City HallWednesday, November 4
Cape Coral council fires City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn the night before Election Day
The 5AM Cape Coral team
If you missed Monday's meeting, here's the part nobody saw coming. Mayor John Gunter, presiding over his last meeting, moved to end City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn's contract without cause effective 11:59 p.m. that night. It passed 4-1, the day before Election Day.
“Sometimes it’s time for good things to come to an end.”
Four council members voted to fire the city manager
Cape Coral City Council vote, Nov. 2
4–1
Terminate City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn's contract without cause
Yes 4
- GunterMayor
- Steinke
- Donnell
- Kilraine
No 1
- Lehmann
Absent 3
- Long
- Kaduk
- Nelson-Lastra
Sources: Gulfshore Business, Gulf Coast News and Weather
View as table
| Member | Seat | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| John Gunter | Mayor | Yes |
| Bill Steinke | Yes | |
| Derrick Donnell | Yes | |
| Joe Kilraine | Yes | |
| Laurie Lehmann | No | |
| Keith Long | Absent | |
| Rachel Kaduk | Absent | |
| Jennifer Nelson-Lastra | Absent |
Ilczyszyn leaves after more than 20 years with the city. Maureen Buice, an assistant to the city manager since 2021, is now interim city manager. Nelson-Lastra told Gulf Coast News she left for medical reasons, had no idea this was coming and would not have supported it.
- Walked out during discussion: Keith Long and Rachel Kaduk
- Cause: none was given, and the contract was ended "without cause"
- Severance: four months' salary under his contract
The firing by the numbers
- 4-1
- vote to end his contract
- 4 months
- of salary in severance pay
- $290,000
- a year for interim manager Buice
- 4 of 8
- council seats on Tuesday's ballot
Some residents questioned the timing. “Why wasn't this put on the agenda?” asked resident John Telisky.