Greenacres City Council unanimously appoints Alisa Lahaney to District 5 seat

GREENACRES, Fla. — The Greenacres City Council unanimously appointed Alisa Lahaney to fill the District 5 vacancy on Monday, the council announced after a selection process that considered four applicants.

The appointment was made by recorded votes from the four council members present: Council member Tharp, Council member Noble, Council member Dugo and Deputy Mayor Susie Diaz. Lahaney is scheduled to be sworn in on Nov. 4.

The council’s action followed candidate remarks and brief discussion. Lahaney, who told the council she has been a Greenacres resident for more than 20 years, described herself as “a mom, a wife. I’m a licensed clinical therapist” and said she hoped to bring “fresh ideas and community advocacy” to the council. Candidate Sasha Lopez spoke before the vote, describing long involvement with public-safety and youth-engagement efforts and saying, “I would love to be a part of this amazing city.”

Mayor Shaw said the council had received four eligible applications and that the process had been advertised on Oct. 6. Under the procedure explained at the meeting, council members cast individual votes and a candidate needed three of four votes to be selected. After the four votes were cast, the mayor declared Lahaney the appointee.

Prior to the appointment vote the council approved the meeting agenda and a consent calendar containing three items. The council took those routine votes by voice vote; the agenda approval was moved and seconded and carried, and the consent calendar likewise passed.

City staff noted Lahaney will not legally be subject to some formalities until sworn, a point the city attorney described as a technical matter; council members were urged, however, to observe Sunshine Law decorum while interacting with council business. The council did not make any separate policy changes in connection with the appointment.

Council members also used the meeting for brief local-business and community updates. Council members welcomed two new businesses — Pinecrest Bakery, opening next Monday, and Juicy Patties, which held a grand opening last week — and noted a planned major remodeling of the Greenacres branch of the Palm Beach County Library.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve agenda — Moved: Miss Dugo; Second: Mister Noble; Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Motion to approve consent agenda (Items 1–3) — Moved: Miss Diaz; Second: Mister Tharp; Outcome: Approved (voice vote). - Appointment, District 5 — Action: Appoint Alisa Lahaney to fill District 5 vacancy; Vote record: Tharp: yes; Noble: yes; Dugo: yes; Diaz: yes; Outcome: Approved (unanimous). Lahaney to be sworn in Nov. 4.

What happened next: The meeting concluded after routine reports from the city manager and city attorney and brief council remarks. No additional council actions or ordinance votes were taken at the meeting.