Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Two days of swirling accusations of harassment against Marathon City Manager Clyde Burnett came to a head Tuesday evening when the City Council voted to put the embattled official on paid administrative leave.

The council chose City Finance Director Peter Rosasco to serve as interim manager for 30 days.

City Clerk Diane Clavier has accused Burnett of harassment. Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said the case involved allegations of stalking and harassing phone calls but didn't provide specifics Tuesday. Ward said he didn't know yet if his office would open its own investigation.

The council now will choose -- as early as Tuesday's general meeting -- an outside firm to investigate the allegations against Burnett.

Clavier was not at Tuesday night's meeting and declined to comment afterward. City Attorney Jimmy Morales said Clavier has met with him and laid out the details of the alleged harassment.

"She preceded to present to me a series of allegations," Morales said to the council at the meeting. "She said she didn't even want to come to work the next day."

Burnett defended himself Tuesday, asking the council for a chance to clear his name.

"I have not been charged or convicted of any offense," Burnett said. "I ask you put me on administrative leave with pay to give me the opportunity to absolve this issue."

He said he would fully cooperate with any investigation.

As the allegations first came to light, there were rumors Burnett would resign. But he announced on Monday that he would not step down.

Burnett said he has hired local attorney Hal Schuhmacher, who served as Mike Cinque's attorney earlier this year as the mayor fended off allegations of official misconduct. The Monroe County State Attorney's Office never filed any charges against Cinque and dropped the investigation.

Rosasco, who now will be at the city's helm, assured the council he doesn't want the city manager position for the long term and that there would be no conflicts of interest.

Rosasco's accounting firm, Bishop Rosasco & Co., is contracted by the city to handle its finances.

Vice Mayor Don Vasil said terminating Burnett's contract would have been the best way to proceed going forward.

"These kind of issues are losers for everybody, and the entity that loses the most is the company, or in this case, the city," Vasil said.

Burnett first took over as city manager in April 2008, replacing Mike Puto, who resigned after several public battles with the City Council. Burnett's $100,000 a year contract with the city was extended for two years in February.

Previously Burnett was an elected city commissioner in Key Colony Beach, where he still resides. Burnett also served as Key Colony Beach's mayor.

Clavier was first hired by the city in the summer of 2006.

rbusweiler@keysnews.com