Jacob Ogles
Sarasota city officials officially fired City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini after she declined a demand to resign.
Instead, attorneys for the now-former official sent a letter hinting at a legal challenge of her termination.
“Ms. Nadalini has determined to reject the city’s offer,” reads a letter from attorney Robert McKee. “While my client understands her employment will be terminated as of January 16, 2019, she is not prepared to execute a general release in favor of the City, especially as it relates to the events which led to her being placed on administrative leave.”
Nadalini, Sarasota’s first black or female charter official, was hired in 2010 and previously worked in the clerk’s office for more than 20 years prior.
Sarasota City Commissioners voted to put Nadalini on paid leave in December after a consultant’s report from Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick recommended the clerk be fired based on complaints she practiced retaliatory management and created a hostile workplace.
“Individuals advised that CAC’s workplace atmosphere involved a consistent pattern of retaliation; that communication by bullying, yelling, and badgering occurred; that Ms. Nadalini’s negative workplace attributes outweigh her positive workplace attributes; that Ms. Nadalini leads by fear,” reads a report by attorney Jennifer Compton.
Nadalini refused to meet with investigators as the report was prepared.
Sarasota officials earlier this month called on Nadalini to resign, providing an effective date of April 15 and remaining on paid leave until that point. That would provide her three months salary as well as six months in paid severance.
Now, Nadalini has requested arrangements for her personal belongings to be returned from her office.
City Attorney Robert Fournier sent a letter to Nadalini on Jan. 9 making clear her employment would end as of Jan. 16 should she refuse to resign.
The letter made clear she will receive six months severance regardless.
“Severance and compensation for accrued leave time will be paid to you by the City in the appropriate pay cycle following the effective date of your resignation, or your termination, whichever applies,” he wrote.
