Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder suspends City Manager Jonathan Evans

The suspension, which runs until October 3, is apparently related to an investigation launched by the mayor, who cited “concerns about a hostile work environment and low morale among city employees.”

Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder suspended City Manager Jonathan Evans for 10 days without pay on Wednesday.
Council members seemed unaware that Felder was suspending Evans until Councilwoman KaShamba Miller-Anderson checked her cellphone during Wednesday night's meeting and learned that a local television station had reported on the city manager's suspension.
Evans' suspension, which took effect at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and runs through Thursday, Oct. 3, appears to be related to an investigation the mayor launched in December.

Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder suspended City Manager Jonathan Evans for 10 days without pay on Wednesday, stunning City Council members who said they were not informed of the decision in advance.

Council members seemed unaware that Felder was suspending Evans until Councilwoman KaShamba Miller-Anderson checked her cellphone during Wednesday night's meeting and learned that a local television station had reported on the city manager's suspension.

“I'm very surprised,” said Councilwoman Shirley Lanier. “This is very disappointing. This is very outrageous tonight.”

Evans' suspension, which took effect at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, and runs through Oct. 3, appears to be related to an investigation the mayor launched in December, citing “concerns about a hostile work environment, low employee morale and possible irregularities in the hiring process.”

The city manager remained silent for most of the six-and-a-half-hour meeting, which lasted well past midnight. When Evans brought up the suspension, he was reticent.

“I will wait to comment until I have the opportunity to seek legal representation on this particular matter,” he said.

Jonathan Evans was fired, reinstated and is now suspended

Evans' suspension is another low point in his troubled tenure as Riviera Beach's city manager, a position from which he oversees the city's day-to-day operations. He was hired in March 2017, fired in September of that year and reinstated in May 2019 after city voters ousted council members who had supported Evans' firing.

The city manager's announcement that he was hiring a lawyer may be a bad omen for Riviera Beach. He sued the city after his firing and won a $190,000 settlement, along with a public statement from the city restoring his reputation and saying he was not fired but left by mutual consent.

Since City Council members remained in the dark about the reason for Evans' suspension, he was left to read into the minutes his own suspension letter, dated September 18 and signed by Felder.

“Please be advised that pursuant to Section 15 of the Riviera Beach City Charter, as amended by referendum on March 11, 2008, the Mayor has the authority to suspend any officer or employee of the City for misconduct or neglect of duty,” Evans read. “After an independent review of the facts, I have concluded that there are good cause to suspend our City Manager Jonathan Evans for the following offenses: Neglect of Duty.”

The letter did not mention which duties Evans had neglected, and Felder did not elaborate on that point during the meeting.

Mayor to councilor: “So you want to question my authority?”

Instead, the mayor, who has no voting rights on council matters, dismissed Lanier's questions about whether the city's charter gave him the authority to suspend Evans.

“So you're questioning my authority?” Felder asked. “Take the time to read the charter to see what my authority is. Don't cry now. It is what it is. I used the power I have in the right and legal way. Sometimes it hurts to be a leader. I did the best I could for the city based on the information I was given.”

For Miller-Anderson, the council's longest-serving member who said she grew up with Felder, the problem was that council members were kept in the dark about Evans' impending suspension.

“I just thought it was a professional courtesy,” she told Felder. “I'm not questioning your authority, because I know it. However, it could have been a professional courtesy to inform the board, considering we're the ones who hired him. That was done intentionally because, to get it out to the news, you wanted us to know that way.”

Miller-Anderson added: “You have done what you were allowed to do. But I will certainly say: OK, that's what you want? That's the way it is.”

Riviera Beach is in the midst of a massive infrastructure and development boom, with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of projects either on the drawing board or already under construction. Evans has been at the forefront of that, urging City Council members to tackle long-ignored and expensive infrastructure projects that he believes are critical to the city's future.

The high cost of these projects – a new water treatment plant alone could cost more than $350 million – has angered council members, but in recent years they have generally pushed ahead with the plans, despite heated debate during hours-long meetings.

Evans' suspension is reminiscent of Riviera Beach's not-so-distant past, when high-ranking employees resigned or were abruptly fired. Political infighting paralyzed hopes for progress.

“It looks really bad for us as far as our business is concerned,” Lanier said. “It really is.”

Who will replace Jonathan Evans as interim city manager?

Evans' suspension left council members with one question until 11 p.m. Wednesday night: Who would replace him?

Councilman Glen Spiritis initially suggested City Attorney Dawn Wynn, but said she could not legally hold both positions. Spiritis then turned to Police Chief Michael Coleman. The chief, hired in April 2023, worked for 20 years with the Delray Beach Police Department and at one point served as the city's director of neighborhood and community services.

Coleman told council members he did not want to be the permanent city manager, but would step in if needed. The council then voted 3-2 to appoint him as interim city manager. Lanier and Miller-Anderson voted against the motion.

Throughout his term, Evans enjoyed the unwavering support of Lanier and Miller-Anderson. Councilman Douglas Lawson also supported him, despite criticizing the city manager on issues such as security at meetings and keeping the council informed of water safety issues.

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Spiritis, the newest councilman, has not publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Evans. However, Councilman Tradrick McCoy has repeatedly raised concerns about the city manager's performance and decision-making, clashing heatedly with Evans at meetings.

Like the City Council, Evans has supporters and detractors among Riviera Beach residents. Some blame him for the city's water problems and what they call micromanagement; others praise him for tackling difficult issues and moving the city forward.

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As the long session drew to a close on Wednesday, Evans acknowledged the challenges of his tenure.

“It's been five years, and it's been a long five years,” he said. “It's all city miles. There are no highway miles. Wherever this leads, I'm grateful to the board and their trust in me as your steward.”

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Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations for The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at [email protected]. Support our work and subscribe today.

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Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder suspends City Manager Jonathan Evans

The suspension, which runs until October 3, is apparently related to an investigation launched by the mayor, who cited “concerns about a hostile work environment and low morale among city employees.”

Jonathan Evans was fired, reinstated and is now suspended

Mayor to councilor: “So you want to question my authority?”

Who will replace Jonathan Evans as interim city manager?

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Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder suspends City Manager Jonathan Evans

The suspension, which runs until October 3, is apparently related to an investigation launched by the mayor, who cited “concerns about a hostile work environment and low morale among city employees.”

Jonathan Evans was fired, reinstated and is now suspended

Mayor to councilor: “So you want to question my authority?”

Who will replace Jonathan Evans as interim city manager?

Related posts:

By Hudson Brooklyn

Related Post

UCLA vs. LSU Prediction, Odds, Preview: CFB Week 4 Tips | Sports Betting

UN report reveals 2,414 deaths in just 14 months

Team News | Lopetegui updates on Emerson and Füllkrug

You Missed

UCLA vs. LSU Prediction, Odds, Preview: CFB Week 4 Tips | Sports Betting

UN report reveals 2,414 deaths in just 14 months

Team News | Lopetegui updates on Emerson and Füllkrug

The Apple Watch Series 10 – a worthy review for the Ultra 2?