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Tampa Law firm clears city manager John Szerlag of wrongdoing

Updates into investigation against city manager
Posted at 12:12 AM, Apr 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-21 00:12:51-04

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — The Cape Coral City Council provided updates into the investigation against city manager John Szerlag, and business manager.

They have both been vindicated of any wrongdoing after a law firm was hired to investigate the allegations.

Earlier this year the Cape Coral City Council revealed that it’s finance department incorrectly filed payroll taxes leading to $402k in penalties and gas tax money withheld from the city.

The city manager, John Zerlag, was at the center of several investigations.

He is allegedly tied to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees to the IRS.

An audit revealed that he knew about the incorrect tax filing before his raise approval but kept quiet.

He was also in the hot seat because of claims he created a hostile work environment and tried to coerce an employee to do potentially illegal things.

A Tampa based law firm, Brown Law and Counseling found all allegations against the Cape Coral city manager and business manager to be false.

Councilmembers say they are still waiting for additional investigation results from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Cape Coral Police Department.