PALM BAY, Fla. – In a tension-filled city council meeting in Palm Bay on Thursday night, a three-member majority voted to publicly censure Mayor William Capote for the way he handled a dispute with City Manager Gregg Lynk in which the mayor had called for Lynk's resignation, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.
Two members of the council approved last-minute motions by Councilman Tres Holton to censure Capote and also to have a letter penned by the mayor calling for Lynk's resignation removed from Lynk's personnel file. Holton, along with council members Brian Anderson and Harry Sanitago, said the censure was the best way to end the controversy.
Councilman Jeff Bailey disagreed, saying the best way to end the issue was to simply not take things further.
"I'm sorry," Bailey said. "This is a joke," later adding "just rescind the original motion and put it behind us."
The events at Palm Bay's council meeting is the latest drama to take place in Brevard County's largest municipality. Mainly, questions have been raised about misuse and reporting of federal and state funds for various city programs.
Four council members also approved a recommendation that City Attorney Andrew Lannon spearhead an investigation of former Growth Management Director Stuart Buchanan related to the city's use of federal and state grant programs, Florida Today reported.
Lannon did not attend Thursday night's meeting but council members submitted a video accusing Buchanan of "misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, gross neglet and fraudulent or intentional misrepresentation" in performing his duties as growth management director.
Holton said a formal motion for an investigation wasn't necessary. If there are any suspicions of wrongdoing or illegal activities involving a city employee or public official, it should always be turned over to law enforcement, he said.
"I'm a little bit concerned about a witch hunt," Holton said, the lone vote against Lannon's recommendation.
Buchanan said earlier he would have no comment on Lannon's proposal.
As the meeting was soon underway, members of the public expressed their frustration with events and allegations being made about activities in Palm Bay City Hall.
"I'm not hearing truths," said Maria De Christofano, adding, "What is all this corruption?"
Randy Wickens, a longtime Palm Bay resident, said, "Every week our city is dragged farther and farther through the mud, all the while some of you sit up smugly giving each other raises."