Mayor under fire for how he treats staff

But Jacobs says conditions are better in town than before he took office

A mayor who’s been accused of mistreating some of the town’s workers is saying conditions instead have improved since he took office three years ago.

Pembroke Park Mayor Geoffrey Jacobs has been publicly clashing with the town’s top staff, which has led to requests for resignations, calls for sanctions and accusations of sexism.

But in the end Jacobs said he’s the one working to put the town back together.

“This was a s-------, absolute s-------, three years ago when I got here,” he said at a recent public meeting.

Jacobs’ expletive-strewn comments were no pep talk. They were just the latest in a string of jarring moments in Pembroke Park, a town of about 6,000 full-time residents that surges to more than 14,000 in the wintertime.

It has been awash in turmoil over the pending creation of the town’s new police department.

Clashing with staff

At times it has pitted the mayor — who came up with the idea of the town’s own police agency — against the town’s staff. He has publicly clashed with the town manager, town attorney, human resources director and the former finance director, who had disputed the estimated cost of creating the new police force.

At one meeting the town’s attorney flagged a legal issue involving the police chief and his brother. For bringing it up publicly, Jacobs asked for the resignations of the manager, attorney and human resources director Yolanda Menegazzo, who was a contract employee. Menegazzo took him up on his request, submitting her resignation for June 12.

In the latest drama, town attorney Melissa Anderson sent the mayor what was intended to be a private email, in which she accused him of being sexist for the way he had spoken to her at that prior meeting and told her to be quiet.

“How was it sexist?” Jacobs asked her. “Is it because you and I have different genders?”

Anderson said she’s never had anyone professionally tell her to “shut up” or “be quiet.”

It also spurred city Commissioner William “Bill” Hodgkins to ask the town attorney to sanction Jacobs for his “unacceptable” behavior to multiple employees

from Page 3 at the public meeting.

Seeking sanctions

Hodgkins filed a complaint with town officials May 14, asking for sanctions against the mayor “for diminishing, humiliating and intimidating” behavior at a previous meeting.

“This action is in pursuit to limit threats and mental anguish against our town employees by a Mayor who doesn’t seem to recognize his inappropriate actions and how they affect the proper functioning of the town,” the complaint read.

Jacobs’ public response to the request for sanctions: “Commissioner Hodgkins, in the future, please do me the courtesy of at least spelling my name correctly if you file a complaint against me.”

Separately, Jacobs discussed a second email from Anderson insinuating he was absent from too many meetings.

“I’m always dealing with this town,” Jacobs said. “It doesn’t stop. It’s life-sucking, it bleeds, it takes everything out of you.”

Jacobs, who was elected in 2019 to what’s supposed to be a part-time job, credited himself for the town’s progress.

“In three years this town has changed more than any other government town has been able to change in that matter of time,” he said during the meeting. “And that’s because I’m here all the time.”

Tending to the ashes

Jacobs elaborated about his unflattering remarks regarding the town: He referenced how there used to be “floor-to-ceiling” garbage in the Town Hall offices, and “even a body here in Town Hall.”

They were actually the ashes of former Commissioner Theresa “Tee” Ciummo, who died in 2007. Ciummo had no known survivors, and her cremated remains were left for years in a safe downstairs and later moved to the city clerk’s office.

Jacobs said he came across the commissioner’s remains by accident in late 2019. He said former town manager Bob Levy picked up her remains, along with his own personal belongings that were left behind.

Levy, who said he helped pay for the woman’s care for years, said he had been locked out of his office when he left the town in 2018, so her ashes were abandoned.

Levy confirmed he picked up the remains in 2021. He said he had intended to grant her wish to have her remains scattered on the town petanque courts, but the town’s parks and recreation director declined. They are now in his home, on his credenza.

Jacobs said he is standing by his expletive-filled comments about the condition the town was in years ago.

“You can quote me on that all day long,” Jacobs told the South Florida Sun Sentinel days after the May 31 town meeting.

“It was a disaster. I’m trying to get this place to function properly, but you see what I’m up against.”

“I’m always dealing with this town... It doesn’t stop. It’s life-sucking, it bleeds, it takes everything out of you.”

— Pembroke Park Mayor Geoffrey Jacobs