From Palatka Dailly News:
Palatka cutting ties with finance director, attorney
City Attorney Jane West is pictured during a Palatka City Commission meeting in September. (File photo)
City Hall is undergoing a personnel overhaul as two high-ranking officials were notified their employment would be ending, but a majority vote from elected officials is required to make one of the officials’ end of employment official.
Interim City Manager Cynthia Curry informed Finance Director Chantel Pierre on Thursday that she would be terminated, but a majority vote from the Palatka City Commission is required before Pierre’s termination is official, Curry said Monday.
Section 39 Part 1 of the Palatka City Charter states that any suspension or removal of the city’s police chief, fire chief, finance director, city clerk or city attorney would require concurrence from the majority of the commission.
“I did have a meeting with Chantel, along with the (Human Resources) director, to inform her that, you know, based on performance issues, that I would be terminating her services with the city,” Curry said. “And, obviously, we did not place anything in writing to date.”
The commission will have a special meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 201 N. Second St., to vote on Pierre’s firing, Curry said.
Pierre was hired July 14, 2025, to be the city’s finance director, taking over for Marcia Carty, who was serving as the city manager and finance director simultaneously.
Curry did not elaborate on her concerns with Pierre’s performance.
If the majority of commissioners agree to the termination, Pierre’s last day will be Aug. 21. Curry said Pierre is working from home until then.
Financial Services Supervisor Jennifer Thompson Taricano has been named the acting finance director.
Finance Director Chantel Pierre addresses the Palatka City Commission during a meeting in April. (File photo)
Another personnel change that was initiated within the past week involves Jane West no longer serving as the city attorney, but Curry said the separation was a mutual agreement. West began working for the city Aug. 24, 2023.
Curry said West raised the possibility of leaving the city Friday because of the city’s budget situation and wanted to develop a severance package for herself.
“And I agreed,” Curry said. “And, to summarize it, I think the exchange was a mutual agreement that the employment relationship was over; it ended. She was not fired last week.”
West’s separation from the city will also be discussed during Wednesday’s meeting, Curry said Monday in an email to the Daily News.
Curry, who sent West a letter Monday outlining the terms of separation, said West removed her belongings from her City Hall office, but she hasn’t left her job yet. West’s last day will be Aug. 21, Curry said.
West already had a vacation planned this week, but she will continue working afterward until the last day Curry specified.
But unlike Pierre’s situation, Curry said, a vote isn’t required in West’s case since she initiated the end of her employment.
“Because this is a mutual separation rather than a removal, and I stress mutual separation and not removal, the (Palatka City Charter) Section 39 Part 1 … which requires concurrence, is not really triggered here, in my opinion,” Curry said.
West will use the next two weeks as a transition period to inform city staff of all pending litigation, Curry said. Attorney Ralph Brooks, who has previously worked with the city on legal issues, is taking over West’s duties this week, but Curry said she will spend this week researching potential interim attorneys for the commission to choose.
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