Juno Beach council deadlocks on town manager pick; decision continued to Dec. 17

Juno Beach — The town council's attempt to pick a new town manager ended in a tie on Friday, leaving the decision unresolved and scheduled for further discussion at the council's Dec. 17 meeting.

Mayor Wheeler opened the special meeting to consider the council's preferred candidate and consultant Colin Basinger of Basinger & Associates proposed a preference-poll method that would allow members to mark a single top choice or two choices (counted as 0.5 each) to reflect split preferences. "If somebody is split between two, can't really decide, have 0.5 a vote for one, 0.5 a vote for the other," Basinger said, urging a method aimed at producing a clearer majority.

Residents and observers provided input. Aldo Rovere, a Juno Beach resident, urged the council to select Jay Boudishwar, citing his experience as deputy town manager in Palm Beach County and familiarity with FEMA processes for hurricane recovery. In written comments read into the record, leadership coach Jennifer Pierce evaluated the three finalists and warned that Jay's current reported salary was well above the town's posted range.

After council members privately marked their preferences, staff read the tabulation aloud: the poll produced a two-two split, with two members recording a preference for Darren Caldwell and two for Jay. The council disclosed who had voted for whom; the tie prevented the council from naming a manager that day. Mayor Wheeler said the council would resume the discussion after other agenda items and agreed to revisit the selection at the Dec. 17 meeting.

Council debate before and after the poll laid out the contrasts animating the decision. Supporters of Jay cited coastal experience and a record of securing state and federal funding for large shoreline and infrastructure projects; supporters of Darren highlighted his reputation as a "change agent," citing experience in FEMA-related work and local fiscal management. Members also raised concerns about references and whether a candidate's current outside salary fit within the town's posted hiring range of $175,000–$235,000.

Consultant Basinger cautioned that waiting carries risks. "You do risk losing one of the candidates or possibly both," he said, urging council members to weigh timing and candidate availability. Several members countered that additional information — clarified references, salary expectations and direct follow-up questions to the finalists — justified postponing a final choice. The council agreed to request follow-up materials and to put the item back on the Dec. 17 agenda.

The council did not take final formal action on a hire; the preference poll was an advisory tally and the matter will return to the council with any additional candidate responses and staff clarifications.