WHERE in the World is April Stoncius?
You may be wondering why our Town Clerk April hasn’t been at work lately. This document will explain what happened. Please read it and let your town commissioners (and us!) know what you think. Details are to be found in the links.
Mid-May 2020 Town of Sewall’s Point hires April Stoncius as Town Clerk. She has multiple professional certifications, a work history of stability, and stellar recommendations.
6/18/21 Annual evaluation by Town Manager (TM) Michelle Berger
6/6/22 Annual evaluation by interim TM Dan Hudson
(link contains both Berger and Hudson evaluations)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DnJR8zZ1rHzkTu84fR8y7fMU06luc1tv/view?usp=drive_link
8/8/22 Robert Daniels hired as new TM.
2023 The Town’s policy manual specifies that “Formal (employee) reviews will be conducted annually.” see p10.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qbOTYArQy6iZwBlTfr-XN1zRaIAIza2t/view?usp=drive_link
TM Daniels does not give April an annual evaluation in 2023. However, she was given a 2.5% raise upon earning her certification as Master Municipal Clerk in September 2023.
2024 TM Daniels does not give April an annual evaluation in 2024.
12/12/24 April emails Sam Amerson (Martin County Utilities Director) to request a copy of a letter that exempted Sewall’s Point from mandatory sewer hookup. Town Engineer had referenced this letter at a recent public meeting. Resident Frank Tidikis had requested a copy of it prior to October 15, 2024.
Mr. Amerson replied that he recalls no letter exempting the town from compliance with the state statute requiring connections if sewer is available. April forwards this response to Mr. Tidikis, TM Daniels, Mr. Capra, and others.
Sometime after fulfilling now-Commisioner Tidikis’s public records request on December 12. 2024, April tells Commissioner Tidikis and a resident that TM Daniels had “reamed her out” for providing Tidikis with Mr. Amerson’s email stating that the town was not exempt from the state statute.
2/25/25 April receives her first disciplinary notice since being hired almost 5 years ago. TM cites her for “insubordination.” see pp 6-7
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rj3TITBLNemK-yPeUE0T122cfrZt0h39/view?usp=drive_link
4/8/25 TM Daniels issues April a written reprimand, again for “insubordination.” see p 4-5
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rj3TITBLNemK-yPeUE0T122cfrZt0h39/view?usp=drive_link
4/17/25 TM Daniels places April on administrative leave. see p1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rj3TITBLNemK-yPeUE0T122cfrZt0h39/view?usp=drive_link
4/17/25 TM Daniels notifies April that she will be on unpaid suspension due to a 2024 incident. see pp2-3
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rj3TITBLNemK-yPeUE0T122cfrZt0h39/view?usp=drive_link
The Town Clerk recognition Ceremony was scheduled to be held at the upcoming 4/22/25 Town meeting. April had received this award the previous two years. A certificate had been created for this year with her name on it. At some point, her name was removed.
The 2023 Proclamation
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YDwF6NGzqF-CJtEgKcBme5jdgPVI5eHt/view?usp=drive_link
The 2024 Proclamation, prepared before Daniels fired April
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iVK-HXBFyctZlKAI2A8zURCQZYjFKmNe/view?usp=drive_link
The 2025 Proclamation, prepared before Daniels fired April
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bta4uW4zQps4kvfP652OpVmUp4Mxgio7/view?usp=drive_link
The 2025 Proclamation used at the ceremony was modified to remove April’s name.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/120FaKywAMrtcq_8mVioouABPPgiShLk3/view?usp=drive_link
4/24/25 Building Official Reisinger travels to April’s residence and duct tapes a notice on her front door to appear before TM Daniels at 2PM on April 28.
4/26/25 The same notice arrived via UPS courier. April files a police report in Ft. Pierce.
4/28/25 11:59AM April emails TM Daniels, Town Attorney Torcivia, and Commissioners that she will be seeking legal counsel, who will contact him to reschedule.
4/28/25 2:00PM April does not meet with TM Daniels.
4/28/25 3:00PM TM Daniels signs letter of dismissal, citing two pages worth of alleged violations against town policies and the Finance Director.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MqrQnScaoWuy7wb_qyGfWsMzVVWiJnfP/view?usp=drive_link
5/2/25 UPS delivers all of April’s personal items from her desk at Town Hall, to her home
5/5/25 Seacoast Bank notifies April that her 5/2/25 direct deposit from the Town of Sewall’s Point (representing salary for 4/14/25 through 4/25/25) was reversed. April states that she was not notified of this withdrawal beforehand. She files 2nd Ft. Pierce police report.
Mid-May April would have been vested in the Town’s pension plan.
Because TM Daniels fired April for alleged misconduct, she is not eligible for unemployment benefits or health care.
April was fired by a Town Manager who has applied for other jobs without simultaneously notifying the commission as required in his employment contract. He also stated that he withdrew his application. But he was still listed as a candidate one week after notifying the TSP commissioners about his withdrawal; the employer’s web site doesn’t lie. But the Commission majority refused to hold him accountable. Instead, the Mayor lavished praise upon him, calling him “the best town manager we have ever had” and “the lowest paid town manager on the East Coast.”
At the 5/13/25 town meeting, a resident asked the Commission to have some mercy on the Town Manager for his transgressions. Where was his mercy for April?
We seem to have a double standard applied; it appears that “what is good for me is not for thee.”
TM Daniels’ draconian treatment of April is not how Sewall’s Point treats its employees.
Since April was fired, the minutes for 4/8 have not been posted on the town website; there is no record of the 4/22 meeting, nor of the 5/13 meeting. The March financial statements were not made public until 5/13, a full month late.
The outcome will not change. The TSP Commission has vested by the Town Charter all
personnel matters in the hands of the Town Manager. You will not find Mrs. Stoncius’s
helpful attitude and outgoing demeanor as you enter town hall. Hopefully, her replacement
will be of the same caliber.
Please let your commissioners know how you feel about this: the double standard used in punishment meted out to the Town Clerk and the lack thereof for the Town Manager for insubordination. Mr. Daniels terminated Mrs. Stoncius’ employment two weeks before her five-year vesting. Was this warranted?