Alachua Scraps Inquiry Into Planning Staff Departures

ALACHUA – A proposal to investigate the early 2025 resignations of three senior staff members in Alachua’s Planning and Community Development Department failed to advance Monday night, July 28, 2025, after a split vote by the City Commission.

With Vice Mayor Shirley Green Brown absent, Commissioner Jacob Fletcher’s motion to hire an outside law firm to conduct the investigation ended in a 2-2 vote. Commissioners Dayna Williams and Jennifer Ringersen opposed the measure, while Mayor Walter Welch supported it along with Fletcher. The tie vote left the motion without the majority required to pass.

The push for an investigation began earlier this year, following the closely-timed departures of Planning Director Kathy Winburn and two city planners. While initial concerns came from a few individuals citing transparency, the effort soon became closely associated with former City Planner Justin Tabor, who resigned in early 2025 and submitted a critical open letter to the Commission in February.

In his letter, Tabor alleged unethical behavior within the City administration, claimed improper outside influence on development decisions, and pointed directly to then City Manager Mike DaRoza.

However, Tabor’s credibility has come under increasing scrutiny since his resignation. Within weeks of leaving his City position, he reemerged as a paid consultant — representing a private client before the Planning and Zoning Board on a project that had already been under City review during his tenure. Tabor had some involvement with the project while still employed by the City, and it is now being advanced by a private firm that employs him.

The very individual who once raised concerns about insider influence is now facing criticism for engaging in similar conduct — using influence and knowledge gained from his public role to benefit a private developer.

Further fueling skepticism is the disclosure that Tabor applied for a promotion to Assistant City Manager prior to his resignation but was not selected. The timing of his departure and subsequent consulting role has led some to question whether his accusations were driven by personal disappointment rather than public interest.

Despite these developments, a small group of individuals continued to press for an investigation, framing the resignations as a red flag that warranted outside review. But with the department now fully staffed under new leadership, and the central claims increasingly viewed through the lens of Tabor’s post-employment conduct, momentum behind the proposal has waned.

Local businessperson Mandy Bucci expressed skepticism about whether an investigation would resolve the concerns of those still demanding one.

“Whoever wants this investigation may not get what they want to hear,” Bucci said. “And how are we to know that that's going to be enough for them and that they're not going to stop and want more, and to what end to? When are we going to put it to bed?”

Monday night’s deadlock comes after months of debate and indecision among commissioners over whether to pursue a formal inquiry. For now, with no action taken, the City appears ready to move on.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com