Commission Workshop

23718 W US HWY 27 Telephone: (386) 454-1416 High Springs, Florida 32643 Facsimile: (386) 454-2126 Web: highsprings.gov HIGH SPRINGS CITY COMMISSION GENERAL WORKSHOP JANUARY 22, 2026 5:30 PM CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Miller called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm ROLL CALL CITY COMMISSION: Mayor Andrew Miller – Present Vice Mayor Wayne Bloodsworth - Present Commissioner Tristan Grunder – Present Commissioner Chad Howell – Present Commissioner Katherine Weitz – Present STAFF PRESENT: Jeremy Marshall, City Manager Angela Stone, City Clerk Jami Echeverri, Assistant City Clerk Amy Bohannon, CRA Manager Joe Peters, Fire Chief Kevin Mangan, PIO Antoine Sheppard, Police Lieutenant Allan Alligood, Building Official INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Invocation by: Vice Mayor Bloodsworth Pledge of Allegiance BUSINESS ITEMS: GENERAL DISCUSSION Mayor Miller explained the intent of the workshop as an open discussion to improve preparedness for meetings, reinforce professionalism, and address concerns about transparency and communication. Commissioner Howell stated he would like to see the Commission working together more cohesively. He expressed concern that progress has begun to move backward rather than forward and that division is present that should be addressed. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth expressed concern about transparency and the public handling of staff issues. He stated disagreement with how staff has been treated and raised concerns Commission General Discussion Workshop January 22, 2026 Page 2 of 3 regarding a prior meeting in which it was discussed publicly and privately that no one individual was responsible for a mistake, while a staff termination later occurred. He also discussed broader concerns about City operations and supporting staff, including resources, staffing levels, and compensation. Commissioner Grunder stated he did not believe his language was disrespectful or harmful and emphasized accountability when mistakes occur. He also expressed concern that commissioners can become too involved in day-to-day operations, noting the Commission’s role is policy/oversight rather than operational direction. Commissioner Weitz stated the City has made substantial improvements in transparency compared to prior years and believes staff morale has improved over the last year to year and a half. She stated there will always be differences of opinion and that healthy debate can reflect community representation, while professionalism must be maintained. Commissioner Weitz stated she disagreed with certain comments made in prior meetings and noted that bringing issues forward transparently can discourage staff if met with calls for termination. Commissioner Weitz also discussed broader fiscal context and responsibilities, noting long- term financial challenges and emphasizing that the City’s financial condition is not attributable to a single bill alone. Mayor Miller stated that he made the direct comment at issue during the prior interaction and clarified that it was not Commissioner Grunder. Mayor Miller also noted that while the missed invoice was a concern, other contributing factors may have been involved. During general discussion, commissioners addressed: • Maintaining professionalism in meetings. • Differentiating “aggressive” from “direct,” and concerns about the term being used too freely. • The importance of addressing personnel concerns through the City Manager rather than in a public forum, when appropriate. • Concerns about referencing social media posts/comments during meetings and the importance of staying focused on business and facts. Commissioner Weitz requested clarification regarding a potential partnership concept involving the Alachua Children’s Trust and asked the Mayor to clarify the purpose/vision. Discussion included the potential idea of a community resource center (services such as periodic staff presence for public assistance resources) and the limitation of City space. The Boy Scout hut was discussed as a possible facility, with acknowledgment that it may not be feasible and that future decisions would require additional information. Commissioner Weitz requested confirmation and approval from the Commission to reach out to County contacts to better understand the County’s vision. The Commission agreed overall and indicated no concern with Commissioner Weitz seeking additional information. Commissioner Weitz requested an update on the Mayor’s Youth Council. City Manager Marshall indicated efforts would be made to contact members and identify workable dates (potentially using a survey method). A Sunshine Law-related question was discussed, with Commission General Discussion Workshop January 22, 2026 Page 3 of 3 clarification that communications are not a Sunshine Law violation so long as it does not involve two members of the same board communicating outside a properly noticed meeting. Commissioner Weitz requested clarification from City Manager Marshall on whether she was too involved in operations. City Manager Marshall stated that most commissioners occasionally get too far into operational matters, with Vice Mayor Bloodsworth noted as the exception, and that he addresses overstepping by advising commissioners to back off when needed. City Manager Marshall also stated he would not attempt to influence votes and reaffirmed that operational/staff decisions are within the City Manager’s purview. PUBLIC COMMENT: Rick Testa: Mr. Testa commented that for a relatively new commission he believes they work well together. He encouraged commissioners to remember that a small number of frequent callers/emails do not represent the whole community and urged the Commission to act on behalf of the entire City. Sue Weller: Ms. Weller stated she believes the “million-dollar issue” should be investigated further. She expressed concerns regarding information received via public records and requested additional explanation regarding purchase order/line item documentation. Byron Williams: Mr. Williams commented as a former commissioner that he sought to represent all citizens. He encouraged the Commission to leave personal issues outside of meetings, avoid allowing social media to influence governance, communicate respectfully within Sunshine Law limitations, and focus on what is best for the entire City. COMMISSION RESPONSE Commissioner Weitz asked for clarification regarding the information Ms. Weller received. Clerk Stone advised the information referenced was part of a change order and related to owner-direct purchases. Commissioner Weitz stated she would follow up with the City Manager for additional clarification as needed. Vice Mayor Miller motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Grunder adjourned the meeting at 6:02 pm