Commission debate centers on city-manager transition and code-enforcement fairness

Commissioner Anthony Segrech pressed the commission to consider an interim shift in management duties now rather than waiting for a permanent city manager, arguing some policy directions are not being implemented and that additional focus—especially in public works—would benefit from an interim transition.

“I was suggesting that we transition now rather than wait on until we have a new city manager,” Segrech said, urging the commission to act so progress on set policies does not stall during an extended search.

Other commissioners expressed concern about making a management change without the full body present and said they preferred voting on such a transition when more members could participate. Vice Mayor Mimi May suggested Assistant City Manager Troy Perry could serve as interim; Mayor Betty Resch said she was reluctant to remove the current acting manager without clear benefit.

The meeting also included extended discussion of code enforcement and property-owner complaints. Several commissioners reported meeting with property owners who say ambiguity in code interpretation has led to inconsistent enforcement. One commissioner cited the Florida Supreme Court standard that ambiguous code must be interpreted in favor of the property owner and said the city’s practice sometimes departs from that guideline.

Separately, staff and commissioners discussed a high-profile enforcement case over a large yard display (the "dinosaur") at a local business; staff said the matter went before the special magistrate and that fines were being negotiated as part of resolution talks.

No formal personnel action was taken at the pre-agenda meeting; commissioners agreed to continue the personnel discussion once more members are present and to pursue follow-up on code-enforcement clarifications.