Punta Gorda’s new City Council accepted City Manager Greg Murray’s resignation Nov. 20 and agreed to pay toward hurricane repairs and provide several months of rent abatement to business owners who lease space at city-owned Herald Court.
Debi Lux was named mayor and Greg Julian vice mayor by the new-look Council, which saw three incumbents unseated on Election Day. Julian, Jeannine Polk and Janis Denton join Lux, who was elected last year, and Melissa Lockhart, who has served on Council since 2021.
A clue that Murray was departing came early as Assistant City Manager Melissa Reichert sat in his seat. She was named interim city manager after Murray’s resignation was accepted.
Council discussed rescinding changes to Murray’s contract approved at the last Council meeting on Nov. 6 when former mayor Lynne Matthews suggested adding a 4% salary increase to his contract along with a 20-week severance package should he depart for any reason. The changes were approved 4-1 Nov. 6, with Lux voting against it.
The new Council discussed ways they could rescind changes to Murray’s contract. While they would be able to do so, City Attorney David Levin said it could leave the city open to liability.
Murray said he would be willing to rescind his resignation and continue to work for the city without the severance package, but Council voted to accept it anyway.
Business owners leasing units at Herald Court from the city asked Council for financial help to get their businesses up and running after flooding from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Several business owners — Patricia Herndon, Lisa Schmoldt, Wendy Tirado and Leonard Viggiano — spoke of financial hardships they faced from not being able to reopen.
Viggiano, who owns The Refindery Market, said owners can’t obtain flood insurance because they don’t own the building.
They recounted their losses, and several said they have begun repairs and paid for drywall and other items themselves so that they can reopen sooner.
Herndon owns Punta Gorda Chocolate & Wine and Punta Gorda Coffee & Tea plus Haley’s Handcrafted Chocolate. Schmoldt owns Otherside Ink, and Tirado leases three units for her Dream Salon & Spa.
In addition to losing her space, forcing her to temporarily rent elsewhere, Tirado said she lost eight staff members.
Council voted unanimously to give each owner $20 per square foot for the space they lease to pay for items, such as interior walls and flooring, and to give them a three-month rent abatement.
If they cannot open by Jan. 1, they can ask Council for an additional month of rent abatement.
The city would give them 50% of the funding upfront and the remainder at the conclusion of the work following a walk-through to ensure the work was completed.
Several controversial issues will be addressed at the Dec. 4 Council meeting, including a proposed new $16 million City Hall building that the previous council sought to rebuild on the old City Hall building’s site located in a flood zone.
A number of taxpayers have spoken out against the plan.
Denton, Polk, Julian and Lux said they favored moving City Hall to a nonflood zone and to an available, vacant building, such as the former Muscle Car City.
The city’s failing water meters, seawall damage from recent hurricanes, drainage and flooding problems in the downtown area and removing concrete from City Marketplace and former Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel parking area also will be discussed.
