here - Satellite Beach

Internet – Newspaper Archives Searches
Wayne Saunders
(Articles are in reverse chronological order)
Tab 10
South Lake Press (Clermont, FL)
July 20, 2012
OURVIEW
Clermont City Manager Wayne Saunders resigned. But that's not the biggest news coming out
of Lake County's largest city.
The benefits package Saunders negotiated with the city council ought to stir the same spirit of
dissatisfaction that rattled Wall Street last year.
Saunders has led the city for more than a quarter century. He abruptly said he would resign from
the top post at Tuesday's public meeting.
It would be unfair to read anything into the timing of Saunders' resignation. But several
residents at the meeting were pointing at Saunders and other officials for the city's current woes.
Former city employees and city residents held up signs calling for the termination of Saunders,
police Chief Steve Graham and police Capt. Jon Johnson. They said they were unhappy with
Saunders' management style.
Saunders apparently knew his time had come. He presented the council with his "volunteer
retirement agreement," drawn up by City Attorney Dan Mantzaris, that includes provisions that
make his resignation effective Jan. 1, 2013, but essentially keep him on the books as a consultant
to the next city manager until Jan. 1, 2014.
The board approved by a 3-2 vote the terms of the agreement, which stipulates Saunders stay at
the city's helm, receiving his full salary, until Jan. 1, 2013. After that, he will continue earning
the same salary for an additional year.
This is a win-win situation for Saunders. And a lose-lose situation for Clermont taxpayers.
It also wreaks of so many other "arrangements" that troubled city officials have made in Lake
and Sumter counties over the years.
So, Saunders' makes $141,000 a year. He gets to leave his job with a six-digit bankroll in his
pocket.
That's a sweet deal -- especially for a city of nearly 30,000 people.
Lest we forget, Saunders' handsome paychecks come from public coffers. That means, if you
live in Clermont, you'll pay his bills -- for a whole year after he leaves office.
Page 25 of 69