The City Commission of Ocoee debated changes to the Code Enforcement Board on a packed May meeting after the board failed to reach a quorum for several months, delaying hearings on residential violations.

The discussion centered on three options: temporarily assigning cases to a special magistrate, reducing the board's quorum requirement, or recruiting new regular members and alternates. Police Chief Ogburn told commissioners the board had not met because of quorum issues since October 2024 and that a temporary special magistrate had heard 15 to 20 backlog cases in April and May.

The matter drew extended public comment and participation from the board's chair, Joe Vander, who described health-related absences among members and said he and other current volunteers want to keep a citizen board if the city helps recruit members. Veronica Place, a longtime former vice chair, urged lowering the board size to five to reduce quorum problems. Commissioners expressed support both for preserving citizen participation and for removing the backlog.

Two competing motions were made on the dais. Commissioner Wilson moved to use a special magistrate for three months while the commission reconstituted the board; that motion was seconded and put up for a vote. Commissioner Oliver then moved to keep the Code Enforcement Board at seven members and to open the application process immediately to fill vacancies; that motion was seconded and passed, with the minutes recording "motion carries." The commission did not record a numerical roll-call tally in the transcript.

City staff said they would continue outreach to current board members and potential applicants, and the city clerk confirmed vacancies are posted and that quorum is calculated based on the board'9s active membership, not on authorized seats. The clerk and staff cautioned about Sunshine Law limits on direct outreach by board members and said staff will contact absent members to determine availability.

Commissioners stressed two priorities: keeping enforcement hearings moving to avoid long delays for complainants, and preserving a citizen-based board for residential matters. Commissioners and staff agreed to pursue recruiting efforts, to provide the commission a list of current members and vacancies, and to re-evaluate the magistrate option if recruiting does not restore capacity.

The discussion closed with staff direction to report back with a recruitment plan, a list of current members and vacancies, and recommendations if ordinance changes are required to alter board size or quorum.

The commission did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting; any code change to reduce board size or quorum would require an ordinance and two readings.