Delray Beach mayor 'surprised' by $131,198 payout for former fire chief

A WPTV Contact 5 investigation into the resignation of former Delray Beach Fire Chief Neal de Jesus is drawing a strong response from the city's mayor.

CUT A SIX-FIGURE CHECK TO ITSNOW FORMER FIRE CHIEF &FOLLOWING ACCUSATIONS OFINAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.CONTACT 5 INVESTIGATOR MICHAELBUCZYNER (BUTCH-NER) TAKES ACLOSER LOOK AT THE TAX-PAYERFUNDED PAYMENT.<<“I WAS VERY SURPRISED ASMOST WERE WITH THE PAYOUTFIGURE” CONTACT 5 ASKEDDELRAY BEACH MAYOR SHELLYPETROLIA WHY THE CITY CUT ASIX- FIGURE CHECK TO ITS NOWFORMER FIRE CHIEF NEAL DEJESUS- WHO RESIGNED AMID ANINVESTIGATION.

THE MAYOR SAYSSHE WASNNEGOTIATIONS.“IN TODAYAND AGE WITH THE ME-TOOGENERATION, WHAT THE HECK, HOWIS THIS EVEN HAPPENING” THEFORMER FIRE CHIEFÃANDTWO-TIME INTERIM CITY MANAGERÃRESIGNED SUDDENLY MARCH 10THÃAFTER A CITY EMPLOYEECLAIMED HE“FREQUENTLY USEDSEXUAL LANGUAGE TOWARDS HER,CALLED HER AN EXPLETIVE,PULLED HER HAIR AND TOUCHEDHER INAPPROPRIATELY ON MORETHAN ONE OCCASIO” ACCORDINGTO AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTOBTAINED BY CONTACT 5.DEJESUSEMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTPROVIDED FOR 180 CALENDAR DAYSWRITTEN NOTICEÃAND 20 WEEKSOF PAY - IF DISMISSED - FORANY REASON OTHER THAN OFFICIALMISCONDUCT.

HE RESIGNEDINSTEAD OF PROVIDINGSTATEMENT TO INVESTIGATORS,ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.

THEREPORT FOUND THERE WASN'TENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONCLUDEHARASSMENT BY DEJESUS - BUT ITSAYS HE MAY HAVE VIOLATED CITYPOLICY.

DESPITE THAT - THECITY NEGOTIATED WITH DEJESUSAND CUT HIM A CHECK FOR MORETHAN 131-THOUSAND DOLLARS &FOR 36 WEEKS OF PAY.“THAT HASTO BE LOOKED AT AND WE NEED TOLOOK AT IT FROM A POLICYSTANDPOINT” DEJESUSORIGINALAGREEMENT WITH THE CITY FROM2016 ALLOWED HIM TO RESIGN ATANY TIME WITH 30 DAYS NOTICE,WHICH HE DID.

A CITY OFFICIALJUSTIFIED THE PAYMENT -CLAIMING THE SIX- FIGURENEGOTIATED DEPARTURE SAVED THECITY MONEY IN THE END &BECAUSE IT DIDNDEJESUS ON PAID LEAVE - ANDDIDNBENEFITS INCLUDING A HOUSINGALLOWANCE.

:“WHAT I PLAN TODO IS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE DOADDRESS THIS SO THAT GOINGFORWARD WE DONLIKE THIS” THE CITY INSISTSTHE PAYMENT WAS NOT SEVERANCE&STATE LAW ONLY ALLOWS FOR 20WEEKS OF SEVERANCE PAY..

WEREACHED OUT TO DEJESUS FORCOMMENT..

AND WEWAITING TO HEAR BACK.

WESTAY ON TOP OF THIS STORY.

INDELRAY BEACH, MB, WPTV, NEWSCHANNEL 5.