Pensacola Local News & Breaking Updates | NewsWK
Century Town Council Employee Termination Tabled After Worker Defends Record
A proposed Century Town Council employee termination was tabled after street department worker Ricardo Dortch defended his record before elected officials in Escambia County. Council members halted the dismissal over concerns regarding workplace documentation and proper disciplinary due process.
Last updated:
A proposed Century Town Council employee termination stalled this week. The delay occurred after a municipal laborer defended his record in open session. Consequently, council members questioned town management regarding personnel records, training procedures, and disciplinary due process.
The street department worker, Ricardo Dortch, faced firing for alleged gross negligence. However, town leaders halted the action immediately. Dortch had directly disputed key claims before the elected board.
Why it matters
Municipal accountability directly impacts local taxpayers across Escambia County. In Century, the town charter grants final personnel decisions to elected representatives rather than administrators. Therefore, taxpayers must fund paid leave and administrative costs during disputes. Meanwhile, council members must evaluate job performance and documentation standards carefully.
What prompted the Century Town Council employee termination debate?
Town administrators sought to fire Ricardo Dortch over three specific incidents of alleged gross negligence. Officials asserted that Dortch caused municipal financial losses and severe hardship for local residents. Specifically, they cited negligent equipment operation and disruptive utility service errors during his daily duties.
The town hired Dortch in April 2025. Later, administration officials prepared an agenda item that recommended his immediate dismissal. They cited three main workplace incidents:
- Unsafe operation on Highway 4: Operating a mower in reverse along Highway 4 to blow clippings off the roadway, triggering a citizen complaint about a near-miss collision.
- Property damage from debris: Directing mower discharge toward private property, which required the town to pay for a broken storm door and a shattered vehicle window.
- Improper water meter removal: Pulling the wrong water meters, which shut off water to a commercial gas station for two days and left an elderly disabled resident without water for over 24 hours.
How did the worker answer the allegations?
Dortch appeared in person before the Century town council to contest the termination package. He denied the most serious traffic safety allegation regarding Highway 4. In addition, Dortch provided context for the broken glass incident, admitting partial fault while defending his overall work record.
Regarding Highway 4, Dortch stated he never drove the mower in reverse. Instead, he asserted a state prison work-release inmate operated the machine under his supervision. However, Dortch admitted fault for the shattered vehicle glass. “The window I won’t argue with,” Dortch said. “That’s one window out of 450 windows in Century.”
What role do Century town council charter rules play in personnel decisions?
Century town charter rules require council approval for all municipal staff hirings and firings. The mayor cannot dismiss workers unilaterally. Therefore, every personnel action involving entry-level laborers requires a majority vote from the elected board. This rule keeps disciplinary hearings open to the public.
Voters reinforced this structure at the ballot box in 2024. At that time, Century citizens rejected a charter amendment granting the mayor unilateral firing powers. The ballot measure failed decisively, with 62.09 percent voting against it and only 37.91 percent voting in favor. Consequently, open council hearings remain mandatory for town employee disputes.
Why did Century Florida town council members clash over personnel documentation?
Council members clashed because administrators failed to provide written records supporting the termination. Specifically, Council member John Bass asked whether supervisors formally documented Dortch’s infractions in his file. Bass also questioned whether Dortch received corrective training before administrators recommended firing him.
Town Manager Dave Murzin cautioned against debating specific disciplinary details in public. “I don’t know that we necessarily need to get into the weeds and specifics for legal implications,” Murzin said. “I can certainly talk to people offline about that, but I would be hesitant to expound.” Furthermore, Murzin maintained that supervisors gave Dortch proper training and instructions multiple times.
When will council members revisit the personnel matter?
The council voted to table the termination decision until its regular meeting on October 6, 2026. This delay allows members to inspect all underlying personnel files and training records. Meanwhile, Dortch will remain on paid administrative leave while town management compiles the necessary paperwork.
Council member Sparkie Harrison initially moved to approve the termination immediately. However, his motion died because no member offered a second. Then, Bass made a substitute motion to table the vote. The tabling motion passed, with Harrison casting the lone dissenting vote.
Sources
Sources
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Related: Century Town Council Meeting Rescheduled for July 14
Related: Century Town Council Seeks Solutions for Century Yard Waste Collection
See a typo? Report it here.
