By John Pacenti
The Delray Beach City Commission rejected a proposal to reinstate a supermajority voting rule for removing the city manager, after a heated public hearing that drew dozens of residents passionate about local governance.
The proposed change would have had city voters in March reconsider a 2014 vote that got rid of the four-vote supermajority requirement for the five-member City Commission to fire the city manager. Supporters — such as Vice Mayor Rob Long — argued the higher bar would prevent political caprice and ensure more stable municipal leadership.
Voters got rid of the supermajority after the city couldn’t get rid of City Manager Louie Chapman Jr., who had lied to the commission about a $60,000 trash bin purchase. Three commissioners voted to fire Chapman, but because of the supermajority requirement, he remained in the position, eventually resigning and receiving $73,000 in severance.
Long, who initiated the discussion, said the decision should rest with voters. “We’re not making the final call,” Long said. “We’re simply asking if residents should have a chance to decide.”
Mayor Tom Carney expressed skepticism, noting that City Manager Terrence Moore has been in the position for five years. “So I don’t think that the commission makes a decision to remove a city manager on an arbitrary or willy-nilly basis,” he said. “I think the simple majority has worked.”
Commissioner Juli Casale strongly opposed reimplementing the supermajority, citing potential undemocratic consequences. “What’s so bad about the simple concept of majority rule?” she asked.
Moore said he does not support the change. “I simply rely on my professional background and training to offer responsiveness, attentiveness, leadership, guidance, performance, and outcomes,” Moore said.
“I simply rely on my background and experience to offer meaningful contributions that will hopefully offer a lasting impact,” Moore said.
Supporters argued that the city’s previous move away from the supermajority rule led to instability, with a revolving door in the manager’s office. Delray Beach is on its fourth city manager since 2015, with one resigning for family reasons, one fired on a 5-0 vote and another fired on a 3-2 vote.
“Every time there’s movement in that office, particularly in the director’s offices, it’s reset, reset, reset, reset, and we wonder why things don’t get done,” resident Reggie Cox said.
Angela Hill, another resident, echoed these sentiments: “I would love to see it on the ballot,” she told commissioners. “The supermajority gives sustainability and stability.”
Delray Beach wasn’t the only municipality to wrestle with the supermajority question.
Boynton Beach’s charter review committee had recommended a referendum that would require a supermajority to hire or fire the city manager and the city attorney. The Boynton Beach City Commission voted to table that referendum at its Nov. 4 meeting, which means it won’t be placed on that city’s March 10 election ballot.
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