The city manager’s contract negotiations emerged as a focal point, with lively exchanges between residents and commissioners regarding her salary increase and contract extension. Tony Bostic, a resident, praised City Manager Vicki Gayana for her financial stewardship, highlighting impressive growth in the city’s cash reserves and a drastic reduction in debt. He emphasized that under her leadership, the city’s cash operating accounts had increased significantly, while the general fund saw a substantial rise. Bostic argued that Gayana’s compensation should reflect her achievements, urging the Commission to approve a proposed salary increase and suggesting that opposition to her pay raise was based on bias rather than her performance.

In stark contrast, Harry Parker criticized the proposal to increase Gayana’s salary, pointing to her initial lack of experience and previous salary adjustments. Parker expressed concerns about her significant salary jump and argued that the city manager’s role in a smaller municipality like Lynn Haven should not be compared to those in larger cities. He further questioned the rationale for her salary increase given alleged past corruption during her tenure.

Commissioners engaged in a discussion about the city manager’s contract, particularly focusing on overtime and compensatory time (comp time) provisions. Concerns were raised about the potential for incentivizing unnecessary overtime and the need for a fair and transparent framework for evaluating performance and determining salary increases. The commission also explored the possibility of extending her contract to December 2027, with considerations about aligning it with the fiscal year and ensuring a smooth transition when a new city manager is eventually appointed.

Comp time provisions were another area of focus, with commissioners debating whether to maintain an open-ended approach or implement specific guidelines. A commissioner emphasized keeping the flexibility for Gayana to take comp time as needed, while others suggested setting caps to prevent potential misuse. The city attorney confirmed that the current contract allows for annual reviews, providing an opportunity to refine evaluation processes over time.

Public comments reflected community concerns about the commission’s decision-making process and financial transparency. A resident questioned the source of funding for the proposed contract extension and stressed the importance of discussing budget implications before approval. Another resident highlighted inconsistencies in the frequency and adequacy of evaluations conducted for the city manager, advocating for a robust evaluation process to ensure accountability.

Beyond the city manager’s contract, the meeting addressed the need for procedural integrity in commission meetings, with resident Rich Walker raising concerns about the outdated reference to Robert’s Rules of Order. He suggested revising the city charter to specify the edition adopted and recommended hiring an expert to tailor the rules to the city’s governance needs.

The commission also tackled the regulation of recreational vehicles (RVs) and food stands, with discussions reflecting diverse opinions on community aesthetics and resident preferences. The potential adoption of regulations similar to those being considered by the Panama City commission was explored, with an emphasis on balancing community order with residents’ desires for recreational vehicle usage.

Additionally, the commission deliberated on including non-binding referendum questions on the upcoming ballot. These questions aim to gauge public opinion on various issues, including funding a local library, stormwater management, and zoning regulations. The idea is to engage more citizens in civic matters and gather valuable input for future decisions.

The library project was another topic of interest, with discussions about the necessity of raising the millage rate to fund the project. Residents were encouraged to express their views through the referendum, which could provide insights into community support for library funding and potential partnerships with regional library networks.