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Wayne Saunders
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Orlando Sentinel
July 11, 2012
Clermont city manager blamed for turmoil in Police Department resigns
By Ludmilla Lelis
CLERMONT — When Wayne Saunders first began working for the city in 1979 Clermont was
a village of fewer than 6,000 people amidst rural rolling hills of orange groves.
Saunders soon will close out a 33-year career, the last 27 as city manager. He made the
surprising move Tuesday night to resign, just a couple of weeks after some City Council
members openly talked about replacing him and one day after news broke that two police
officers had been fired over a high-speed prank they pulled on a fellow officer.
His detractors blame him, and his management style, for the ongoing turmoil at the police
department in the city of nearly 29,000. But Saunders will remain as city manager until Jan. 1
and continue to work after that as a consultant until Jan. 1, 2014, under terms of an agreement
approved by council members on a 3-2 vote.
"This is somewhat of a victory for a long-term struggle of conscientious citizens to clean up city
government," said Derek Brett, an attorney representing two former Clermont police officers
who say their dismissals were unjust. "Hopefully, this will be the start for Clermont to attempt to
get its house in order."
Saunders has been the longest-serving city manager in Lake County. He became the city's
finance director in 1979 and was chosen as the new city manager in 1985.
He deserves credit for his leadership as the city made a dramatic transformation during his
tenure, said Ray San Fratello, president of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.
"This little village turned into a city overnight and Wayne was the shepherd that moved the
government and city through this process and did it, while managing to keep taxes low and
provide services for a growing city," San Fratello said.
In recent years, however, friends and family of former police officers have regularly called for
the ouster of police Chief Steve Graham. That anger has also been vented toward Saunders, the
chief's boss.
The final straw occurred a couple of weeks ago when officials discussed the city's future growth
during a workshop. Three council members, including Rick VanWagner, openly talked about
replacing Saunders.
The city is looking at a major new phase of development, about 15,000 acres along U.S.
Highway 27 to be annexed. VanWagner said it would be better to have a "fresh set of eyes" that
would manage that growth.
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