FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ The top boss at Sunrise City Hall will get to keep his $204,000-a-year job despite much ado over a little Bundt cake and an expired coupon.
Sunrise commissioners said Thursday they were ready to put the whole matter behind them and move forward.
Last week, City Manager Richard Salamon found himself in the hot seat after a local baker told commissioners that Salamon objected when told his coupon for a free $3.99 miniature Bundt cake had expired. She says he demanded they break the rules and give him the cake for free.
That same night, Commissioner Mark Douglas called for Salamon's resignation; Commissioner Larry Sofield said he was worried the manager had lost the respect of his staff.
But during a special meeting Thursday called to decide Salamon's fate, Douglas withdrew his call for the city manager's resignation and said he was willing to work with him going forward.
From the dais, Salamon issued an emotional apology to the local bakery, Nothing Bundt Cakes, then to the entire commission and every employee at City Hall.
"At no time did I want to bring any harm to their business or any negative publicity to the city of Sunrise," he said, then paused and burst into tears. "I've invested more than 27 years of my life to this city and I would never do anything to intentionally bring any disrespect upon this city."
Commissioner Neil Kerch sniped at reporters for writing about the incident.
"The media has turned this molehill into a mountain," he said.
The brouhaha caught the attention of Sheila Alu and Don Rosen, two former commissioners who came to City Hall to defend the city manager.
"I can't believe we're here tonight even discussing this," Alu said to thundering applause from a crowded room. "It is absolutely ridiculous."
The story created quite a buzz nonetheless, with some people coming to the city manager's defense and others calling for his ouster.
As of Monday, City Hall had gotten 143 e-mails about the incident, the city clerk's office said.
One woman argued he has "got to go" while another said the baker should have just let "someone of that caliber" have his free cake.
