 finalist for the city manager position in Naples.

At the time, the $177,000 salary was one of top salaries of a town, city or county manager in the Southwest Florida region; only a similar managerial position in Sarasota County had a higher salary of $208,707. At the time of his raise, St. Denis oversaw 126 employees, while the Sarasota County manager was responsible for 2,491 employees.

+ Editor's note
In the "St. Denis Under Fire" story that was published in the Sept. 15 edition of the Longboat Observer, we incorrectly stated it takes a unanimous vote of the Longboat Key Town Commission to terminate the town manager. It takes a super-majority vote of five commissioners to perform such an action.
 

For the record
Four of the seven Longboat Key town commissioners shared their thoughts on Town Manager Bruce St. Denis and what kind of annual performance evaluation they would give him.

“Anybody who has sat in a meeting has seen incidents where it was obvious I was not pleased with the input I was receiving from the town manager”
— Commissioner Phill Younger

“To be honest, there are some things he hasn’t done super well”
— Vice Mayor David Brenner









“(I would give the town manager) a very favorable review”
— Commissioner Hal Lenobel










“I will not be giving him a stellar review”
— Commissioner Lynn Larson