EATONVILLE, Fla. — The Eatonville town council voted to change the scope of the mayor’s executive powers Tuesday night following Mayor Angie Gardner’s decision to agree with Orange County Public Schools on selling the Hungerford Property to Dr. Phillips Charities. 

What You Need To Know

Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner worked with OCPS to sell the Hungerford Property to Dr. Phillips Charities in September

The agreement came with backlash from the Eatonville Town Council because they were not consulted before the agreement was made

A resolution to amend the authority of Mayor Gardner was presented and approved at Eatonville’s Town Council meeting on Tuesday

The change asks for the mayor to not make decisions on behalf of the council without their approval and requires operational reports regarding town matters with the Hungerford Property

The school board owned about 100 acres, which previously was home to the Robert L. Hungerford Normal and Industrial School. The school in Eatonville, which is between Orlando and Winter Park, was founded as a private school, the first school for Black children in Central Florida. It helped educate African American students in the late 1800s. OCPS acquired the property in the 1950s

When the deal was announced, council members said they found out via the news and felt blindsided because they were not consulted by Gardner regarding the agreement.

“For someone to take it upon their authority to go ahead of the council and not discuss this among the council members and have us walking into something blind that we did not know, that was not right,” said Councilwoman Dr. Wanda Randolph.

This isn’t the first time the council has had concerns about Gardner’s executive decisions.

However, to ensure that this does not happen again, the council presented a resolution asking Gardner to not speak on behalf of the town council without approval, and asked Gardner to share monthly operational reports and updates when it comes to town matters regarding meetings or communications with Dr. Phillips Charities and OCPS about the historic Hungerford Property.

This means that any decision the mayor makes outside her authority won’t have legal power.

The decision was unanimously by the council. However, Gardner said she understands the town’s charter and what her authority is.

“I didn’t break any of the rules in the charter. And the term ‘strong mayor’ is what we are, and that’s we have to be sometimes,” Gardner explained. “So, I’m glad they recognized the power of that charter.”

With OCPS being involved with this agreement, Spectrum News 13 asked them about their thoughts on Eatonville’s meeting to change the mayor’s executive powers.

And while they did not want to get involved in the town’s business, OCPS School Board Chairwoman Teresa Jacobs shared why she felt the agreement was a no-brainer.

“For them (Dr. Phillips Charities) to come in and take this really difficult project on and try to meet all of the goals and requests that the city has made over the years, I did think that we were awfully fortunate to have them step up to the plate,” Jacobs said.

Gardner said that she stands by her decision to broker a deal with Dr. Phillips Charities, saying she felt it was best for the town.

But she also said that the council has every right to change how the town is governed.

As of right now, Gardner said that she doesn’t have any notes to report as discussions continue between OCPS and Dr. Phillips Charities.

The changes regarding Gardner’s authority go into effect immediately.