A point of contention was the proposal to appoint Sheila, a current staff member, as the interim manager. While some council members supported her temporary appointment due to her familiarity with the village operations, others raised concerns about the long-term impact on her career and the potential for conflicts arising from internal appointments. The council deliberated over the advantages and challenges of appointing someone from within the existing staff, stressing the need for an immediate yet careful decision.

The council also acknowledged the importance of a structured and ethical selection process. They discussed the necessity of separating the roles of Village Attorney and Village Manager, as mandated by the village’s charter and Florida law. A proposal was made to allow local individuals to apply for the interim position without formal letters of interest, to ensure a broad pool of candidates and prevent any notions of impropriety.

Resident Elizabeth Jolan cautioned against appointing Sheila due to the challenging history of managerial roles within the village. Another resident, Ty Harris, emphasized the necessity of appointing a manager to maintain village operations and facilitate internal meetings, regardless of the appointment’s duration.

A suggestion was made to organize a special meeting to review potential interim manager resumes. The council expressed an intent to start the search locally, but without restricting it solely to Florida, recognizing the potential benefits of considering candidates from a wider geographical area.

Alongside the managerial discussions, the meeting addressed significant zoning and development issues, notably the rezoning of a property on Upper Mumbly Key. The council deliberated on amending the future land use map and the zoning map, with the aim of restoring the property’s commercial viability, as argued by a representative. The council approved the changes unanimously, acknowledging past mapping errors and the need to correct zoning classifications to better align with historical use and current needs.

Environmental concerns were another focal point of the meeting, particularly regarding administrative relief requests from the Isam Mar Reality Investment Trust for properties on Hibiscus Street. Residents expressed apprehension about prioritizing certain applicants over others waiting for permits, prompting the council to clarify that the applicant was entitled to administrative relief after being in the Building Permit Allocation System for the requisite time. The council assured that environmental regulations would be enforced to mitigate ecological impacts, with specific measures in place for tree replacement or compensation.