Council accepts councilmember Dixon’s resignation; schedules attorney‑client session on pending litigation and to discuss vacancy process

Councilmember Kelly Dixon announced at the May 28 meeting that she is resigning from the Sebastian City Council, effective immediately. Council and staff thanked Dixon for two and a half years of service and asked staff to place the vacancy process on the next agenda.

The city attorney asked the council to meet in a closed attorney‑client session pursuant to the statute cited at the meeting to confer with outside counsel about ongoing litigation titled Gilliam v. Sebastian (transcript cites case reference as 24APO2; staff said the case remains pending). The council agreed to hold the confidential session and to provide public notice of time, date and attendees; the attorney requested attendance by the city manager and a certified court reporter.

Because of scheduling and availability concerns the council voted to move its regular June meeting date and set the confidential attorney‑client session for 5 p.m. with the council meeting to follow at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 9 (the meeting previously scheduled for June 11). The attorney advised council there are two options under the city charter for filling a council vacancy when a member steps down within six months of a citywide election: (1) fill the position at the election or (2) appoint a replacement. The council asked staff to provide the charter language and to research the application of the charter provisions; members agreed to discuss the vacancy process at the next meeting.

The council did not take a final action on filling the vacancy at the May 28 meeting and directed staff to return with charter language and options at the rescheduled June 9 meeting.