The Melbourne Beach Town Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to invite four applicants to interviews for the interim town manager position and directed the finance manager to check the candidates' listed references.

Commissioners chose Colin Donnelly, Gary Stevens, Lisa Frazier and Taylor Brown from a field of 12 applicants and agreed the interviews will be panel-style with 30-minute segments per candidate. The commission also voted 5-0 to have Finance Manager Jennifer Kerr contact the references listed in each candidate packet and report back to the commission.

The action follows public comment earlier in the meeting questioning the town's handling of the vacancy and the timing of the job posting. Mayor Lisonbee Dennington opened the special meeting noting it contained a single agenda item: review of interim town manager submissions and direction to staff regarding interviews.

Why it matters: The town's incumbent manager is scheduled to leave later this month, and commissioners said they want an interim in place quickly to ensure continuity of municipal operations. Commissioners discussed minimum qualifications from the job brochure (a bachelor's degree in business or public administration or demonstrated ability to perform the essential functions; at least three years of comparable experience; and familiarity with Florida sunshine laws, budgeting and local governance) and checked applicants' packets against those qualifications before forming the short list.

During the packet review, commissioners confirmed municipal experience and degrees for the shortlisted candidates. Colin Donnelly's packet lists a master's in public administration and previous service as an assistant city manager and town manager; Gary Stevens holds bachelor's degrees in computer science and management information systems and has government management experience; Lisa Frazier has municipal leadership experience including service on a town council and a master-level degree; and Taylor Brown has municipal planning and management experience and a bachelor's degree. Commissioners said they selected the four both for experience and for scheduling practicality given the town's short timeline.

Several residents spoke during the public-comment period about the process. Resident Steve Walters raised a separate concern about a local candidate's voting registration history and asked the commission to investigate. Resident Susan Stark urged more transparent, expedited action on a separate public-safety issue tied to volunteer fire staffing, saying in part, "I am personally asking my neighbors and town leaders in Melbourne Beach to overtly put forth more effort to positively engage with the Melbourne Beach volunteers beginning today." The commission did not take action on personnel matters raised during public comment but proceeded with the hiring process for the interim manager.

Logistics and next steps: Commissioners agreed to attempt panel interviews next week, with a preferred window of 1–4 p.m. Wednesday (with alternative options on Tuesday or Thursday if needed). Town staff and the town attorney will coordinate scheduling and the Zoom/meeting setup to allow remote participation if candidates cannot attend in person. Commissioners directed staff to narrow background checks to the shortened candidate list to avoid conducting background checks on all 12 applicants.

Votes at a glance: The commission moved and seconded an invitation to interview Donnelly, Stevens, Frazier and Brown; the motion passed unanimously (5-0). A separate motion to delegate reference-checking to Finance Manager Jennifer Kerr also passed unanimously (5-0). No commissioner votes were recorded as individual roll-call choices in the transcript; the mayor announced the outcomes in open session.

The commission adjourned after setting interview logistics and directing staff to report back on scheduling and reference-check results.