Cities make leadership changes, appoint interim managers

Cape Coral’s City Council voted to terminate City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn without cause during a surprise meeting on the eve of an election, prompting criticism over the timing and lack of advance notice. Former Mayor Joe Mazurkiewicz said the outgoing council retained the authority to act and that similar last-minute action had occurred before, while noting he would not have handled it that way. The city named Maureen Buice, an assistant to the city manager with nine years of experience in Cape Coral, to serve as interim manager while the council considers next steps. Fort Myers officials denied rumors that Ilczyszyn was being considered for its city manager position.