The Florence City Council has resigned. All 6 of them.
After this week’s meeting, council members Brian Allen, Anthony Esquibel, Melissa Hardy, Allen Knisley, Mike Vendetti and Kristal Wood all resigned within hours of each other, leaving Mayor Paul Villagrana as the lone elected official in Florence.
Former council member Hardy resigned by means of a letter to her fellow councilmembers. She offered no details for her resignation but the pervasive difficulty that has followed the Florence City Council since former City Manager Mike Patterson’s dismissal in 2021 seemed to affect the choice. Hardy said in her letter, “The stress I have endured in the last 6 months has begun to take a toll on my health and by ability to be the kind of wife and mother my family deserves. I truly wish that I could fulfill my term, but I have drawn the conclusion that it is not possible given current circumstances.”
Patterson was terminated in August after the council learned about allegations of unwanted sexual advances toward city staff. Hew was arrested November 15 and is facing two counts of stalking, unlawful sexual contact and providing alcohol to a minor.
Mike Vendetti wrote in his resignation letter, “I thought we might be back on track, pulling the city together, but with the mass resignation of fellow city council members and the lack of a plan to remove the cancer that is destroying our town, I can no longer be part of this organization.”
In a long string of events that have resulted in both lawsuits and difficulty for the council, the most recent has involved the firing of former city attorney Matt Krob and the hiring of former District Attorney Kaitlin Turner.
Local ordinances state that the process to replace a council member must begin within 60 days.
Governor Jared Polis’ office is preparing to get involved in the situation. The Governor’s press secretary said yesterday, “The Governor has requested an update from his legal counsel on accountability and how to ensure that basic services remain in place for residents of Florence.”
