Tarpon Springs City Manager Charles Rudd is out after a $40,000 staff retreat in Orlando that, according to Mayor John Koulianos, veered from routine professional development into intensive, therapy-style sessions that left some employees distressed. Staffers told the mayor they were restricted from using phones during portions of the program and that some even needed escorts to restrooms. Rudd resigned Wednesday following the city's payment for an offsite training event that officials now say went well beyond a typical staff workshop.
What the mayor says
As reported by the Tampa Bay Times, Mayor John Koulianos told Beacon Media the city paid roughly $40,000 for the Orlando retreat and that the sessions "devolved into intensive therapy-style sessions" that unsettled employees. According to the paper, staff complained they were not allowed to use phones and that some needed escorts to restrooms during parts of the program. City officials have not released a detailed public schedule of the retreat.
What is Landmark Worldwide?
According to its website, Landmark Worldwide is a global personal-development company that runs group programs and corporate trainings. Its workshops are designed to be intensive and participatory, with organizers saying they focus on leadership and personal breakthroughs. That format, combined with staff complaints about the Orlando event, appears to be what prompted officials to re-evaluate the city's decision to hire the vendor.
City response and resignation details
Mayor Koulianos told local media he accepted Rudd's resignation after hearing staff concerns, the Tampa Bay Times reports. The paper says the mayor characterized parts of the retreat as leaving employees "distressed." The city has not yet published a formal personnel statement beyond the mayor's comments to reporters.
Where the city goes from here
The city's calendar shows a Board of Commissioners Regular Session set for Tuesday, May 12, where the topic could surface in open session or under agenda items, according to the City of Tarpon Springs. Residents can usually watch or join meetings online and submit public comment through the city's portal. Any formal follow-up on training spending or personnel will run through the commission process.
