Troy City Manager John Szerlag Offered Position in Cape Coral, FL

A southwest Florida city council voted Monday afternoon to extend a contract offer to Troy City Manager John Szerlag for its open city manager position.

The Cape Coral, FL, council voted 7-1 for Szerlag at an hourlong special meeting after discussion about five candidates, including the Troy city manager.

"I think we have a stellar candidate in Mr. Szerlag," Cape Coral Councilman Chris Chulakes-Leetz said during the meeting. "We need a problem solver, we need a fiscally responsible person and I think Mr. Szerlag would provide that."

Szerlag interviewed in Cape Coral on Friday. The day consisted of both one-on-one interviews with council members and a session for public questioning, the Cape Coral Daily Breeze reported.

Council members noted several qualities they liked about Szerlag, including his vast knowledge of how the city departments operated and his grasp of the economic situation in Cape Coral.

Szerlag was first hired in Troy in 1989 as an assistant city manager. The city promoted him to city manager in 1999. In 2006, Szerlag left Troy for a city manager position in Florida but returned in 2009.

Szerlag was not immediately available for comment on Monday. 

Mayor Janice Daniels said Monday afternoon she knew Szerlag had interviewed but was unaware of the Cape Coral council's decision.

"I want him to be happy wherever he is working," Daniels said. "I'm wishing him the very best here in Troy if he chooses to stay, or if he chooses to take another job I wish him the very best."

Keep checking the Troy Patch for updates on this story.