Council Reopens Applications in Search of Seventh Member (copy)

After months of being at an impasse in their search to fill a vacant City Council seat, Marco Island City Council chose Tuesday to reopen the application period through February 28.  

An alternative of requesting a state attorney general opinion on whether to hold a special election to allow Marco Island voters to fill the vacant seat failed to get City Council approval with a 3-3 vote during Tuesday's special meeting, which was held prior to the regular meeting later that evening.  

“So clearly that didn’t work,” said Councilman Erik Brechnitz, who continues acting as chairman until the split Council can select a new one. 

Council members Tamara Goehler, Stephen Gray, and Brechnitz supported the potential for a special election, or at least an attorney general opinion on having the election, which was estimated to cost $50,000 with island residents previously offering to pay for it and then having a Go Fund Me campaign as reimbursement. Council members Darrin Palumbo, Deb Henry, and Bonita Schwan opposed that option. The opposition cited City Attorney Alan Gabriel’s opinion on the matter for their lack of approval.  

“The Attorney General’s office has said previously their job is not municipal government,” said Gabriel. “It’s to deal with state issues,” he said. Further, he said former AGs have referred such opinions to municipal attorneys to interpret the City Charter. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed his former chief of staff, James Uthmeier, as the new AG on Monday, just the day before Council’s meeting.  

Gabriel has been a municipal attorney for approximately 55 years, he said.  

“I’ve been consistent in my opinion,” Gabriel said, advising Council that the Charter does not allow for a special election, but rather requires Council to select the seventh member.  

City Manager Mike McNees offered a symbolic representation of what played out before him, saying that the open seventh seat was like a prize possession being protected in a museum. The laser beams that would prevent a candidate from getting to the seat were all the reasons a council member would say no.  

“If we can turn off half those laser beams, we might find somebody limbo savvy enough they might make it to that chair,” McNees said. 

In case turning off symbolic laser beams doesn’t work, Council options included not to attempt to fill the seat left vacant midterm by the resignation of former Councilman Greg Folley and instead continue with six members.  

Schwan also suggested considering Nanette Rivera, an applicant known for her service on the Planning Board and as a 2022 Council candidate. Schwan also suggested Allyson Richards, dubbed the “Mother Teresa of Marco Island,” known for her service on the Our Daily Bread Food Pantry board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and several other boards. Jason Bailey, chairman of the Planning Board appointed by Palumbo, was also another consideration suggested by Council to no avail as of Tuesday.  

David Crane, a businessman versed in water quality issues, and Dennis Bartolucci were two applicants who had garnered preliminary support from Council in previous rounds and were discussed briefly again Tuesday, but some Council members did not want to vote on any of them.  

When Brechnitz incorrectly said Crane didn’t have a high school education, Crane heard of the live meeting remarks broadcast on television and leaped from his pool, put on clothes, and arrived at the meeting to set the record straight, he said.  

It became another example of how the public process has tarnished reputations and/or hurt feelings. Brechnitz apologized immediately. 

But as restauranteur Joe Oliverio stated several hours of everyone’s lives had already been somewhat wasted at this point.  

The City Charter states that the Council shall vote to fill the seventh seat within 60 days of the vacancy. Each side blames the other for the impasse that has continued far beyond 60 days.  

Palumbo mentioned a lack of trust, and Gray agreed.  

“We’ve had trust issues before he knew me and before I knew him,” said Gray of Palumbo. 

Palumbo’s accusation of Gray and Goehler sharing notes during a previous meeting was repeated. Gray explained that Goehler had merely shared an image of her granddaughter with him.  

Despite the frustration and even embarrassment among Council, which was reflected among several residents and their comments, there was still some support for the haggard group of elected officials.  

“Everybody in this room is here to move Marco forward,” said Rivera. “Whoever sits in that last chair, you’re putting a hell of a burden on that person when in reality, you already have that opportunity to move this community forward,” she said. 

Brechnitz was unwilling to vote on anyone whose resume he hadn’t seen, and other Council members weren’t prepared to vote on anyone they hadn’t yet met — making the impasse continue.  

Palumbo motioned to reopen the application process by a week, Henry offered a second and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0.  

City Clerk Joan Taylor requested to reopen the application process through 5:00 PM Friday, February 28, to which Council agreed. Applications are available on the City of Marco Island website (cityofmarcoisland.com): Click the three lines on the upper left and go to “Our Government” and click on “Boards and Committees.” City Council Vacancy Application is the top listing. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete the application, contact the City Clerk’s office at 239-389-5010 or email the City Clerk at jtaylor@cityofmarcoisland.com. 

Of the initial applicants, 23 are still in the running, according to Council discussions on Tuesday.  

Council gave their consensus to discuss the issue of the seventh member again during the regularly scheduled meeting, 5:30 PM Monday, March 3.