Former Quincy city manager accused of theft

Quincy officials suspect that their former city manager stole more than $50,000 from the city.

Last week, the Quincy City Commission voted to send the recent findings surrounding Former City Manager Jack L. McLean Jr.’s leave payout to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney Jack Campbell’s office to determine whether McLean’s actions were criminal.

On November 16, 2021, The Quincy City Commission voted to terminate the employment agreement with the former city manager, with 30 days’ notice.

In December, the commission hired attorney Mark Levine to investigate improprieties within the city.

During a special meeting held on May 4, Levine gave the commission an update.

He said he was still combing through documents, so he couldn’t provide a full report.

“You do not want to put someone’s character under the gun without being able to substantiate the information,” Levine told the commissioners.

According to a letter written to Levine, McLean authorized his own severance and leave payout during this 30-day period without commission review or approval.

“This was the first red flag,” said Mayor Ronte Harris said in a press release. “The other concern was the amount of leave hours McLean claimed available for the payout.”

In an interview with the Gadsden County News Corp., Mclean, who did not attend the meeting, said he did not authorize his own severance pay.

“I did not make any determination about the leave or payout,” McLean said. “That was determined by the human resources director.”

As for the outside employment, McLean said it was permitted in his contract.

The commission was aware of McLean’s employment as a labor attorney with the City of Riviera Beach as well as other outside professional work.

“What we did not know is that McLean was double-dipping,” Harris said.

Documents Harris obtained through public records requests show that McLean had been paid his regular wage hours as a city employee while working for the City of Riviera Beach.

McLean’s invoices to the City of Riviera Beach cite multiple occurrences where McLean traveled and worked in Riviera Beach while being paid from the City of Quincy without taking any leave deductions.

“This becomes a major problem when you turn in leave that you failed to report into cold hard cash at the taxpayers’ expense,” Commissioner Keith Dowdell said in the city’s press release.

During the meeting, Levine also noted that McLean was credited back 230 sick leave hours taken during an extended medical leave in early 2021.

This credit occurred on December 3, 2021.

McLean said while he was out, the commissioner called him for city-related issues, and he would respond to their calls.

Other complaints point to possible violations of the employment agreement and city policies regarding percentage of payout for available hours.

The overall amount in question is more than $57,000.

“At no point in time did I have intent to, nor would I have deprived the city of money,” McLean said.

The commission voted 4-0 to send these complaints and documents to the appropriate agencies for further review.

Commissioner Angela Grant Sapp was not in attendance.

In an interview after the meeting, McLean said the vote may not be valid.

He said the meeting violated the Sunshine Law because it was not properly noticed.

The state statute says the commission must provide reasonable notice of all meetings.

Erin Hill - erin@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Former Quincy city manager accused of theft

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West Gadsden Historical Society to meet with ecologist working to save the Torreya taxifolia

Gretna folks celebrate May Day

Gretna folks celebrate May Day

Recommended

Gadsden Elementary Magnet School to move

Greensboro town council faces two empty seats

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