City Commission Special Meeting on 2025-12-11 1:00 PM

Name: City Commission Special Meeting on 2025-12-11 1:00 PM
Start: 2025-12-11

Special Meeting

North Port, FL · December 11, 2025

Minutes

4970 CITY HALL BLVD City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286 Meeting Minutes City Commission Special Meeting CITY COMMISSIONERS Pete Emrich, Mayor Barbara Langdon, Vice Mayor Phil Stokes, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow, Commissioner APPOINTED OFFICIALS Jerome Fletcher, City Manager Michael Fuino, City Attorney Heather Faust, City Clerk Thursday, December 11, 2025 1:00 PM City Commission Chambers CALL TO ORDER Mayor Emrich called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: 5- Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow, Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon and Commissioner Philip Stokes ALSO PRESENT City Manager Fletcher, City Attorney Fuino, City Clerk Faust, Deputy Police Chief Garrison, and Fire Chief Titus. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Clerk Heather Faust. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Emrich requested a motion to approve the agenda. A motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice Mayor Langdon, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes 2. PUBLIC COMMENT: Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record: Sandy Cortopassi: Expressed support of Item No. 26-0216 and concerns regarding the City Manager. Carmine Miranda: Expressed support of the City Manager. City Employee: Expressed support of the City Manager. Jeremy Ansel: Expressed support of the City Manager. Citizen North Port: Expressed support of the City Manager and concerns related to City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 1/14/2026 City Commission Special Meeting Meeting Minutes December 11, 2025 property tax proposals. Valerie Franks: Expressed support of Item No. 26-0216 and concerns regarding the City Manager. City Employee: Expressed support of the City Manager. Karen Jamalle: Spoke to previous hostile work environment. Anonymous Person: Expressed support of the City Manager. In Person: Susan Balmer: Expressed concern regarding the City Manager. Pam Tokarz: Spoke to the need for compromise. John Rawlings: Spoke to the need for professionalism. Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record: Laura Ansel: Expressed support of the City Manager. Jill Luke: Spoke to the need for unity. 3. GENERAL BUSINESS: 26-0216 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Placement of the City Manager on Administrative Leave Mayor Emrich announced the item. Mr. Fuino introduced the item. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding complaint, the City Manager’s apology, opportunities to resolve the matter, public commentary and public perception, investigation process, independent investigation, respect, opinions versus facts, policy language and its relationship to the Charter, comparisons to other municipalities, transparency and accountability, the need for compromise, addressing underlying issues, employee disciplinary guidelines, distinctions between policy and law, the full scope of the complaint, and interpretation of Charter provisions. Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record: Jerry Sing: Expressed support of the City Manager. Michele Moore: Expressed opposition of the item. Cheryl Cook: Spoke to the commission–manager form of government and separation of policymaking and administration. Anonymous Employee: Expressed support of the City Manager. Anonymous Person: Expressed concerns regarding Commissioner conduct and employee morale. In Person: Joan Morgan: Expressed opposition of the item and spoke to employee morale and community unity. Pam Tokarz: Expressed opposition of the item and spoke to optics. John Rawlings: Spoke to the need for Commission to follow policy and procedures. Peggy Burton: Spoke to concerns regarding embarrassment and distractions. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Langdon, seconded by Commissioner Stokes, to not conduct an investigation regarding the complaint filed on December 8, 2025. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 3- Mayor Emrich, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 1/14/2026 City Commission Special Meeting Meeting Minutes December 11, 2025 No: 2- Commissioner Duval and Commissioner Petrow 4. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. 5. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Emrich adjourned the meeting at 2:45 p.m. City of North Port, Florida By: _______________________________________ Pete Emrich, Mayor Attest: _____________________________________ Heather Faust, City Clerk City of North Port Page 3 Printed on 1/14/2026

Agenda

4970 CITY HALL BLVD City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286 Meeting Agenda City Commission Special Meeting CITY COMMISSIONERS Pete Emrich, Mayor Barbara Langdon, Vice Mayor Phil Stokes, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow, Commissioner APPOINTED OFFICIALS Jerome Fletcher, City Manager Michael Fuino, City Attorney Heather Faust, City Clerk Thursday, December 11, 2025 1:00 PM City Commission Chambers PUBLIC COMMENT: Properly submitted comments will be accepted and included in the official record of the meeting pursuant to City Commission Policy No. 2020-04. Public comment may be submitted in the following ways: In Person Attendance: Submit a comment card to the City Clerk. Comment cards with completed information may be submitted until the Mayor closes Public Comment for the agenda item. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person. Online: Submit a written eComment using the eComment link at cityofnorthport.legistar.com/Calendar. The link will be available online at 8:00 a.m. the day before the meeting until one hour prior to the start of the meeting. Your public comment is limited to 2,000 characters. Voice Mail Message: Leave a voice mail message via telephone at 941-429-1032. Voice Mail messages will be accepted the day before the meeting from 8:00 a.m. until one hour prior to the start of the meeting. Please provide information as listed in the City’s outgoing message. The message must not exceed two minutes, fifteen seconds. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2. PUBLIC COMMENT: (The purpose of the Public Comments Section of the Agenda is for members of the public to speak to the City Commission/District Governing Body on any subject pertaining to City Business whether or not it is on the Agenda, with the exception of Quasi-Judicial Items.) 3. GENERAL BUSINESS: City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 12/9/2025 City Commission Special Meeting Meeting Agenda December 11, 2025 26-0216 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Placement of the City Manager on Administrative Leave Attachments: Resolution 4. PUBLIC COMMENT: (The purpose of the Public Comments Section of the Agenda is for members of the public to speak to the City Commission/District Governing Body on any subject pertaining to City Business whether or not it is on the Agenda, with the exception of Quasi-Judicial Items.) 5. ADJOURNMENT: NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS - The Agenda is a summary of the proposed actions to be taken by the City Commission. For almost every agenda item, the City staff has prepared materials for Commission consideration and provided a staff recommendation. All of these materials are available at the City Clerk's Office, during normal business hours, for inspection and (for a fee) copying. Questions on these materials may be directed to the staff member who prepared them, or to the City Clerk's Office, who will refer you to the appropriate person. AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 - The North Port City Hall is wheelchair accessible. Special parking is available on the west side of City Hall and the building may be accessed from the parking area. Persons with hearing difficulties should contact the City Clerk to obtain a hearing device for use during meetings. NONDISCRIMINATION: The City of North Port does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, family or religious status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or physical characteristic in administration of its programs, activities or services. No stenographic record by a certified court reporter is made of these recordings. Accordingly, anyone seeking to appeal any of the decisions involving the matters herein will be responsible for making a verbatim record of the meeting/testimony and evidence upon which any appeal is to be based. Copies of the recordings are available (for a fee) at the City Clerk's Office. City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 12/9/2025