Palm Coast Utility Director Fired for ‘Bullying’ City Staff

Palm Coast Utility Director Amanda Rees was fired in September for a pattern of what was referred to as ‘bullying’ and ‘inappropriate’ language toward city employees, according to a letter released by city staff. The letter came from acting City Manager Lauren Johnston and Human Resources Director Renina Fuller, sent on September 30th.

Rees was still in her probationary period, having been hired with the city on June 17th. This being the case, it was the right of the city to terminate her at any time without cause until she reached six months of service. That milestone would’ve come in December. She declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding her firing.

ADVERTISEMENT

The letter laid out in no uncertain terms that Johnston and Fuller considered Rees’ behavior on the job to be unbecoming of a Palm Coast employee. Though no specific exchanges were explained at-length, two points were explicitly raised: that Rees had allegedly discussed an employee’s performance in front of their peers and/or subordinates, and that she’d yelled at an employee.

Amanda Rees’ personnel photo. ⓒ City of Palm Coast

“It has come to our attention that, on multiple occasions, you have addressed utility staff in an aggressive and inappropriate manner,” the letter said. “This includes, but is not limited to, instances of yelling and using a demeaning tone.” The aforementioned two infractions were then referred to as “behavior that may constitute bullying”. Rees was not given the opportunity to appeal her firing, another element of her probationary employment period.

“Such behavior does not align with our standards of professional conduct and mutual respect in the workplace,” the letter continued. “It is important that all employees, regardless of position, are treated with dignity and courtesy. As leaders in our organization, it is essential to set a positive example and foster a respectful and productive work environment.”

In cases of ‘language that is vulgar, profane, obscene, or abusive’ it’s the city’s policy to write one written warning of termination on the first offense, before firing them on the second. For ‘harassment or unethical behavior at work’, it’s a termination on the first offense. Both infractions are among the most harshly-punished among those listed in the city staff’s disciplinary policies.

Prior to her tenure with Palm Coast, Rees spent 2018 to 2024 working with the City of Houston, Texas as an administrative manager and then a division manager. Her resume lists past duties such as overseeing a $14 million budget, and heading up the department which was responsible for all taps and meters within Houston, the fourth most populous city in the United States.