All right, let's call this meeting to order. Um, city attorney. Yes. Okay. Um, under new business, um, discuss city manager retirement and path forward. Move to discuss. Second. All right.
motion and second to discuss. I don't know what there is to discuss because city man the current city manager retired on on May 16th and the path forward would be to uh appoint an
acting city manager. Yes. And that's what the discussion is. And the next item is the actual appointment. Okay. Um, so I guess we're going to discuss then some of the potential candidates for acting city manager while we're
looking for a new city manager. Um, I'm sure move to discuss. Okay, we we've got that already. So, if uh anybody wants to come forward as far as uh in the commission first, we'll we can discuss that. And if not, then we'll
just go to public comment or and uh have some discussion from them. I think there's probably some benefit to even discussing a bit of the strategy approach and making sure we're not shooting ourselves in the foot unintentionally.
Okay. So I can talk a little bit about uh strategy is Colin Basinger's sitting there and we gave a 50 vote to hire him to do a full search
for a city manager. At that point in time, we already knew there was some internal candidates that were wanting to step up to do the job. And we did a 50 vote to do a formal search
and allow any of those internal candidates to, you know, have the opportunity to apply and go through the process. So I think it would not behoove us with respect to attracting the
brightest and the best future city managers to at this current time put a in a internal city employee in that position in the position of the uh
acting city manager because it could send the message that we kind of already made up our even though we voted to spend $35,000 on a search. So, I would advise against uh
picking any internal candidates and that's the strategy I would have. I I kind of am on the same lines. I I don't want to put anybody in that is considering being uh in the running for
this. Um, for one, I think it might give them I don't want to say unfair advantage, but um I think it could cause problems um with the future of how we're going to
go about uh looking for a a new manager. So, we we right now we have uh Wes in here. Um and uh per the city charter per the city charter
and I'm okay with with Wes. Uh he's expressed to me that he was not intending or does not wish to be city manager. For me if that would be okay just because he he's not he doesn't have
a motive to try to get in um in the future. So, for me, I would be okay with with uh moving forward with Wes. Um, if if there's other, you know, things that I haven't thought about or if there's other stuff that you guys have concerns about, I mean, I'd love to hear it. But,
you know, this is this is in the meantime. I asked as well, you know, I just want to make sure that it is going to overwhelm him also doing the job as police chief. Um, he said that he he didn't think he would have a problem doing both.
Um, in my opinion, if there was a problem, we could address that again and pick somebody else. But I, you know, I'd hate to I I personally want to see, um, the employees have stability. Um, same thing with before. I don't want to be
jumping from manager to manager manager. Um, even if it's an inarm. Um, so I want somebody that's going to see it through until we get our new city manager. Well, I talked to Wes and uh I told him that we really need him as police chief.
Hasn't been that long since the turnover that we had with police chief and uh I think he understands the stretch position he'd be in as an acting city manager and
uh told me that that he was no longer interested in the opportunity. Is that is that what you told me or is that not what you told me? Generally, what I said, Commissioner, was and and both of you are accurate to a degree. I've spoken with all of you individually
pretty much. Um what I said was that I would be willing uh to serve in any capacity that this commission saw fit. Um is it true that running a police department is uh a job? It is. Um but
there we also have a good team here and we have a good staff. We have built something here uh at least you know on the city side and on the PD side, public safety side where it's a team effort. Um and I will again just say
that I will serve however the commission chooses. If the commission chooses to have somebody else, I will gladly support that person completely. So, I hope that that clarifies that. If you know, absent any other uh candidates that the commission sees fit, I would
gladly serve. If you choose somebody else, I would support that person 100%. Commissioner, thank you. You're welcome. I think a key scope for the interim or acting city manager for the next three to six months is tight grip on the
budget because we're in a critical piece. It's just time wise, right? We can't change that. We got deliverables in the next three months. So, I think that's going to be primary focus that can hit the ground running. I agree. I want somebody also that's going to be
and I know Hannah, I spoke with her and uh you know many times and she seems to be on the same page. I would I would think I I mean me and you haven't talked personally but come compare for the commission wise everything that you say in my opinion Hannah seems to be on her
game when it comes to budget and and seems to be fiscally responsible and um I think you know her in speaking with her personally I mean she has the same mindset you know if at all possible you
know debtree is the way to go. So Um, I think we have a great uh a great team as as you stated. I think I think Wayne did an excellent job uh building building an amazing um team. I think I'm really proud of all you guys. you know,
you guys have been stepping up and you guys, you know, you guys do so well and and I think that Wes's job because of the team, I think he could do it because he's going
to rely on you and I know that you guys are going to step up in this in this absence. But, um, you know, if like I said, it's it's up to to everybody as a whole. I have an option that I want to present. Previous city manager of 15
years. his LinkedIn profile. I'll give you my notes that I'm going to read in the record. Um, I turn public com Hold on. No, I'm not going to have Wait, I'm not going to have the back and forth right now.
