FORT PIERCE–The Fort Pierce City Commission will evaluate the job performances of its city manager, clerk and attorney at its Monday morning meeting. But only the future of City Attorney Sara Hedges’ employment contract appears to be in jeopardy.
Hedges’ future at city hall has been in question for several months after a wage garnishment order against Finance Director Johnna Morris prompted internal turmoil over what consequence Morris might face internally.
There were allegations that Hedges had called for Morris to be terminated and that the issue caused a clash between Hedges and City Manager Richard Chess over each officers’ authority. Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky has been Hedges’ most outspoken critic, suggesting she had overstepped her legal advisory role.
City records reviewed by Hometown News have shown no indication that Hedges called for terminating Morris, but Hedges did allege Chess had said the city attorney would be excluded from future employment issues. Morris was on a paid administrative leave and did satisfy the $14,000 credit card balance that prompted the garnishment.
An attorney retained by Morris did threaten a lawsuit against the city,
Under terms of current charter employee contracts, the city must give Hedges notice by June 10 if commissioners do not intend to extend her contract for another year. If no action is taken, the agreement continues to September 2027.
Hedges is entitled to 90 days of severance pay, plus insurance coverages, if the city fails to give timely notice that she is being terminated.
Hedges was hired in 2023, and performance evaluation by commissioners in 2024 and 2025 were complimentary. In 2025, several commissioners did note that the roles of the city manager and city attorney, as outlined in the city charter, did create “overlap tension” on certain issues between the two administrators.
While the city manager is charged with administering city government, the City Charter says, “No other Charter Officer shall have any authority or ability to direct, supervise or interfere with the administration or activity of the Office of the City Attorney, including any and all personnel actions or decisions…”
In her annual report to the commission, Hedges writes that her office is fielding increasing requests for legal services from multiple city departments, with an average response time of six business days.
She pledges a “continued commitment to defending the city manager’s employment decisions and ensuring fair and legally compliant personnel processes.”
Monday’s commission day meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the commission chambers at Fort Pierce City Hall.