Public urges reopening manager search; one petitioner raises alleged illegal dams in floodplain
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Summary
Public commenters at the July 19 Titusville special meeting gave mixed views on the manager search — some urged keeping the internal finalist, others called for reopening the search — and one petitioner alleged multiple illegal dams and code violations in local drainage ditches.
Speakers during the public‑comment period at the July 19 Titusville meeting expressed a mix of support for the interim candidate and concern about the transparency of the search process. Several residents urged the council to reopen the nationwide search to bolster public confidence; others urged the council to retain the internal finalist to avoid wasting money and time.
Jesse Wright, a local developer who identified himself as associated with a Titusville resort project, told the council he supported keeping the interim manager and noted the candidate’s long service and availability during project meetings. By contrast, Tony Shipalone and other commenters said council actions and prior conduct had eroded public trust and recommended reopening the search so ‘‘change can come to our city.’’
Nut graf: Public comment reflected a divided community: some citizens valued continuity and the internal candidate’s institutional knowledge, while others said the city should use the paid search and broaden citizen involvement to avoid perceptions of a prearranged outcome.
Floodplain and code allegation
A petitioner identified as Stan Johnson (or Stan Johnston in parts of the transcript) presented a multi‑page packet and alleged that several dams or obstructions had been built in local ditches and floodplains without required surveys, compensatory storage, FEMA coordination or code compliance, and he cited ‘‘violation of city code 12‑11.’’ He asked what the city was doing to address the alleged violations and said the conduct represented ‘‘dishonesty and distrust of our government.’’
Council and staff response
Council did not take formal action on the floodplain allegations during the meeting. City staff and legal counsel did not present findings at the meeting; the petitioner’s claims were recorded in the public record and will require staff follow‑up for any inspection, code enforcement, or legal review.
Ending: Public comment closed after multiple speakers; the council recessed to meet with executive leadership and then returned to complete deliberations on the manager and attorney matters.