As a point of order, could you please tell us, tell the public and for the reference who you're talking about? Yeah. To the department heads by their name, their first and last name if you're going to talk about current
employees and also people who may have applied. Could we know who you're talking about? Thank you. Yes. So, all right. I just passed out uh a LinkedIn resume for AJ Hudson and I will um add my
notes. With respect to AJ, he's here in the room. I've known AJ since my time as the city's waterways and wildlife advisory board chairman before I was elected to the city commission in 2007.
AJ was our assistant city manager for 15 years. He knows the city well and our operating structure. He served as our risk manager and our personnel director. He's experienced in all aspects of how the
city runs, including all phases of the budget process. He successfully guided the city to keep all entities functioning properly during the most serious economic downturn in
recent history. And that was 2008 to 2010. That was a big deal. He successfully negotiated all three of the city's union contracts over multiple years. He successfully
negotiated all health related contracts to keep our costs down and he has lived he lives and has lived in Cocoa Beach for nearly 30 years and he's willing to step up. doesn't want to be the full-time city manager by a long
shot and uh uh he and he's a a good fit and I think we should select him and he's here for any questions that the commission may have for him. Thank you,
Skip. Anybody have any comments on that? Well, I think if we're going to If we're going to um put up the nominations, I think we should have them all up. I agree. And then and then have discussion after that, not just one at a time. If um if there are going to be any
other nominations, I don't know. So, um that's all I ask. Okay. So, we've got two people that we've mentioned so far. So, anybody else want to put up their nominations or concerns? I had a few thoughts I wanted to share just on on
scoping. Um, I don't have any specific nominations, but just in exposing to the public kind of our thought process to make sure there's clarity there. Um, started to think through some of the folks that would be the options and and wanting to talk with Colin and his team.
Uh, some of the obvious decisions and we did receive a number of folks to who self-nominated uh was residents, right? Looking at and Skip, you've mentioned uh I think I'm speaking into the microphone correctly. We'll see if I know how to use one of these. Um, residents. Uh,
Melissa was one, uh, one of the folks. Melissa Byron, um, put her resume in and I really appreciated the conversation I got to have with her. I think she's got a ton of experience and brings a lot to the city. Um, obviously having uh, uh, retire, folks who have retired out of
the city have experience is also another uh, group of folks we should certainly look to and then folks within. And I think that that made a lot of sense of looking at some of our internal directors who were interested in stepping up. One of the things Melissa and I talked about and I also brought up
with Colin was the idea of would if we were to put a possible applicant in the seat. And I think this was something that we're talking about already. Would it limit our ability to reach potential applicants? And and I I'm don't quote
Colin on this, but I think he said that where you have a potential applicant that is put into the seat, it's something like 80% of the time that person gets the job. And so for folks to
apply and go through the process, if we are to put somebody in the seat who is has the ability to apply, I think it signals to folks not to apply. And I think we limit ourselves. So I would offer regardless of who we put in that
it comes with a restriction that anybody who's placed in the seat internal or you know where they come from cannot apply for the position because they think we do a disservice if we drastically limit our pool. Yeah. And I mentioned that I
mentioned that in my opening statement and I also mentioned that when I talked about AJ is he has no interest in doing anything but carrying us through the next 3 to four months that it takes us to pick a new a city manager. Yep. I
think there's a lot of wisdom to that. Are you are you done? I am. Okay. So I don't know. Was there for nomination on that? No. No. I I wasn't putting anybody forward. just Byron because I think I think there's great candidates. Number one, she's got experience, lives in the city, and I agree with the incumbent
advantage. She's expressed a desire, has no interest in running full-time um in the future. So, yeah, I think opening it to folks who want to self-nominate is is a worthwhile approach as well. Yeah, I'm I'm I'm open to that. Um excuse me, could you turn your mic on? Yeah, my mic
is on. Okay, now I can hear. Sorry. Yeah, I'm I'm I'm open to hearing, you know, from from uh residences also that are interested, that are qualified. Um I know Melissa is is very qualified as well. Um, obviously the the only issue
that I have is um I need to have a acting city manager that I have a good rapport with that I can I need I need a an acting city manager that I can have a good rapport with that I can talk with on a regular basis that I can you know me and the manager we all we need to be
a team. Um the manager runs the city. I'm the spokesperson for the city. We need to we need to be able to work well together. Um, so some of you know that um, you know, it it might not be as
fitting for me. Um, Melissa Byron, although I feel that she is very very qualified and she um, I know she cares about the city. Well, you know, when I look at experience, it's hard to stack anybody
against somebody that had 15 years experience with our city as our assistant city manager and knows our city like the back of his hand and has done all the things I stated to you.
