Just like that — poof! — he’s gone

The Crystal River city manager resigned Monday. I have some thoughts.

— Doug Baber was on the job for six months. That’s gotta be one of the shortest tenures for a Crystal River manager.

— The city is keeping him on as a six-month consultant for $35,000.

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—His reason for leaving seems oh, I don’t know, made up? He said he can’t sell his house in Panama City. “The current market conditions have made it impossible for me to sell my home,” his resignation letter states.

Curious, I looked it up on the Bay County Property Appraiser’s website. The house was built in 2022 and is valued at $383,322. It’s on the market for $490,000. Here’s the question: Why does someone move into a brand new four-bedroom house one year, only to relocate the next year?

— The assistant city manager, Michael Manning, also quietly resigned. Baber brought Manning from Mexico Beach, where he was Baber’s assistant. No word on whether Manning couldn’t sell his Panhandle home as well.

— City Council members were informed last Tuesday that Baber planned to quit. I don’t know if any of them tried to talk him out of it.

— There’s a resignation letter, and a separation agreement. (Unfortunately, I could find neither on the city's website, so no links.)

— Baber’s resignation letter, dated Jan. 22, states: “I am appreciative that the Council has asked, and I have agreed, that I stay on for a period of six months as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition to the next City Manager, ensuring that the many projects currently on the table do not fall apart during this critical transitional period.”

— I have questions.

— Question one: The City Council had not even met to discuss the resignation. How did Baber know it would ask him to stay on as a consultant?

— Question two: How can Baber, with a straight face, offer to help the city during this “critical transitional period” without giving at least two weeks’ notice before leaving?

— Question three: Unless he was forced out. I guess that’s not a question.

— Question four: “Six months as a consultant” seems suspiciously like the kind of thing an outgoing administrator gets instead of severance. Is this not a $35,000 buyout? I mean…what vast Crystal River knowledge did Baber accumulate in six months that makes him consultant-worthy?

— "I believe I can continue to help move our wonderful community forward remotely advising the City of Crystal River through our consulting agreement.” 

— Oh please. That is the single largest load of nonsense I’ve read this week. Is Baber actually working for this extra money? “Remotely advising” sounds like phone calls and emails.

— Suggesting there’s more to this than a guy who couldn’t sell his house.

— Unfortunately, the separation agreement includes a “non-disparagement” clause meaning no party can be critical of the other. I’m told this is boilerplate language, but it seems rather anti-public to me. If the council had an issue with this city manager to the point that he packed his bags and sailed home with a $35,000 check, citizens deserve to hear the details.

— Mayor Joe Meek is one of my favorite people, but no one holds it closer to the vest. He’s been that way since his early County Commission days. I’m not surprised he had this thing all worked out before it came to the City Council.

— I like Joe, but totally disagree with that process. I get it…he doesn’t want an uproar. And maybe there’s still more to come about Baber’s time in Crystal River. I don’t know. This seems rather empty.

— Raise your hand if you’re buying the “My house won’t sell, so I need to leave without giving any notice, and by the way how about a $35,000 consulting contract on my way out the door” explanation.

— I see no hands.

— There’s a lesson with the Doug Babers of our world. When Crystal River, a small Gulf Coast city on the move, wants to hire a manager, let's find someone who actually wants to be here. Take a pass if Crystal River is just the next stop on your whirlwind career tour.

— Crystal River is awesome. I enjoy my time there whether it’s strolling Citrus Avenue, getting lost trying to find Hunter Springs Park, or idly watching kayak activity in King’s Bay. It’s a resilient city that, in 2023, was struck first by a hurricane, and then six weeks later, a tornado. 

— City manager leaving? That’s nothing in this town.

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