Treasure Island city officials have drawn staff into a dispute over City Manager Charlie Van Zant after Vice Mayor Tammy Vasquez lodged a formal complaint. The controversy raises questions about how freely municipal employees may speak when allegations involve the top administrator.
Commissioners request staff interviews
City emails obtained by the St. Pete Catalyst show three commissioners – Mayor John Doctor, Commissioner Arden Dickey and Commissioner Chris Clark – asked staff to meet for brief interviews to learn more about the complaint. Assistant City Manager and Public Works Director Gary Volenec sent the request, describing the three officials as “the three Commissioners who voted against suspending the City Manager.” Although Clark did not vote on the Aug. 4 motion, he was included in the outreach.
Volenec told employees to be prepared for contact and noted that Van Zand would be out of the office that week “to allow the process to proceed without distraction.”
Employee raises whistle‑blower concerns
Community Development Director Bobbie Shay Lee forwarded Volenec’s email to the city’s attorneys and Human Resources Director Jessica Zamora, stating she was uncomfortable with the request. Lee referenced an unfinished notice seeking protection under the Florida Whistle‑Blower Act and said she could add concerns about gross mismanagement, waste of public funds, fraud or neglect of duty. Her email did not identify any specific wrongdoing.
Lee declined to comment further.
Vice Mayor’s complaint and city response
Vasquez filed her complaint on July 17, describing a confrontational encounter with Van Zant the previous day and a pattern of “aggressive, confrontational, and unprofessional” interactions. She also cited a July 21 commission workshop exchange in which Van Zant objected to her questioning of Public Works Director Gary Volenec about the Sunset Beach Pavilion, insisting he be recognized before staff were summoned.
During the Aug. 4 City Commission meeting, Vasquez unsuccessfully moved to place Van Zant on paid administrative leave. She and Commissioner Arthur Czyszczon supported the motion, while Doctor, Dickey and Clark opposed it. Clark later called the effort a “coordinated attack” that was “purely political.”
Independent investigation underway
City officials have engaged an outside attorney, Cindy Townsend, to conduct an independent investigation, citing internal conflicts of interest. The city’s claims administrator confirmed the conflict check was completed and another attorney would assist. Vasquez said she was scheduled to speak with the outside investigator, but the interview was canceled because the investigator had not yet spoken with the city attorney.
City spokesperson Jason Beisel said the investigation remains active and that officials could not comment on specific allegations while the process is ongoing, noting that withholding comment is standard practice to protect the integrity of the review.
Commissioners’ differing views
Commissioner Dickey said he meets with Van Zant weekly, has seen no evidence of financial mismanagement and could not recall any failure to respond to requests. Mayor Doctor echoed that sentiment, stating he had not experienced the conduct Vasquez described.
Vasquez said she has faced criticism since filing the complaint but believes speaking up was necessary, stating, “Somebody’s got to speak up.” The city’s records to date do not confirm whether the allegations are substantiated.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