Um, yes, Melissa was, you know, in our city as a director. Um, but, you know, her her previous history was, you know, ran the Chamber
of Commerce. When I look at running the somebody that ran the Chamber of Commerce or somebody that ran the city, I'm leaning more towards somebody that has already run the city. And like I said, AJ's here to answer any questions from the commission if you have any
qualms about him. I mean, he's easy to talk to if that's one of your concerns. He's transparent. He, you know, is available. I mean, if that's something you guys are considering, AJ as well. I mean, I would like to hear from him. You know, I'd
like to hear from Melissa as well. Um, you know, I want everybody that is interested that is qualified to have a fair shot. So, I just Um, so sounds like we've got, you know, three people that are interested. Uh,
did you have anybody you wanted to talk about? Um, I I like our choices. Okay. All right. Um, Melissa, if you'd like to come up um and and say something, you're you're more than welcome. He's keing budget stuff. Uh, my name is
Melissa Byron. I, yes, did put my name in to be appointed. And I'm going to shock you all. I'm going to throw all my support to EJ. I think he, you know, I did not know he would step up. I did not know that, you know, he would do it
after being retired for over 20 years. But if he will, he would be your best choice. Thank you. Absolutely. So, but thank you. Thank you, commissioner, and thank you for giving me. And also, Keith, just to point out, I have been a
servant leader my whole life. I can work with anybody and I would know my place as what the city manager's job is and what the commissioner's jobs are. So, so that would not have been a problem, but that's best. Thank you, Melissa. Thank you. Thank you for your grace and
humility, Melissa. A AJ, why don't you come on up? Thank you. Good evening, mayor, commissioners. I am AJ Hudson. I've been uh living in the
city for 29 years. Um I've as Chuck as Skip said, uh 15 years with the city. I started with uh Chuck Bills. I was part of his team. Uh we had uh he he by the way was the longest serving city manager
in Cocoa Beach history, 15 years. Uh it's not an easy job. Uh and um I'm I'm very proud to be part of Chuck's team. We had a staff of um uh that that was uh
stable. I think over the 15 years we may have lost one or maybe two department heads in 15 years. So we were really lucky to have people who had the institutional knowledge to stick with us and we had a really nice team and it was
it was actually a lot of fun. It's most interesting work I've ever done. Uh the city is fascinating. I commend every commission up to right now. uh for the wonderful city that we have today. It's
unbelievable. I mean, when when I moved here, uh Cocoa Beach was, you know, I hate to say it, a little bit shabby. Uh and um the the the commission and the commercial interests have worked well together and we really really have a
nice city. we have when I have residents um and uh and relatives come up to me and say, "Wow, this place is great." Uh it really makes me proud. And u so I'd be um uh I'd be willing to step up. I'm
not interested, as Skip said, I'm not interested in a long-term hall. Um I've been retired. Um I'm wearing socks today uh and not flip-flops. And this is that's a big concession on my part,
believe me. But um uh I'm I'm willing to step up and uh get involved and work with each one of you. I would look forward to meeting each one of you individually and with the city attorney as well. And um uh any questions?
