Sarah Baxter elected mayor as board selects new leadership and ratifies appointments
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Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners elected Commissioner Sarah Baxter as mayor and Marcy Woodward as vice mayor, approved Solid Waste Authority leadership, and ratified several county director appointments including a new purchasing director.
Commissioner Sarah Baxter was elected mayor of Palm Beach County on Nov. 18 after a nomination by Commissioner Sachs and a second from Commissioner Weiss, with no other nominations made. The board then selected Marcy Woodward as vice mayor by voice vote, both leadership changes occurring at the start of the commission’s regular session.
The meeting also paused for a short Solid Waste Authority session in which Vice Mayor Woodward was chosen as chair of that board by a 7-0 vote. The Solid Waste Authority then elected Commissioner Joe Flores as vice chair and Commissioner Bobby Powell as secretary.
County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo announced several personnel actions later in the meeting that the board approved by unanimous vote. Among the ratified hires, Jessica Comas was confirmed as the county’s new purchasing director. Abruzzo described Comas as an experienced procurement leader and said the department was “excited to have her.”
Outgoing and incoming commissioners offered brief remarks. In introductory comments earlier in the session, the incoming mayor thanked staff and commissioners for the opportunity to serve and noted the county’s investment in regional partnerships and facilities.
The board moved quickly through organizational business, approving the consent agenda as amended and handling several administrative appointments before resuming the regular agenda. The commission concluded with routine procedural items and a photo before adjournment.