Dolly Miller resigns from city positions
Dolly Miller resigns from city positions
ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer
roxannebrown@dailycommercial.com
Groveland officials may soon be in the market for a new city manager and a finance director, since Dolly Miller, who holds both positions, quit last week.
"Please use this letter as notification that I am resigning my position as city manager/finance director for the city of Groveland," she wrote in her letter of resignation. "I am giving my 30-day notice as stipulated in my contract. This resignation is contingent upon six weeks of severance pay in accordance with Florida State Statutes.
"My last day of employment will be Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, unless city council decides to accelerate my resignation either immediately or at any time during the notice period."
City Attorney Anita Geraci said Monday she has instructed Groveland officials and city employees not to talk about Miller's resignation until a formal meeting is held to discuss it.
In her letter, Miller gave no reason for why she was quitting, although she thanked the city for the opportunity to have been appointed as manager in January 2010, following a brief stint as interim manager after the death of then manager Ralph Hester in October 2009.
"I have enjoyed working for Groveland and would like to thank the city for such a wonderful opportunity given to me," Miller wrote. "I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Miller, a native of Florida, has worked for the city since April 2001, when she was hired as a human resources clerk. Nearly one year later, in January 2002, she was promoted to finance director, a position she held throughout her tenure, along with the city manager title bestowed upon her eight years later.
According to former Mayor Mike Radzik who served on the Groveland City Council as mayor from November 2010 to November 2012, Miller's appointment to the city manager's post was not seen by some as ideal. Radzik said some of the members of the current council, who also have served on previous councils, had other ideas regarding who should have held the top spot to begin with.
That, Radzik said, has continued to plaque Miller since her appointment.
"Mrs. Miller successfully guided the city through a very tough economic climate, while enduring harsh and often unwarranted criticism from several members of the current Groveland City Council," Radzik said in an email Monday, adding that in his opinion, there was a little more to Miller's resignation than what meets the eye.
Miller, who graduated from Lake-Sumter Community College and the University of Central Florida, worked in retail for 10 years and earned a real estate license before joining the city. She currently makes $117,220 a year.
As Groveland's finance director, Miller earned the city a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the government Finance Officers Association for three years in a row; the last in June 2012.
Friday, January 18, 2013 - www.dailycommercial.com/18jan2013miller