A few days before new Bradenton Beach Mayor Jack Clarke called city clerk Terri Sanclemente “our new Nora,” city attorney Ricinda Perry said past mayors opened the city up to liability concerns by giving longtime city clerk Nora Idso powers and responsibilities beyond that of a typical clerk.
Idso’s authority extended beyond the role outlined in the city charter, but it was business as usual under several past mayors.
Clarke began enhancing Sanclemente’s role after commissioners promoted her to city clerk June 4.
As city clerk for a number of years before she took medical leave in November 2013, Idso grew into the job as both city treasurer and clerk. Idso, who died in June 2014, also headed the building department as an administrative officer. Now Sanclemente is receiving what appears to be similar line authority, if not technical responsibility.
City Commissioner Janie Robertson was out of town when Clarke was sworn as mayor June 1, and June 4, when Sanclemente was promoted from acting clerk to city clerk and given a $20,000 pay raise by Clarke and the other commissioners.
Robertson said when she returned to city hall June 8, she was asked to meet with Clarke and Sanclemente about changes she missed.
Robertson was assured by Sanclemente that she and Clarke would not be violating Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Laws in the meeting because they would not be discussing a voting matter.
Robertson said Sanclemente’s new role, as described by Clarke, would be “the new Nora,” and that she would be in charge of “everything across the hall” from commission chambers.
Anytime commissioners have questions at city hall, they should address Sanclemente “and she will answer your questions about anything,” Robertson said she was told.
Reached June 12, Sanclemente said Robertson misunderstood. Commissioners are welcome to communicate with department heads, as well as the clerk’s office about agenda items.
Sanclemente said she told Robertson agenda packets are provided in advance of meetings “so you can ask questions of whoever is providing the backup material on the agenda, so you don’t have to sit at the dais and have long discussions.”
Somewhat similar to Idso, Sanclemente will have some authority over the finance and building departments.
Clarke told Robertson he is handing Sanclemente responsibility for all matters “on the other side of the building.” Sanclemente said Sheila Dalton, city treasurer and head of the finance department, would “‘handle everything financial.’”
Robertson said Clarke told her that building official Steve Gilbert would remain a department head for certain functions. But Robertson said she had no opportunity to ask about Gilbert’s role before Clarke ended their conversation.
“That is very confusing to me,” Robertson, a four-term commissioner, said, adding that the meeting left her in a state of shock.
Robertson said she did not understand the extent of the change until she learned that assistant clerk Emily Long was promoted to deputy clerk, which resulted in a status change for Audra Lanzaro. She was “demoted, I’d say” to deputy clerk II.
Robertson said she does not believe Clarke can arbitrarily re-organize departments “and say that Terri is in charge of everybody, like Nora was.” This “structural change … absolutely should go before the commission for a vote,” she said. “If we’re going to change all that over there, it needs to be spelled out and discussed in front of everybody.”
Robertson called Perry’s comment about Idso’s extended role being a liability “extremely interesting” in the context of Sanclemente being “the new Nora.”
“Terri is no Nora Idso,” Robertson said. “She doesn’t have Nora’s experience. She is now the full-fledged city clerk and grossly under-credentialed.”
It’s Sanclemente’s second stint with the city, this time around since June 2014. She was acting clerk before her recent promotion. She and Long are taking continuing education courses that will lead to certification as city clerks.
Robertson said as she asked questions during the June 8 meeting, but Clarke said he didn’t want to go into detail. “‘I’m just here to tell you how things are going to function,’” she said he told her. “I was literally shut down.”
Robertson said Clarke told her to do her homework, ask Sanclemente questions before commission meetings and come prepared to vote, so meetings will be brief.
“There’s little discussion. I don’t ask any questions. I just vote.” Robertson said that is the essence of how Clarke wants agenda items handled. But, she said, “The result is the public will be less informed about how votes are reached.”
Sanclemente worked for the city from November 2006-May 2012 in the administration department. Robertson said acting clerk Karen Cervetto fired Sanclemente while Idso was out sick — a long period of illness — adding that Idso supported the termination.
Sanclemente disputes that account. She said last week that she resigned for personal reasons.
Clarke defeated former Mayor Bill Shearon by 13 votes in a May 19 mayoral recall election. Shearon’s detractors accused him of acting unilaterally on commission matters.
“This is not different at all,” Robertson said of Clarke’s action involving the clerk. “This is definitely unilateral. He acted all by himself and that raises all sorts of questions.”
Reached June 12, Clarke said Robertson “can say whatever she wants.
“It was an administrative meeting, the purpose of which was to bring her up to date on what happened” in the meetings held while she was out of town.
Clarke said the format and structure of city meetings has changed. “She was advised of those changes,” he said. “That’s all I have to say.”
