WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — The Winter Springs city manager resigned a week after Seminole County ordered an audit of the city.
City Manager Shawn Boyle retired effective immediately Monday night. He’d been under fire over concerns about water and unauthorized sewage discharge.
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In his letter to city commissioners, Boyle wrote that both the “emotional and physical distress” he has been under make it impossible to continue to manage the city.
The city has been placed under two audits, one by the county and another by the state, but Mayor Kevin McCann said Boyle wanted to focus more on his family.
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“I think that he acted on his options, he was a professional. Now was there in fact a great deal of pressure? Absolutely. Our city staff undergoes some incredible pressure,” McCann said.
He admits his city is under incredible financial and political pressure. McCann said the recent audits are a tactic to bring in new development, which the city has pushed back against.
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“They are well-financed, they’re using their political clout at the county and state level to really push the city of Winter Springs to abandon its brand,” McCann said.
McCann said the city gets audited every year and nothing has ever been found. He said he believes these audits will show no wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the city will search for a new city manager.
The city is also searching for a finance director, after he also recently resigned.
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“What will scare people away is the absolute unreasonable hostility directed at our city staff, that the abuse that they take by these special interests and their representatives is absolutely unacceptable,” McCann said.
Boyle told the city he will assist with any questions they may have going forward until a replacement is in place.
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