The separation of former Village Manager Rob Cole sparked significant discontent among residents, who voiced their frustration over the council’s lack of communication and transparency in handling the matter. In public comments, resident Beth Kaminsky criticized the council for not addressing any issues with Cole publicly before his departure. “It feels horrible… we ought to know what’s going on,” Kaminsky stated, emphasizing the erosion of community trust due to decisions made behind closed doors. Echoing her sentiments, Van Cadenhead expressed dissatisfaction with the council’s management of legal matters involving another former employee, Ted Yates, questioning the financial burden incurred by the village. “We are paying through the nose,” he remarked, calling for greater transparency and responsibility.

In defense of the council’s actions, Greg Freedman, identifying himself as the father of Councilman Steve Freedman, explained the complexities of litigation and urged the public to understand the slow nature of the justice system. The council’s response included a recommendation from one council member to redirect inquiries about Cole’s separation to them.

Amidst this backdrop, the council moved to address the need for an interim village manager. Acknowledging the importance of maintaining operational continuity, the council discussed appointing Sheila Denor, a current staff member, as the interim manager. The proposal gained support due to her qualifications and the immediate need for someone to manage potential emergencies and legal liabilities. The council emphasized the urgency of the appointment, given the limited time available to organize the necessary arrangements.

The discussion on appointing an interim manager was further complicated by concerns about the separation of duties between the Village attorney and the Village manager. A council member highlighted the importance of maintaining distinct roles as defined in the charter. Addressing the procedural constraints, the council debated whether to consider internal candidates like Denor or explore external options for the role. The interim appointment was ultimately approved unanimously, with an understanding that the search for a permanent manager would be prioritized.

The meeting also included deliberations on development and zoning issues, with residents voicing concerns about overdevelopment and its impact on community infrastructure and quality of life. Resident Joe Wishme criticized the council’s decisions regarding additional units at a downtown resort, questioning the benefit to the community. He urged the council to consider the broader implications of their development decisions on community trust and cohesion.

In addition to appointing an interim manager, the council discussed extending a temporary moratorium on new market rate residential building permit allocations. The moratorium’s extension aimed to allow time for evaluating progress and aligning discussions with the upcoming council meeting scheduled for February 11th. The council also addressed quasi-judicial items, including amendments to the future land use map and zoning map for a property on Upper Matecumbe Key. These amendments were approved unanimously after discussions about rectifying historical mapping errors and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.

The meeting concluded with the council maintaining a focus on procedural integrity, particularly concerning applications for administrative relief under the building permit allocation system (B-PASS). Despite concerns raised by resident Jim Enright about preferential treatment in the permitting process, the council clarified the objective framework governing the system and approved requests for administrative relief for properties on Hibiscus Street.