TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Tallahassee City Commission voted 3-2 on Wednesday against requiring City Manager Reese Goad to resign in light of a HUD investigation into a city program.
The city commission also voted 4-1 to commence a national search for a new city manager.
Goad announced his retirement two weeks ago and planned to step down on September 30 or when a new city manager is selected. However, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow said on his official Facebook page that Goad should depart by the end of the month due to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) investigation.
WCTV broke news of that investigation last week.
Matlow wrote at the time that the city manager and one of his in-laws are responsible for a Lead Management program that’s been suspended following a HUD finding that the contractor was charging $8,400 per door.
Matlow has since retracted the statement that the city manager is related to anyone connected with the HUD investigation. He walked back the allegation nearly 24 hours after posting it on social media and after the commission voted that Goad should not be forced to resign.
The Lead Management program also received low scores, and HUD wrote in a letter that the city failed to engage with local public health authorities.
“None of those issues seem to have been fully addressed. I find the answers to be unsatisfactory,” Matlow said.
During the meeting, Mayor John Dailey interjected into Matlow’s comments, saying he shouldn’t discuss calls for the city manager’s resignation during an agenda item focused on hiring practices. Dailey ruled Matlow out of order several times.
It remains controversial whether or not the commission should wait until a new commission is sworn in after November to pick the next city manager. That’s because the mayor is a lame duck and that Matlow is giving up his seat to try and become the mayor. Plus, Commissioner Diane Williams-Cox could lose her seat.
“Commissioner Matlow, I’ll ask you, please, to stick to the agenda item which is about the process to hire the next city manager,” the mayor said.
Matlow said Goad should not have a role in picking his replacement.
“The next city manager search cannot be overseen by City Manager Goad,” he said.
You can view a portion of the heated exchange below, as well as a thread covering the entire meeting.
New: The Tallahassee City Commission votes 3-2 against requiring City Manager Reese Goad to resign in light of a HUD investigation into a city program.
The discussion was heated, and the mayor ruled Matlow out of order several times. pic.twitter.com/qF2lOBM5pE
— Matt Hoffmann (@ByMattHoffmann) May 13, 2026
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