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Melbourne Beach meeting erupts over town manager; move to fire fails, search process stalled
Summary
Commissioners and residents spent hours debating the performance and future of Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro. A motion to fire her for cause failed for lack of second; later attempts to open a citywide search for the manager position were blocked. Commissioners voted to schedule a special meeting and a formal performance review.
A heated public session at the Town Commission of Melbourne Beach on May 21 focused on the role and performance of Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro, with public commenters and several commissioners calling for her removal and others urging caution and due process. The meeting included a failed motion to terminate the manager for cause and a separate, later vote scheduling a special meeting to conduct her annual performance review.
The meeting drew repeated public comment, with multiple speakers accusing the manager of withholding records, failing to procure required engineering contracts and contributing to staff turnover. One commenter told commissioners the town had paid more than $157,000 in legal fees in recent mayor-related litigation; several residents urged a competitive hiring process for the manager role if the commission chose to move on.
Commissioner Anna Butler moved to fire the manager “for cause.” The motion received no second and therefore did not proceed. Butler then proposed a 30-day warning letter and separately pressed to immediately advertise the town manager position; that effort produced conflicting votes and ultimately the commission did not authorize an immediate open hiring process. A later, separate motion to schedule a special meeting for an evaluation of the town manager was adopted, and commissioners set a plan for a special-session review and related discussions on hiring procedure and contract terms.
Supporters of Mascaro — including current and former staff and residents — defended her record at the meeting, noting financial and operational improvements under her management and warning that summary termination could expose the town to contractual liability. Town Attorney Ryan Knight reminded commissioners that any termination for cause or contract change raises legal and fiscal exposure and that employment contracts and statutory process must be observed.
Commissioners agreed to a structured next step: a special meeting will be scheduled to conduct the manager’s annual performance review, allow the manager a chance for self-evaluation, and discuss a hiring process if the commission chooses to pursue one. The panel also instructed staff to provide documentation requested by commissioners about hiring options and timelines, and to circulate a plan for the review in advance so the public can follow the process.
The manager, Elizabeth Mascaro, spoke at the meeting and said she had no present intent to leave and outlined steps staff have begun on several priorities. Commissioners and staff also recorded that multiple personnel vacancies had been filled or would be addressed, and they agreed to add a dedicated discussion of the town manager position and review process to a coming special meeting agenda.
The meeting underscored a split among commissioners and residents about management style, public records and procurement practices. The commission’s procedural votes left the manager in place but committed the body to a public, formal evaluation and to discussing hiring options in the coming weeks.
