Smigielski takes city administration role amid Chris Truitt investigation

MEXICO BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – At least two city employees came forward in March, accusing City Administrator Chris Truitt of workplace harassment. In late March, the city council convened to take action.

City Council Member Jason Adams voiced concerns over Truitt’s hiring practices and decisions within the city, such as letting a city employee lodge in a government building.

After a tense discussion, council members voted three to two to keep Truitt.

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“Number one, you don’t do anything, you move forward. Number two, you do a probation repair, you put some restrictions, or number three, you terminate. That’s how I see it,” Mayor Richard Wolff said.

However, council members did agree to investigate the claims and hired the Krizner Group from Tallahassee.

Wolff estimated the investigation could cost up to $20,000. In the meantime, Mell Smigielski is filling in as city administrator.

“I was permanently here probably from 2014 to 2018, and this is my third time as the interim. They’ve gotten a change in the city administrator seat, and because of my experience and I still have a place here that it makes sense for me to come back and kind of pick up the slack in the interim,” Smigielski said.

He said his goal is to help keep the council afloat.

“I hope to not let things fall through the cracks because I’ve had the experience of having been here years ago as well as recently as last year, I know the people, I know the staff, I know the council and because I have those relationships, it’s an easy fix,” Smigielski said.

If council members decide to move away from Truitt, Smigielski said he’s not interested in taking the job full-time.

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“I have been retired for a few years now, so I need to go back to chasing grandkids around,” Smigielski added.

Smigielski said he’s prepared to serve as interim administrator for another two to three months as the investigation of Truitt continues.

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