After firing City Administrator Jennifer Wothe on Monday, April 1, the Clearwater City Council met in a special meeting to discuss staffing options the following Monday, April 8. After nearly a full hour of discussion the council appointed Sue Vergin, currently the city’s finance director, to serve as interim city administrator. Council members also accepted fire chief Doug Nieters’ offer to fill in at city hall to assist the rest of the staff, according to the Clearwater Tribune.
The council debated hiring an interim administrator, an office assistant or simply keeping the remaining staff and shifting responsibilities. Other options discussed for interim administrator were city attorney Richard Petty or Nieters.
Ultimately the council approved Vergin, who has past administrator experience with Hanover and Corcoran, as the new interim administrator on a 3-2 vote. A second vote to give an office assistant position to Nieters passed unanimously.