Riviera Beach City Manager Jonathan Evans used a private email to stay connected with city staff and officials while serving a two-week suspension, according to emails WPTV’s Ethan Stein received from a public records request.
The email address, which WPTV verified belongs to Evans based on usage of the same address while serving in another municipality, shows Evans asking for more time to create an “action plan” to respond to an internal investigative report about staff morale from the mayor’s office.
WPTV previously reported that the report was the rationale for suspending Evans two weeks ago. It found city administration negligent after receiving various complaints of racism, sexual harassment, favoritism and retaliation.
The documents show Evans is asking the city to preserve records related to the investigation, commonly a precursor to a lawsuit. It’s unclear if Evans will sue, but his suspension ended at 5 p.m. Thursday.
DISAGREEMENT ON CHARTER
Emails show Evans protested the city’s ability to appoint an acting city manager , which it failed to perform multiple times. He also said he appointed Assistant City Manager Deirdre Jacobs , who was blamed for creating a toxic environment in the internal investigation report, to become city manager.