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Councilman introduces censure and removal request for mayor; debate deferred to council comments
Summary
Councilman moved for a vote of no confidence, a censure and a letter to the governor seeking the mayor's removal after receiving an investigation the council directed; the matter was postponed for consideration at the end of the meeting.
Councilman raised concerns about the mayor—s conduct and said findings from a council-directed investigation were sustained, and moved that the council adopt a vote of no confidence and a censure and send a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis requesting the mayor—s removal. The council deferred debate and any formal action to the meeting—s later council-comment period.
Nut graf: The motion followed a staff briefing the council said substantiated certain allegations against the mayor. Council members voiced frustration about the mayor—s public statements and the division those statements created, but several members also asked to postpone action until the mayor could be present or until council comment at the end of the meeting.
What was said: Councilman Gambarro told the council "the accusations that led to the investigation have been sustained," characterized findings as "extremely concerning," and moved that the council send a signed letter to the governor requesting mayoral removal. Vice Mayor Pontieri and other members asked that the matter be addressed later in the meeting so the council could proceed with regular business first. No formal vote or censure ordinance was taken during the public meeting record in the transcript.
Legal and process notes: City staff and the city attorney discussed process-related questions in the meeting about how previous appointment ballots had been completed and recommended transparent recordkeeping for future ballots; the attorney noted the city had discretion on some procedural matters but advised standard practice to show names on ballots going forward. The mayor was absent for the meeting.
Ending: The council deferred substantive action on the motion to its later agenda time. If councilors return the motion to the floor at the end of the meeting or at a future meeting, staff said they would place required supporting documentation and draft language on the agenda for formal council action.
