IT’S OFFICIAL…WILLIAMS OUT IN VENICE

THE VENICE CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ACCEPT THE TERMS OF THE SEPARATION BETWEEN POLICE CHIEF JULIE WILLIAMS AND THE CITY.  THE TERMS INCLUDE WILLIAMS PICKING UP A ONE-TIME LUMP SUM CHECK FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN $39,000 DOLLARS AT CITY HALL THIS MORNING, ALONG WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT SHE NOT SUE THE CITY AND THE SEPARATION IS AMICABLE.  CITY MANAGER ISSAC TURNER TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE THE SEPARATION AND LET THE DEPARTMENT MOVE FORWARD.  TURNER SAID HE INTERVIEWED 54 POLICE EMPLOYEES BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION TO RECOMMEND TERMINATION.  WILLIAMS HAS BEEN ON PAID LEAVE SINCE SEPTEMBER 30^TH FOR TALKING TO EMPLOYEES ABOUT TURNER’S REVIEW AFTER HE SPECIFICALLY TOLD HER NOT TO.  CHIEF DAVE DUNAWAY HAS TAKEN OVER ON AN INTERIM BASIS, BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR, MEANING THE CITY WILL CONDUCT A SEARCH FOR WILLIAMS’ PERMANENT REPLACEMENT.