PEMBROKE PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - A Pembroke Park commissioner is at the center of controversy after an independent investigation found his behavior fosters a toxic and hostile work environment, and now town leaders are exploring their options.
Speaking with 7News on Thursday night, Pembroke Park Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs reacted to the findings from the outside investigator. He did not mince words.
“If everything they said was true, it’s not illegal to be an [expletive].” he said.
When asked whether this conduct is helpful, Jacobs replied, “It’s not, though, but that they’re saying is not true.”
Jacobs indicated he’s not the person that his fellow commissioners and the independent investigation say he is.
Thursday night, Jacobs was on the hot seat, as Pembroke Park Mayor Ashira Mohammad and other town officials addressed the matter and took the opportunity to talk to him directly.
“You have a habitual policy, tendency or whatever to create a hostile work environment,” said Mohammad.
“Continued to discredit and bring false accusations toward your colleagues and previous commissioners,” said Pembroke Park Vice Mayor Eric Morrissette as he read a statement.
Attorney Tonja Haddad Coleman said she conducted 13 interviews with current and former employees, and reported incident after incident of screaming, bullying and harassment.
“Hostile work environment and potential violations of the code of conduct for the Town of Pembroke Park,” she said.
Former town attorney Melissa Anderson detailed Jacobs’ conduct while she worked for Pembroke Park.
“He went after me like I have never, in my 35-year career had anybody. I mean, it was shocking,” she said. “I actually tried to smooth things over with him one night, and this is when he screamed at me from across the parking lot to ‘leave me the [expletive] alone.'”
Video of a previous commission meeting showed Jacobs opening a bag of popcorn on the dais.
“Did anyone want any? OK,” he said.
Mockery, Jacobs admitted.
“That’s exactly it: it’s a joke. I keep requesting meetings that are important, and I have no say anymore,” he said.
Pembroke Park Clerk-Commissioner William Hodgkins also had complaints about Jacobs.
“He has called me stupid and ignorant and everything else on social media,” said Hodgkins, “and his Facebook page was just, like, loaded with insults.”
But Jacobs reiterated these accounts are not accurate.
“There’s a huge level of dishonesty going on,” he said.
He also had some words to say about Hodgkins.
“Yes, I’ve called him incompetent, because he sat up there for two and a half years now, he collects a check and does absolutely nothing,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs said he’s working on fixing the town, and that makes some unhappy. He directed 7News to his Facebook page, which does feature posts on sandbag giveaways, community farming, income inequality and one video about flooding. In the clip, Jacobs is seen wearing a baseball cap that says, “I identify as a threat. My pronouns are try/me.”
After a contentious 24-minute meeting on Thursday, commissioners voted 4-1 to send the investigator’s findings to the office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, among other agencies, in an effort to have Jacobs removed.
“There is a spin on every story that you’re hearing,” said Jacobs. “I’ve been harassed and stalked and just disrespected in every which way since I’ve been here.”
In addition to DeSantis’ office, the findings of the independent investigation will also head to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other agencies.
Currently, the governor is the only one who has the power to remove an officeholder in the state of Florida.
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