The Miami Lakes Town Council voted four to three to begin the negotiations for Town Manager Edward Pidermann’s contract. Mayor Josh Dieguez broke the 3-3 tie in favor of negotiations.
At the July 21 council meeting, Dieguez presented the item to retain Pidermann for two years under a new contract.
“My item is not a clean approval, obviously there is a negotiating stage … ,” Dieguez said. “They would need to go ahead and discuss the renewal terms and then come back to this council for a final vote.”
He elected Councilman Steven Herzberg to negotiate the contract on behalf of the council. That’s similar to the 2022 contract process, when then Vice Mayor Jeffrey Rodriguez negotiated with Pidermann.
At the time the terms for Pidermann were four years with a base annual salary of $215,000, an annual cost-of-living adjustment increase or performance-based bonuses, contributions to the Florida Retirement System and insurance. Pidermann’s current contract is due to expire on Feb. 1, 2027.
Dieguez wants Pidermann to continue working on several large-scale projects.
“We have a manager who is going on eight years, but he is right now at the center of the [Northwest] 59th Avenue project, at the beginning of the Miami Lakes Optimist Park improvement … he has been an integral part of the Gratigny [Parkway] Project,” Dieguez said.
Having someone come in and get them up to speed on projects and having turnover within the town staff would not be the right choice, Dieguez said.
“How is that going to set us back when it comes to these major capital improvement projects?” Dieguez said. “Those projects are not going to wrap up within the six or whatever months remaining on his contract.”
Councilman Steven Herzberg agreed with Dieguez and felt that it would be unwise to begin the process of finding a new town manager when the town could be facing a potential budget crisis.
Herzberg has been vocal about the 2026 election question on the ballot regarding the removal of property taxes, which would cause budgeting issues for local municipalities if passed.
“When someone is doing a good job, you don’t get rid of them,” Herzberg said.
Herzberg, like others on the council, received calls in support and against the manager’s renewal, but Herzberg pointed out that those against Pidermann said he was doing a good job.
Herzberg doesn’t want to allow increases to the manager’s salary.
Councilman Juan Carlos Fernandez agreed that they were trying to find a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.
Vice Mayor Bryan Morera was one of the members who called to find a new manager.
“I think staying stagnant is not a good thing either … and I do believe that the executives should have term limits,” Morera said.
Morera wanted to replace Pidermann but said it was not due to his performance, and he just wanted to see options.
“This is more the contract is up and do we want to go in a different direction,” Morera said.
Morera and Councilman Ray Garcia wanted Pidermann to reapply for his job if they went the route of the committee to select a new manager.
“I want him to throw his name in the ring … it’ll be an opportunity to go over his wins and give us his ideas,” Garcia said.
Pidermann said he would not reapply for the job and compared it to a marriage - telling your spouse they should see other people and come back if they don’t find anyone else.
“If you’re going to go out and test the field, you’re telling me ‘I don’t want you,’ and I think you would all of you would feel the same in my position,” Pidermann said.
Councilman Alex Sanchez felt there were times that the manager didn’t want to listen to change; he did, however, vote in favor of the contract negotiations.
Following the vote, the item will return on a future agenda.