Form 6 fallout: Dunnellon comes up with a plan to fill vacant mayoral, council seats
DUNNELLON — City officials appear open to the idea of picking one of their own as mayor and simultaneously filling a vacant city council seat.
The consensus among city officials at Wednesday's workshop is for recently appointed council member Walter Green to become mayor.
The process is similar to what was done for former Mayor Wally Dunn when he moved from council member to the mayor's seat. For Green, a resignation letter would be drafted and Green would announce he was resigning his council seat. Then, council members would vote to elevate Green as mayor.
Then, the plan is to select someone to fill the empty council seat.
Once installed as mayor, Green said, he will be willing and able to serve the city. A full-time substitute teacher at Dunnellon High School, Green said although he's busy with his day job, he would not mind being the mayor again.
Green served as mayor several years ago before resigning after it was alleged he accepted gifts from vendors for the city. Though the Florida Commission on Ethics cleared Green of accepting any prohibited gifts, it found he had solicited gifts. He was fined and publicly censured and reprimanded by then-Gov. Rick Scott.
What happens now? Will DeSantis replace dozens of local officials who resigned ahead of a new disclosure law?
Council member Tim Inskeep suggested the council extend the application process before filling the empty council seat.
Council members Rex Lehmann and Chuck Dillon felt they already have applicants for the job and should just pick a replacement from the pool. The candidates are Art Jones, Adam J. Nichols and former council member Valerie Hanchar.
Lehmann and Dillon felt the discussion to fill the vacancy has gone on long enough and it's time to fill the slot. Dillon said he has tried to recruit people from the community but there's no interest.
This process became necessary when Dunn and former council member Julianne Mendonca resigned because they did not want to file the controversial Form 6, which requires elected officials to publicly declare their assets and liabilities.
The form has caused small cities and towns to lose some or — in the case of the Town of Reddick — all of their council members and mayors.
There wasn't a vote at Wednesday's Dunnellon gathering because it was a workshop. The regular city council meeting is scheduled for Monday. At that time, council members will make a decision and take action.
In other city news
Also at the meeting, council members had a discussion on whether to purchase software for the police department that would provide security for the building.
The technology features facial recognition and license plate readers. The cameras would be installed both inside and outside the police department and could be accessed by police officials 24/7.
An official from Verkada gave a presentation to the council. For five years, the company would charge a little more than $18,500, and for 10 years, it would be close to $25,000.
Before the workshop, city officials had a chance to discuss a bike lane proposal with their counterparts from Marion County.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Vacant Dunnellon seats could be filled at next meeting
