Marathon Council launches city manager search, weighs statewide recruiting plan

Marathon City Council began setting the terms of its next era of city management on April 14, moving to open a search for a new city manager after the abrupt ouster of George Garrett and a long afternoon of code enforcement and land-use business that showed how much is riding on the vacancy.

The council had voted 3-2 in February to fire Garrett, then approved a separation agreement and general release on March 10. Garrett’s employment agreement dated to November 10, 2020, and his base salary at departure was $219,650. City Attorney Steve Williams, who has been serving as interim manager, told the council he did not want the job permanently and urged members to begin a formal search rather than let the position drift.

Williams and Human Resources Director Evie Engelmeyer had refreshed the job description before the meeting. The posting sets a minimum starting salary of $200,000, with pay commensurate with experience, and says the position remains open until filled. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and City of Marathon employment application. The preferred qualifications include a master’s degree in public administration, management, planning, business administration or a related field.

Council members also weighed how wide to cast the net. Williams argued Marathon should advertise statewide, not just locally, because the next manager will need time to learn the city’s complex building-rights system and the restrictions that come with operating in an Area of Critical State Concern. At the same time, several council members wanted the opening to remain accessible to experienced applicants who may not hold an advanced degree. The city outlined a layered process in which staff would first screen candidates, council members would then interview the top applicants, and only after that would Marathon move into a public meeting and contract negotiations.

The timing matters. Marathon code requires the council to begin a search for a new manager within 90 days of a vacancy. Williams said a hire could come as soon as May or June, though that could stretch depending on who applies.

The manager search sat inside a broader agenda of rules that touch daily life in Marathon. The council adopted Ordinance 2026-19, which amended floodplain-management permit language in Chapter 107, and considered Ordinance 2026-18, tied to transfer of building rights. It also approved Resolution 2026-38, designating the Planning Department as the administrative authority for plat review while related ordinance changes were considered.

That work lands in a city where land-use decisions carry outsized weight. Monroe County says the Florida Keys’ ROGO and NROGO systems are tied to hurricane evacuation capacity and environmental protection, and Marathon’s own job description says the city manager must ensure compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations. Florida Statute 489.13 adds another layer, allowing administrative fines of up to $10,000 for unlicensed contracting and barring permits for contractors without valid active certification or registration.

For Marathon, the next city manager will inherit more than an empty office. The job sits at the center of permits, planning, code enforcement and confidence in how the city is run.