The county’s ethics watchdog stands by its claim that Greg Chavarria — who until recently was top boss at Fort Lauderdale City Hall — violated a charter rule that requires city managers to live in town, according to a final report released Friday.
The Broward Office of the Inspector General says it considered arguments made by the mayor and Chavarria’s attorney but remained unswayed.
On April 2, Chavarria announced plans to resign from his $291,000-a-year job on June 1, citing personal reasons.
Investigators used SunPass records to substantiate an allegation that Chavarria did not appear to live in Fort Lauderdale until September 2023 — 14 months after he took over as city manager.
The Inspector General concluded that Chavarria in engaged in criminal misconduct when he changed his address with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to that of a condo that was not his legal residence.
“As he falsely swore to the veracity of the address of his legal residence, Mr. Chavarria committed perjury not in an official proceeding and making a false official statement, first-degree and second-degree misdemeanors,” the report reads.
The Inspector General’s Office said it will be referring the matter to the Broward State Attorney’s Office. With the courthouse closed for the July Fourth holiday, the State Attorney’s Office could not be reached for comment Friday.
Mark Eiglarsh, attorney for Chavarria, sent a blistering response to Breece in early June claiming the initial report was filled with inaccuracies that have “tarnished” Chavarria’s reputation.
On Friday, Eiglarsh sent the following statement to the South Florida Sun Sentinel in response to the final report: “We strongly contest their findings, having provided substantial evidence that challenges many of their claims. It is regrettable that their investigation seems driven by political motives.”
Inspector General Carol J. Breece opened the investigation into Chavarria based on a tip. Her office declined to reveal the identity of the tipster on Friday, saying the tipster wished to remain anonymous.
Mayor Dean Trantalis declined to comment Friday, saying he had not yet read the final report.
In mid-June, he sent a letter to the Inspector General defending Chavarria.
“Where is the gross mismanagement?” he wrote. “What misconduct was perpetrated that interfered with the work that he did in his performance as city manager?”
The Inspector General’s Office defended its findings despite written claims from the mayor and Chavarria’s attorney suggesting Chavarria did live at the Fort Lauderdale condominium he owned with his wife.
“Mayor Trantalis offered that Mr. Chavarria showed a good faith effort to comply with the charter’s mandate by buying the condominium,” the report said. “But their positions were unavailing. The Chavarrias purchased the unit over three months after Mr. Chavarria’s term of office began and sold the unit less than four months later; Mr. Chavarria’s term of office
continued well after the sale. As his ownership of the condominium accounted for less than four months of his 22-month term of office, and the city charter does not exempt those who make a good faith effort to comply with this requirement, the claimed residence at the condominium he purchased in the city did not affect our misconduct findings.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan