Mexico Beach City Council hires HR firm amid city administrator’s workplace harassment allegations

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Mexico Beach City Council members met on Monday for a special meeting to discuss the selection of a human resources firm to investigate workplace harassment claims against City Administrator Chris Truitt.

What was expected to be a procedural vote on the hiring of an external investigator quickly spiraled into a debate over the future of Truitt’s role in the city’s government.

“Number one you don’t do anything, you move forward. Number 2 you do a probation repair, you put some restrictions, or number 3 you terminate. Thats how I see it,” Mexico Beach Mayor Richard Wolff said.

Mexico Beach Council probes workplace harassment claims

City council member Jason Adams voiced concerns over Truitt’s hiring practices and decisions within the city such as letting a city employee lodge in a government building.

“I brought up these instances and its nothing personal. We’re here to oversee the City of Mexico Beach. We’re here us 5. We’re the last and there been a lot of questionable things that have transpired in these few short months,” Adams said.

Adams and city council member Jerry Smith voted to terminate Truitt. The termination failed to pass by a 2-3 vote. The council went on to discuss outside law firms for the HR investigation.
Members are looking at Pittman Law Group and Krizner Group to investigate the claims and allegations. Both are located in Tallahassee.

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“I recommend you pick one of these agencies I looked at them based on their hourly rate and their estimated hours where they would have travel involved in the cost of that. remote or on-site location of the company,” Council member Tim Linderman said.

The council made a motion on hiring the Krizner Group. Mayor Wolff says he predicts the investigation will cost anywhere from $15,000-20,000.

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