ST. CLOUD, Fla. — There could soon be three separate investigations underway involving St. Cloud's former city manager, who was fired in April.
A City Council member claims he's doing his own investigation into Tom Hurt over accusations he abused his position to promote his wife.
The investigations could come at a big cost to taxpayers.
When Hurt was ousted as city manager, rumors swirled as to why.
But City Council member Donald Shroyer is adamant that Hurt was breaking the law while on the job, and that's why he was one of three members to vote to get rid of him.
“That's inappropriate behavior. That says right there in the statutes you're not supposed to do that, and he did. He showed favoritism to certain people and not others,” Shroyer said.
Shroyer said favoritism was directed toward Hurt's wife and daughter, who work for the city.
Shroyer said Hurt promoted his wife to a supervisory role, which isn’t allowed.
“It's not appropriate behavior. It's not acceptable,” Shroyer said.
Shroyer said a packet of information has been mailed to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to determine if Hurt broke any state laws.
Meanwhile, a letter says a third investigation into Hurt's actions while city manager could soon be underway.
It involves an employee whose position was eliminated.
She was offered a new job, but never accepted it.
Shroyer said the city claims she resigned, but that's not possible if she never took the new job.
“The elimination was fair or the elimination was unfair; we need to find what it is,” Shroyer said.
The investigation by a local attorney, if approved, could cost taxpayers $15,000.
Just before Hurt left his City hall job, he had been given a raise which brought his salary to $159,000 a year, placing him among the highest-paid city managers in central Florida.
City Council members plan to discuss this matter at a meeting Thursday night.