Archer interim City Manager Deanna Alltop refuted allegations on Monday that she retaliated against former City Commissioner Joan White and failed to break up an altercation between White and another employee last month, leaving some citizens wanting a public hearing to straighten out the back-and-forth claims. 

White, who resigned in September after nearly 30 years of service to the city, made the allegations against Alltop as a citizen during public comment at the Sept. 24 commission meeting. 

White said that after she had met with Alltop to discuss unsecured access to an employee door and the staff’s process for depositing money, Alltop allegedly suspended a follow-up meeting in retaliation and did not intervene when another employee refused to let White leave the meeting. 

On Monday, Mayor Fletcher Hope read a statement prepared by Alltop, who was at the meeting but said she wasn’t feeling well enough to read it herself. 

Alltop labeled White’s allegations as “false, misleading and not supported by any factual record, documentation or policy review.” 

She said that just because she is legally limited in how she can respond as a city employee, that limitation does not mean wrongdoing. Alltop said some people used her limitations to spread misinformation and incomplete stories about what happened.  

“Facts do not become untrue because others choose to shout louder,” Hope read from Alltop’s statement. “Public meetings should be used to conduct city business, not to promote false narratives, settle personal scores or attempt to discredit public officials through emotional accusations unsupported by fact.” 

Referring to “the former employee in question” involved in the altercation with White, Alltop said the employee had repeatedly violated employee policy over time, including insubordination, refusal to follow directives on professional conduct and exhibiting behavior that raised safety concerns.  

She said the city disciplined the employee by providing opportunities to make corrections, before deciding with an HR council to fire them. 

Alltop said that because the employee did not file a grievance for retaliation before the discipline, there is no legal basis that the city fired the employee out of retaliation. 

In her statement, Alltop said any concerns commissioners have with staff, like White had with Alltop, are to be “handled through administration, not confrontation.” 

“I will not be intimidated by false accusations, online attacks or pressure campaigns,” Alltop said. “I will continue to lead the city with integrity, transparency and respect for the truth. Others may choose conflict. I choose progress. My focus remains on doing the work the people of Archer expect and deserve.” 

Resident Bill Lewandowski said Alltop’s statement failed to provide any facts about what happened with the interim city manager, White and the former employee, and said White had every right to speak as a citizen during the previous meeting. He called on the city to hold a public hearing and conduct an investigation to settle what happened. 

White’s meeting with Alltop came after authorities arrested her nephew and former city accountant, Justin Southard, for stealing $14,400 from the already financially struggling city.  

During Monday’s meeting, Hope said the city had nearly reached full recovery from the embezzlement after filing an insurance claim. He said after the city paid a $500 deductible, the entire $14,400 was back in their account. Archer will continue pursuing legal action to secure full restitution as well. 

Hope also said he has meetings scheduled with State Rep. Chad Johnson, R-Chiefland, and Sen. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, to discuss potential legal representation and funding exceptions to help bolster Archer’s financial recovery. 

According to additional meeting documents, the city holds an $818,955.56 debt with Ameris Bank, accruing interest at 6.25%.  

Hope said Archer has around $1.25 million in state appropriation funds set aside for construction that he hopes could be applied towards the debt, since the majority of it came from the city’s wastewater treatment expenses.