St. Petersburg Mayor Rescinds Controversial Bonuses, Suspends HR Director

In St. Petersburg, Florida, Mayor Ken Welch is facing backlash after awarding substantial bonuses to city staff involved in the Rays-Gas Plant redevelopment project. The bonuses, which averaged around $15,000, were met with public outcry and criticism from city councilors who felt overlooked. In light of the controversy, Welch suspended HR Director Chris Guella for five days without pay, as he failed to ensure compliance with city policy and state regulations regarding performance-based bonuses. The mayor initially defended the bonuses as recognition for the employees' hard work, but he later rescinded them after acknowledging the concerns raised by councilors.

Guella took responsibility for the oversight and apologized to both the mayor and the affected employees. So far, ten of the seventeen employees have returned their bonuses as directed by Welch. The incident highlights the complexities of municipal governance and the importance of adherence to established policies. Officials are now looking to clarify the guidelines surrounding performance bonuses to avoid similar issues in the future.