Memo describes Stuart commissioner's threat to 'come after' city manager over Costco meeting

STUART — A city commissioner allegedly threatened to "(expletive) come after" City Manager Dave Ross following a dispute over a meeting with Costco, according to a memo made public Wednesday.

The commissioner, Tom Campenni, "categorically denies" the accusation, which he said is politically motivated.

"I didn't say those things," Campenni said Wednesday. "In no way did I say anything like that. In no way was I threatening at all."

Ross filed a police report and complaint with the city, according to his memo. A special commission meeting about the situation will be held Friday.

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Ross, in the memo to Human Resources Director Roz Johnson, described Campenni's comments as "harassment/verbal abuse."

"Over 11 years and having dealt with probably over 50 commissioners in my professional work, I have never experienced anything like I did today," Ross wrote.

The alleged incident occurred the morning of Feb. 28 when Ross called Campenni to ask the commissioner not to attend a staff meeting with Costco developers later that day.

Campenni's attendance would have violated the Commissioner Code of Conduct, Ross said.

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"Commissioner Campenni proceeded to tell me in a raised and threatening voice that if he gets wind that any '(expletive) commissioner' attends any meeting with staff that 'I'm (expletive) coming after you, I'm (expletive) coming after you,'" Ross said in the memo.

After Ross told Campenni he did not appreciate being threatened, the commissioner hung up on him, according to the memo.

"I do not know if his 'I'm (expletive) coming after you' is a reference to a physical threat of violence or simply him threatening my livelihood, but I reported the matter to the chief of police just in case," Ross wrote.

"I believe I am the victim of harassment, bullying, and now must work in a hostile environment as a result of his threats."

Campenni on Wednesday confirmed a conversation about the Costco meeting had occurred, but denied he threatened Ross. Costco has been looking for a location for a Treasure Coast store since August, when it abandoned a controversial Martin County location.

Campenni said he believes Ross is trying to cover up for, what he said, was a sub-par job performance.

Specifically, Ross had taken days off from work without submitting paid time off requests, a violation that represents "thousands of dollars" lost, according to Campenni.

The commissioner said he recently submitted a public records request to find out more information and that Ross' complaint is "a way of sandbagging that, my request of his hours,” Campenni said.

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A timeline of events provided by the city seems to contradict Campenni's allegation.

Campenni requested Ross' hours "immediately after learning of the formal complaint against him," Johnson, the city human resources director, said in an email, citing information from City Attorney Michael Mortell.

Ross assumed the role of city manager Oct. 2, following the retirement of former city manager Paul Nicoletti.

It's the second time Campenni has found himself in trouble over comments made to city staff.

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In May, Campenni stepped down as city mayor, a largely ceremonial position, following an investigation into whether comments made to Public Works Director Sam Amerson represented age discrimination.

In a May 18 letter to human resources, Amerson reported Campenni said he would not support Amerson's application for the then-open city manager position because the city “need(s) a younger guy with fresh ideas."

Ultimately, a review of Campenni's comments by the Human Resources Department concluded he had no intent to discriminate against Amerson based on age.

The city last year also investigated alleged inappropriate comments made by Commissioner Eula Clarke.

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At the special meeting Friday, the commission will likely vote on whether to hire an independent consultant to investigate the incident, according to the meeting agenda.

An investigation would cost approximately $10,000, according to Mortell.

Mayor Troy McDonald Wednesday said he was "at a loss for words."

“I thought we had resolved all that by creating a code of conduct, and I thought that would have put all the elected officials on notice that our behavior needs to be professional and appropriate. Apparently, there's some concern now that there isn't," McDonald said.

Moving forward, even if an investigation revealed Campenni violated the code of conduct, the commission would be limited in its response, according to McDonald.

"There’s really nothing the City Commission can do to sanction a city commissioner short of stripping them from boards or removing them from the position of mayor," McDonald said.