Um yeah, go ahead. You go ahead. There you go. Um yeah, AJ, you and I met I think in 2007 or eight I believe something like that. Um I applied for a job at the city and um I unbeknownst to
me you lived in Springfield, Illinois for a while and I knew and worked for Horus man and knew my dad and knew your dad. I met him. Yeah. Yeah. So that was uh that was very interesting to you know to hear that in a small world right. Um, so that was uh and and you left uh this
position or your position as assistant city manager just as I came on um on the commission in 2000 at the end of 2012. Uh we had a new city manager Bob Micah came on. Chuck retired also and um it just brought it was just a just a change
over at that point. Um but I've al also seen your name over the last 10 15 years as well. you're out there, you're you're paying attention to what's going on with the city. I'm certainly aware of that. And um you campaign for folks um whether they're for or against me or it doesn't
matter. It's it's part of a passion you have for the city. And uh and I appreciate that. I'm glad to see that you you stepped up for this uh position and I know Skip, you must have had some conversations with him obviously to have this uh this information. You twisted
his arm. Good. I don't think he had a twisty heart. Um but um I support you for uh for the interim. Uh and uh that's all I got to say. Appreciate it. Thanks, AJ. Thank you, AJ. Yeah. So, what resonated to me
is my my passion for the city is I really do want to see us kept to a higher standard as far as uh visually, um maintenance-wise. Um, I feel like we could do better and if that was one of your main passions
was to make sure that this city is is maintained to a higher standard. That's that's a big one in my book. Um, also communication. Um, I think me and you if you if you should get um, elect appointed, I think we need to be a team.
We need to work together. And uh, you know, I I'm interested. I'm very interested. That's at the top of my list is individual meetings with the mayor and each commission commissioner uh on
expectations and whatever concerns uh and priorities that you have. Uh would also want to meet with the city attorney uh and get a lay of the land on a litigation and liability standpoint. meet with each department head on
expectations, work in process, critical needs, and immediate priorities, and report requirements. I'm big a big advocate of uh reporting up the ladder. Uh it doesn't have to be a voluminous
report. Uh but um I want to know what's going on. I think that's big. Um communication is is a real big one for I think all of us as well. So, um, you know, that's that's a key a key word there.
And oh, and I know, you know, the budget, uh, the budget process is coming up. Um, one of the first things is get, uh, get a lay of the land on on the fiscal year 2025 budget. Where do we stand? And, uh, start getting to work on
FY2026. Okay, thank you. Anybody else? Yeah. Um AJ, thank you for being willing to step up. Um I'm a big Melissa Byron fan and for her to endorse you is uh is a high compliment. we've never worked together
or met, but um I'll tell you the the resume, the experience you have of 15 years in the city. And the fact that you're not interested in applying for the job um I think is an important thing that she and I had talked about and that she had emphasized and that Colin had
validated. Um I love the idea of making sure that if Wes did decide to change his mind, he would still be available um instead of u partitioning him off. Um, so the 15 years that you had and the experience you had with the stability, I
think is for me an important value proposition and your in in in your appointment uh potentially as as interim city manager. The one of the the keys that I see in having I think three city
managers in four years is the impact that can have on an organization. And we have an incredible group of folks and we've got to take care of them. give them stability and I think if you've seen that stability in play and can bring that that's I think going to be my
highest priority. I will say so I appreciate Wes um true servant leadership I'll say that I I think we are narrowing in on consensus because like Melissa giving her full support to you speaks volumes but I do want to um highlight that I think Wes would have been a very strong candidate.
