Atlantic Beach City Manager Kevin Hogencamp, center, speaks to the City Commission on Monday, Nov. 8, 2026. | City of Atlantic Beach
Published on November 12, 2026 at 2:14 pm
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A move by Atlantic Beach Mayor Curtis Ford to immediately fire the city manager failed Monday night when he couldn’t gain support for the termination from the City Commission.
That means Kevin Hogencamp, Atlantic Beach’s sixth city manager in the past six years, apparently stays on the job in the 13-square-mile Beaches city until his just-announced retirement in August.
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Hogencamp was assistant city manager in January, when former City Manager Bill Killingsworth voluntarily stepped down during a special meeting. In June, the Commission voted 4-1 to give Hogencamp the permanent top job.
But during Monday’s meeting at Atlantic Beach City Hall, Ford recommended immediate termination of Hogencamp without cause, the surprise proposal not part of the five-page agenda.
Ford’s proposal came as the commission prepared to discuss hiring a new assistant city manager. Then the mayor said Hogencamp’s plan to retire in August 2027 would come as the city navigates more issues — the next budget and finding replacements for the finance, public works, and neighborhoods department heads who recently retired. But Hogencamp would be gone by August, Ford said.
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“I don’t believe that this commission should stand by and have the current city manager, who gave us the belief if not direct, but certainly the belief that he was in it for the long term – I don’t believe he should be picking the next deputy city manager,” Ford said. “I do agree we should be looking to hire a deputy city manager, but I think that’s the next city manager, or the interim city manager.”
After various proposals for Hogencamp’s compensation if he were terminated failed, he ended the night by complimenting his fellow employees and the community. And he said that he would do everything to “ensure the next city manager’s success.”
“With all sincerity, please note that tonight’s discussion is not going to deter me from plowing forward and working with y’all. There’s no hard feelings, please know that,” he said. “I just can’t be more sincere about that. Heck, Mayor Ford and I already shook hands. We have so much going for us as a community and as an organization. … Let’s have some good, hard talks about what happened tonight, our future, and what’s best for Atlantic Beach.”
Hogencamp was appointed city manager on June 8, after six months serving as the interim following Killingsworth’s abrupt departure after three years on the job. Hogencamp was hired in mid-2017 as deputy city manager after serving as assistant city manager, assistant to the city manager, and public information manager for more than six years in Albany, Ga. He was also a newspaper publisher, editor, and reporter.
In October, when Hogencamp announced his retirement, the city said the city manager wanted to give many months to have “the necessary runway to recruit our next administrative leader, while allowing us to manage a smooth, structured transition without disrupting day-to-day operations or city services.”
Atlantic Beach officials react
After proposing Hogencamp’s termination on Monday, Ford said his announcement “is not personal – this is business,” saying he is not comfortable with the current city manager. Ford then proposed that former City Manager Joe Gerrity be named new city manager, since he was interim city manager before Killingsworth, and a past mayor and city manager of Fernandina Beach.
Ford said that he had already contacted Gerrity about what he called a “perfect solution.”
“Joe has a vast experience,” Ford said. “It’s interesting to note that when we hear things said about why do we keep losing city managers; well, Joe’s one that keeps coming back and not leaving.”
But Commissioner Bruce Bole reminded his fellow commissioners that Gerrity “actually cost the city more money than we had” budgeted when he was city manager. Then he commended Hogencamp, saying the city has “good momentum going here,” and it should stick with him as it seeks a new assistant city manager.
“Kevin’s probably the best city manager I’ve personally worked with in the six, going on seven years that I have been here,” Bole said. “We’ve had a lot of people come in here and tell us that. So I’m going to take the personalities out and I’m going to vote on what’s better for the city of Atlantic Beach.”
Commissioner Thomas Grant proposed Hogencamp’s immediate removal with full compensation, the motion failing without commission support.
But Commissioner Jessica Ring agreed with the mayor’s concerns that Hogencamp would be leaving in the middle of city budget discussions. So she proposed hiring a consultant to get candidate options before the start of the next budget session.
“It (retirement) does not fall well with the budget when we are changing hands with the city manager,” Ring said. “He’s aware that’s my view.”
Hogencamp did not respond to Jacksonville Today‘s requests for more comment on Monday’s commission actions.
The Atlantic Beach City Commission holds its regular meetings at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
