VERO BEACH – Vero Beach Mayor Jay Kramer has canceled the Vero Beach City Council’s planned public hearing for now-retired City Attorney Charles Vitunac.
In a memo sent to the City Council, Kramer cited Vitunac’s retired status and waiver of his right to a public hearing.
Vitunac retired from his post effective March 11 after the Vero Beach City Council approved a resolution that set into motion his termination.
Councilman Brian Heady had fought to keep the public hearing as scheduled, arguing that the council should still formally pass the resolution for termination.
The difference between termination and voluntary separation from the city means, for Vitunac, about $35,000. City policy allows employees who resign or retire to get paid for more banked sick time than employees who are terminated. If the retirement holds up, Vitunac will walk away with about $92,000 in banked time. The figure he would get if terminated is about $57,000.
Regardless, Vitunac will also collect his city pension, which added to his pension from serving as Indian River County Attorney for 15 years adds up to about $75,000 per year.