I wasn't saying he was not. I love his leadership style. I love what he's done with his team and has the highest standards coming from law enforcement. So, I don't think that is off the table in the future. So, we choose now. You got three more runs to think about it. Okay. Um I I appreciate you. I will say
too that Melissa, you conceding to to AJ did speak volumes as well. I I do I do respect your um your opinion as well, Melissa. So, I'm honored by Melissa's endorsement. Uh what one one other thing is over the next couple of weeks I have
some uh appointments scheduled. If you'll uh work with me on those, I'd appreciate that. Um couple hours here, medical appointments mainly. I'd also say I think we're negotiable on dress code and attire. Flip flops are fine. I
I'll wear flip flops if you wear flip flops. Sign me up. So I absolutely disagree. I think uh I think we need ties at all our meetings. Uh, and I'm going to uh write up an ordinance that all commissioners have to wear ties for regular commission
meetings. This is not a regular one. I know. I know. So, um, we are representing the city of Cocoa Beach. We're not representing the waves. Yeah. So, AJ, we're going to go to public comment now. I appreciate you. Thanks, AJ. Uh, yes. Come on up,
Melissa. I mean, not Melissa. Oh, Janice. Sorry. I have my paper. Yeah. Janice Scott, Cocoa Beach. Well, my history with AJ goes back to around
1996. And um so you can mention 2008 2010 all you want, but there was nothing like 1999 to 2001 lowering the building height and the density that has kept Cocoa Beach beautiful as it is without
having an alley of uh 120 sto uh foot high buildings to drive through like in Hollywood, Florida. So I had no idea. I was curious to know if you all were going to mention who all had applied, but they I I had no idea AJ would come
out of retirement, but good job. Thank you. Thank you, J. Oh, got kudos, former mayor. Uh, anybody else for public comment? I'll make a motion. Come on up, Marge.
Uh Margaret Schneider, 191 Semino Lane, Cocoa Beach. I had two pages of comments of points that I was going to urge the commission to consider in making this appointment, but Mr. Hudson seems to
check all those boxes. Uh I washed my hair. I put a dress on, so I want to stand up here anyway and say, "I think you made the right decision. I I think it's the right thing to do." I'm a little bit not as optimistic as everybody about how long this is going
to take because if we want somebody really in the top echelon who who's better than he is and better than Melissa is, it's going to take a while to find that person. But congratulations. I think it's wonderful and uh thank you. Thank you.
Um any other public comment? All right, that'll conclude public comment. Go ahead, Jeremy. So question for AJ. Is there a hard stop in your mind in terms of She makes a great point. Is we've been warned this is not a month, two-month process. If this extends into
six months, eight months, is that a No. Let's let Colin answer that. Well, I'd like to hear AJ. I want to understand if Mr. Hudson's got a hard stop of I have to I I would I would hope that it that it would take no more than
four months. Agreed. Um, but if it takes a little bit longer, um, I'll be flexible. Thank you. Thank you, Colin Benzinger. Colin Benzinger Associates for four four to five months is is reasonable. It typically takes 90
days to make a decision on a candidate. you know, get the candidates, vet them, present them, you interview them, and then uh say another couple of weeks to negotiate a contract, and then if they have to give notice, it might be 30 days. So, that
puts you at four and a half months. So, um could be four and a half, it could be five. And if somebody is not working right at the moment, and there are some very good city managers that get let go for all the wrong reasons, it could be
sooner. So, thank you. Thank you. So, I'd like to make a motion. I I have one more question. Go right ahead. Um because this is kind of part of all this. Um AJ, as a as the um a former city employee, you have a pension. So,
is this salary going to affect your pension going forward or I don't know if the city attorney or I I can handle hand I can answer that. Um, you guys all got the draft agreement for a potential city
manager from the city attorney. Yeah, I took the liberty to add AJ's name to that because I'm very successoriented and it says that he gets no other benefits, no
healthc care benefits. Uh he gets personal time off and holidays and he's expected to work a minimum of 40 hours a week. So, it will not affect his pension whatsoever from the city.
Thank you. I'd like to ask the city attorney if if you concur. Yes. Okay. Yes. I mean, assuming that he is okay with waving any benefits that he otherwise might be entitled to. I had
written all you got all the benefits from. I'm I'm good on healthcare. Um, and I'm good on pension. So, um, those are not an issue. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Is everybody on
the commission done uh before Skip makes a motion? Okay. Okay. I move to appoint uh AJ Hudson as our acting city manager. Second. Got a motion and a second. All in favor? I I. All opposed. All right.
Motion passes 5. Okay. The next order of business, Mayor, is we need AJ, you and Mike signing for Karen, and he's on board. All right. I can do this after I adjourn, right? Yes. Yeah. Okay. Um I
believe believe we're we're done. Meeting adjourned.