My Thoughts on the Ethics Charges Against Matt Spoor

It was reported on April 2, 2013 that a membership organization called the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) censured Safety Harbor’s city manager Matt Spoor for leaving a job he took with St. Petersburg after only six weeks and for interfering in Safety Harbor’s attempt to recruit a replacement.  While I respect the fact the ICMA felt the need to do what it did, I’m here to say that as long as I’ve known and worked with Mr. Spoor he has done nothing but act in the most professional, dedicated and ethical manner. 

When Mr. Spoor was hired by St. Petersburg it was made clear to him that they were looking for someone who was committed to be with them for a period to greatly exceed two years.  I strongly believe that as soon as Mr. Spoor knew without a doubt that he was not the right person for the job he had a professional obligation to notify his employer so he could give St. Petersburg the courtesy of finding the right person to fill that position.  To have stayed for two years and then moved on to comply with the ICMA’s standard would have left St. Petersburg in the difficult situation of having to start over from scratch and to retrain someone else, which would have cost them much more time and money in the long term.  With regards to the fact that Mr. Spoor contacted two of the city manager finalists as they were going through the interview process was in my opinion a professional courtesy he owed them so they knew his intentions ahead of time.

In summary, the ICMA wanted Mr. Spoor to stay in a job he didn’t want.  The fact that when the City was presented with the opportunity to get him back the commission chamber was full of supportive citizens, the vote was unanimous and the Commission’s decision was greeted with a standing ovation speaks volumes more than a report by an organization located in a different state written by someone who has never met him or worked with him.

So on behalf of the entire City I’d like to say we are all glad to have him here working hard to make Safety Harbor a better place!

Joe Ayoub is the mayor of Safety Harbor, FL.