PANAMA CITY Local officials said former senior logistics manager John Paul Jones was not fired because he questioned the legality of how last year s Christmas lights were purchased, but because he violated city policy.
Jones was fired last Wednesday, two days after he filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the city that alleged differently.
According to a letter from City Attorney Nevin Zimmerman to City Manager Mark McQueen, the lights were bought using the emergency and sole-source policy since they were specifically manufactured and were procured with short notice and while supplies (were) depleted. A sole source purchase is justified when the products are unique and timeliness is an issue, or there is only one practicable and reasonable source to procure the goods from, Zimmerman s letter reads. The decorations purchased were purchased specially to match the decorations the city already owned. Also, they were purchased on a very short time period.
PANAMA CITY A Panama City employee was fired Wednesday, two days after he filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the city.
According to the case dockets listed on the Bay County Clerk of Court website, former senior logistics manager John Paul Jones claims the city retaliated against him after he questioned if it illegally purchased Christmas lights last year. A termination letter to Jones from City Manager Mark McQueen states that he was fired on Wednesday two days after filing the lawsuit was filed.
The lawsuit states that following the city s annual budget review last June, senior leadership decided to not spend any additional money on Christmas lights that year.