CAPE CORAL, Fla. — The Cape Coral City Council provided updates into the investigation against city manager John Szerlag.
He is accused of mishandling finances.
Earlier this year the council revealed that the finance department incorrectly filed payroll taxes leading to $402,000 in penalties and gas tax money withheld from the city.
City manager John Szerlag reportedly withheld this information from the council.
He’s also accused of several other unethical practices.
Cape Coral mayor Joe Coviello says they are at a standstill as it is a step by step process. Once the Florida Department of Law Enforcement finishes their investigation, the private attorney will then be able to look into the case, and so forth.
"They can’t proceed and finish there's until FDLE finishes theirs, " said Mayor Joe Coviello
Residents questioned why the updates about Szerlag were discussed at the end of today’s city council’s meeting.
“ That is something that should be upfront for open and transparent government and it’s not,” said Lynn Rosko.
Some say the city manager should have been fired as soon as the allegations surfaced.
“My initial reaction was that he should have been terminated," said Lynn Rosko.
Others give a slightly lighter verdict,
“He should have been put on some administrative leave while the investigation is going on, ”said Joyce Easton.
