Melbourne Beach commissioners name top pick for interim town manager; background check required

The Town of Melbourne Beach Commission on Oct. 15 interviewed four candidates for an interim town manager and moved to designate a top choice, selecting one candidate as its first pick and naming a second as backup.

Commissioners voted 4–1 to identify the candidate referred to in the record as Lisa Frasier as their number-one pick and Taylor Brown as the number-two pick. The commission directed staff to begin standard pre‑employment procedures, including a background check, and said any offer would be contingent on coming to agreement on an interim employment contract.

The interviews were held as a special meeting at Melbourne Beach Town Hall with each candidate allotted roughly 30 minutes for questioning and responses. Commissioners said they kept question turns to about one to two minutes in order to hear from all applicants. The panel also spent time discussing logistics for an immediate start, pension/benefit implications for an interim appointment, and whether the town should require notice or other provisions in an interim contract.

Why it matters

The town is between permanent managers and needs short-term leadership to run day-to-day operations while a national search for a full‑time manager proceeds. The commission emphasized that an interim hire must be able to start quickly and stabilize staff and operations while preserving continuity for ongoing projects and the upcoming budget cycle.

What commissioners discussed and decided

- Candidate screening and interviews: Commissioners conducted time‑limited interviews with four finalists. Questions focused on immediate priorities for Melbourne Beach, stormwater and capital projects, grants experience, crisis and transition management, communication with residents and staff, and local government legal issues such as the Florida Sunshine Law and dual‑office concerns.

- Designation and conditions: By formal motion and vote, the commission named Lisa Frasier as its top candidate and Taylor Brown as the backup. The commission directed staff to contact the top candidate, begin a criminal‑history and background check, and attempt to negotiate an interim employment agreement. The body made clear that any final appointment would be contingent on a satisfactory background check and an executed contract.

- Start, compensation and benefits: Commissioners said the interim salary would follow what is currently budgeted for the town manager position; they discussed (but did not change) the town’s current approach to car allowance and retirement participation. Staff was asked to provide the commission with options and cost implications for retirement and benefit choices for an interim appointment before any final offer is issued.

- Building official RFQ and special meeting: Commissioners asked staff to contact three respondents to a recent request for qualifications for building‑official services and to schedule a special meeting so the commission can review those submittals and, if appropriate, authorize interim coverage to avoid a lapse in building‑department services. Staff was directed to invite respondents or their representatives to attend and to confirm whether their proposals and pricing remain current.

What candidates offered and panel takeaways

- The finalists presented a mix of local government experience, grant and capital‑project work, and transition management. Commissioners praised candidates’ written 30‑ to 90‑day plans and cited communications and rebuilding public trust as recurring priorities. Several commissioners said they wanted an interim manager who can step in with a low learning curve and who will provide regular, standardized reporting to both the commission and the public.

Next steps

Town staff will contact the designated top candidate and begin the background‑check process. If the candidate accepts and the background check is satisfactory, staff and the town attorney will finalize an interim employment agreement for commission approval. If the top candidate declines or is unable to meet the conditions, the commission asked staff to notify the number‑two candidate and proceed in that order.

The commission also directed staff to schedule and publish a special meeting to review the three RFQ responses for building‑official services and to notify the vendors that the meeting is set for immediately after the commission’s scheduled budget meeting on the date already noticed for that agenda. The clerk and staff were asked to report back to the commission by email with confirmations from the three firms and with cost/benefit information on retirement and benefit options for an interim appointment.

A record of the commission action and candidate materials will be part of the public record and available through the town clerk’s office.