TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A federal government audit into a City of Tallahassee lead abatement program continues to cause a stir at city hall, with Mayor John Dailey accusing Commissioner Jeremy Matlow of opening the taxpayers up to a libel suit, and a resident filing a sworn ethics complaint against the mayor.
During a city commission meeting on Wednesday, Assistant City Manager Christian Doolin said it was actually the commission itself that approved a “single bidder” to become the lead abatement contractor, even though the city needed to federally document why there was only one bid. City policy also allowed them to reject the bid and seek other options, though the commission voted to go forward.
“The city commission approved the procurement process and selection of the contractor on May 14th, 2025. A contract was subsequently executed with the Chief Cornerstone Construction in August 18th, 2025, for $2.38 million and work then commenced in September 2025,” Doolin said.
The full U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) letter can be read below:
Meanwhile, Tallahassee Mayor John Daily said Commissioner Matlow had opened up the city to a libel lawsuit after he falsely accused a city staffer in charge of overseeing the lead abatement program of being related to City Manager Reese Goad. For his part, Goad confirmed on Wednesday that they’re not related, and Matlow only apologized after he lost a vote to force the city manager out.
“I hope (Matlow) takes the opportunity to personally contact Adam Jacobs and apologize [for] the damage that Commissioner Matlow did to this incredible gentleman who I would run through a brick wall for. I have gotten to know Adam. I love Adam. He is one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with. I can only imagine what he is going through and his family,” the mayor said from the dais.
The mayor added he feared Matlow had opened up the city itself to legal issues, because he believes Matlow essentially accused the city manager and a relative of a felony.
“You’ve got a gentleman who woke up this morning to a nightmare situation whose family has been harassed. His kids have been harassed at their workplace just because Commissioner Matlow wanted to take a shot at the manager. This has got to stop,” the mayor said.
“We know your opinions on it and you confused another employee who has a similar name, accused him of a felony on social media, on your official website is unbelievable,” the mayor said.
“I do think it is time for us to have a very hearty conversation of how this commission treats career service employees at the city of Tallahassee and have there been violations?” he added.
In a Facebook post on his official page on Thursday, Matlow apologized.
“In a May 12th Facebook post regarding HUD’s investigation into the city, I misidentified Adam Jacobs as the brother-in-law of City Manager Reese Goad. Today I sent apologies to Reese Goad, Adam Jacobs and Jacob Adams for the confusion. We all make mistakes and it’s important we recognize them and take accountability for the betterment of our city.”
During the meeting, Matlow pointed out that the single bidder did not have the appropriate EPA certification and may have done work for a limited time without the certification until they traveled to Jacksonville to obtain it. Plus, HUD designated the program “high risk,” and city staff elected to suspend it.
More Tallahassee news:
They’re now required to host bi-weekly meetings with HUD after the HUD investigation found the contractor was charging $8,400 per door, raising cost concerns, and largely focusing on just one apartment complex instead of citywide lead abatement.
Matlow is giving up his seat to run for mayor, while Mayor Dailey is leaving office after two terms. During the mayor’s comments Wednesday night, he asked the city’s inspector general to look into whether or not Matlow had caused a toxic work environment, broken any laws or committed any ethics violations.
In response, Tallahassee Resident James McAllister, a former employee of the legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, filed an ethics complaint against the mayor.
In the sworn complaint, McAllister said the mayor was violating the city charter by directing a subordinate to investigate a fellow member of the commission. The complaint was first reported by WCTV on Friday.
McAllister cited part of the city’s charter that reads: “Neither the commission nor any member thereof shall give orders to, nor make demands of, any of the subordinates of any appointed city official, either publicly or privately.”
He then wrote that the mayor violated the ethics rules.
“The integrity of independent oversight depends not only on actual independence, but on the public perception of independence. For that reason, I respectfully request that these remarks be reviewed and evaluated under the applicable Charter provisions. ethics standards, and any policies governing interactions between elected officials and independent oversight offices,” McAllister wrote.
In 2024, Tallahassee voters both expanded the jurisdiction of the Independent Ethics Board and gave the Inspector General more independence by making it more difficult to fire him.
“But then at the end when the mayor sort of looked to and directly addressed the inspector general and heavily insinuated that certain commissioners should be investigated, I felt like that crossed an ethical line between elected officials directly telling staff what to do or not to do,” McAllister said.
He added that if Matlow or any of the commissioners violated ethics rules, they should be investigated.
”I think if any of the commissioners have done anything that would violate the ethical rules that they should be investigated and I think most of them would welcome it because generally I think that the majority of them don’t cross that ethical line. This was the first situation I saw that almost made me gasp when I saw it,” McAllister said.
You can read the full ethics complaint and letter below:
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