KEY WEST, Fla. — City Attorney Mayanne Downs has recommended an independent investigation involving City Manager Brian L. Barroso by a firm outside Monroe County, Mayor Sam Kaufman said Tuesday, expressing support for the recommendation while leaving the investigation’s scope and timing unresolved.
Kaufman’s comments came Tuesday morning before Keys Weekly reported that Vice Mayor Donie Lee had called for a separation agreement between the city and Barroso.
“I believe it should be an outside firm outside of Key West, outside of Monroe County,” Kaufman said during his Sept. 15 press conference. “That is what the city attorney recommended, and I agree with that.”
The mayor said Downs’ recommendation came in an email and that he would follow up with her office about the process. He did not identify an investigator or announce when the review would begin.
BREAKING: Lee Seeks Negotiated Exit for Key West City Manager Brian Barroso
KEY WEST, Fla. — Vice Mayor Donie Lee is proposing that Key West negotiate an “amicable separation agreement” with embattled City Manager Brian Barroso, potentially ending a tenure that has become increasingly defined…
Kaufman said he had released the information he considered pertinent and did not want to influence the investigation.
“I’ve put out the facts that I believe are pertinent, and you have all those facts,” he said, encouraging residents and employees to review the materials and reach their own conclusions.
Barroso was not present. Later in the discussion, Kaufman declined to adopt a reporter’s characterization that the manager had lied about city business, saying Barroso should have an opportunity to explain his decisions.
Employee Morale and Communication
Asked about working relationships and morale at City Hall, Kaufman said he had discussed an employee survey with the city’s strategic planner.
A survey would provide a better assessment than his own impressions, he said, and could help the city establish goals for improving employee morale.
Kaufman said he had asked management to postpone adoption of the strategic plan until commissioners could hold a workshop to review its priorities and build agreement on its goals.
He also said he had asked management to provide more frequent updates to the full commission about significant incidents.
Kaufman cited a fire at the Salt Ponds condominiums as an example. He said his father-in-law, who lives in the building, alerted the family, but the mayor did not receive an official notification.
“We need to have better communication, and that’s what my message to management was yesterday,” he said.
Kaufman said commissioners subsequently received two notifications within 24 hours, including one concerning an incident involving city employees.
Mayor Seeks Records in Parks and Recreation Case
Kaufman declined to offer an opinion when asked about an arrest involving a longtime Parks and Recreation employee, saying he had requested the affidavit supporting the arrest warrant.
The employee was not identified during the exchange but was later identified by Above the Fold as longtime Parks Superintendent Ralph Major. Kaufman did not specify the charges or confirm the employee’s current work status.
“I think it’s important for us to deal in facts,” he said.
BREAKING: Key West Parks Superintendent Accused of Misusing 911 After Taking City Truck
KEY WEST, Fla. — A longtime City of Key West parks superintendent is accused of misusing the 911 system after police say he took a city work vehicle assigned to one of his departments employees while off duty “to prove a point,” prompting the employee to report the vehicle stolen and triggering a police search.
Kaufman said commissioners had been notified the previous evening but had not received a full explanation or supporting written materials. He said he was not aware of any communication from human resources to the commission about the employee’s status.
The mayor encouraged reporters to obtain the affidavit and follow the case, while withholding judgment out of respect for the employees, police and criminal justice process.
“It’s my hope that this could be resolved quickly,” he said, describing those involved as longtime employees he hoped to continue working with.
Fire Station Borrowing Draws Scrutiny
With the city’s final budget hearing approaching, Kaufman questioned the amount of debt contemplated for Fire Station No. 3 and other major projects.
He cited approximately $1.74 million in projected annual debt service for the fire station beginning in fiscal 2028. Combined with borrowing for road improvements and the Jose Marti flood mitigation project, annual debt payments could approach $4 million, he said.
The figures under discussion included $27 million for the fire station, $15 million for roads and $8 million for Jose Marti, according to Kaufman.
The mayor said commissioners had expressed concern about borrowing $27 million for the station. Management was pursuing grants, he said, but the city could not count on receiving them.
“We need to reduce the amount of debt,” Kaufman said.
He agreed that Fire Station No. 3 needs replacement and encouraged reporters to tour the building. But he said commissioners need more information about the proposed station’s size, design and cost.
Kaufman described the department’s request as reasonable, including a possible expansion from three apparatus bays to four. He said the design also needs to address the slope at the property and safe access for fire engines.
The mayor questioned whether the city could secure funding before proceeding, while acknowledging that any delay would require discussion with the fire department.
Parking Revenue Could Support Transit
Kaufman said the city should consider dedicating future parking fee increases to public transportation to provide a recurring source of revenue.
He argued that reliance on grants has contributed to repeated changes in service, making it harder to build ridership.
“In order to build ridership, you have to have consistency,” he said.
Kaufman said commissioners could revisit transit funding during the fiscal year rather than waiting for the next budget cycle. He did not propose a specific parking rate increase.
The mayor also said he wants to pursue Monroe County Tourist Development Council funding for the Duval Loop, citing its use by visitors.
His appointment to the TDC remained pending, he said, and he intended to follow up with the county attorney. Serving on the board would help him clarify what funding might be available for transit and other city projects.
Outer Mole Dispute Raises Policy Questions
Asked about Barroso’s handling of the Outer Mole lease and potential TDC transit funding, Kaufman emphasized the distinction between the manager’s administrative duties and the commission’s policymaking authority.
Whether to terminate a lease is a policy decision that should first come before commissioners, he said.
Kaufman described management’s approach to the Navy without first presenting the issue to the commission as improper. But he declined to characterize the manager’s statements as lies.
“I’m not going to speak for the manager,” he said.
On transit funding, Kaufman said he wanted to hear directly from TDC leadership about what assistance might be available.
Sargassum Meeting Set for Sept. 22
The city will hold a special meeting on sargassum Sept. 22 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., followed by its final budget hearing at 5:05 p.m., Kaufman said.
The sargassum discussion will examine collecting the seaweed before it reaches shore, with Smathers Beach as the initial focus.
Kaufman said the city had not taken official action and would need to work with state and federal agencies to obtain the necessary permits.
He described the possibility of a pilot project and said former Key West resident Ed Russo was helping explore the permitting process.
Expected presenters include Florida Atlantic University researcher Brian Lapointe, a University of Maryland expert on potential uses for collected sargassum and representatives of Global Tides, a company Kaufman said is working on the issue in Mexico.
The meeting should address potential effects on turtles and other marine life, along with concerns about hydrogen sulfide released by decomposing seaweed, he said.
“We want to be very sensitive to the environment,” Kaufman said.
The meeting will be broadcast, but public comment will require attending in person, he said.
Immigration Strains Local Businesses
Kaufman said federal immigration policies were having a profound effect on Key West businesses, describing restaurant owners working in kitchens or delivering food because they lacked sufficient staff.
While the city has limited control over immigration policy, he said it can advocate for changes and work to keep local costs down.
“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue,” Kaufman said. “It’s an economic issue. It’s a humanitarian issue.”
The mayor called for a way for law-abiding, longtime members of the community to remain and work legally.
He said he was not planning a new immigration advisory board and would continue relying on existing community and faith organizations for advice.
Separately, Kaufman said his office was preparing to convene a council on food insecurity, bringing together food pantries and other providers to improve coordination. More information would be forthcoming in November, he said.
Next Press Conference Sept. 29
Kaufman and participating reporters agreed to skip the following week’s press conference and reconvene Sept. 29 at 10 a.m., ahead of the Oct. 1 City Commission meeting.
The mayor said he also wants to open future sessions to questions from the public once the city determines how best to manage participation.
