PALATKA, Fla. – The Palatka City Commission will hold a special meeting on Monday evening to discuss next steps following an external investigation into allegations against City Manager Marcia Carty.
The 6 p.m. meeting comes after commissioners reviewed the initial investigation findings during a nearly three-hour session Wednesday, where Carty publicly addressed multiple allegations ranging from discriminatory statements to misuse of city resources.
“I really regret that we’re here. It just hurts my heart,” Carty said during Wednesday’s meeting.
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The investigation, which began earlier this year, led to Carty being placed on administrative leave before returning to her position with modified duties. During this period, Police Chief Jason Shaw was appointed as Acting Assistant City Manager, with city employees reporting directly to him.
Mayor Robbi Correa went line by line through each allegation, giving Carty a chance to respond.
Key allegations discussed during Wednesday’s meeting included:
- Making comments about an employee’s ethnic background
- Using city resources for personal matters
- Sharing confidential or sensitive information
“So my response is that’s not true,” Carty said to several of the claims.
Several members of the commission said some of the allegations were minor and could have been resolved, but that other claims may not be curable.
Mayor Robbi Correa expressed concerns about the claim that city workers helped complete personal tasks for Carty.
“I would hope the city manager would know that more than anybody in the city employees. I’m concerned about that. There are a lot of things I’m concerned about,” she said.
During the meeting, commissioners discussed what to do next.
Options under consideration included:
- A “curing process” with HR training
- A change in work role
- Immediate termination
“Number one, we want our city employees protected. Number one, we want to make sure Miss Carty has due process. Number three, we want to make sure our city is stable,” City Commissioner Anne Henderson Davis said. “So the question is whichever direction we take, we have to consider those outcomes.”
The commissioners opted not to take any immediate action at that meeting. Instead, moving for a special meeting Monday at 6 p.m. where they hope to come up with a course of action.
That meeting is open to the public.