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Difficulties achieving agreement on the Village of Palmetto Bay’s budget and an unexpected controversy involving Councilmember Steve Cody dominated the hybrid Sept. 8 and Sept. 15 budget hearings and regular council meetings, with a final attempt at resolving things on Sept. 17.
At stake was the village’s ability to maintain current safeguards and amenities, such as maintaining parks, police presence at its current level, storm water drainage and keeping programs designed to help all residents.
To accomplish this the village finance officer Desmond Chin had proposed an ordinance adopting the millage rate of 2.3018 for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and running through Sept. 30, 2026. Due to a new state ruling, municipalities cannot increase their millage rate unless passed unanimously by the council, and the millage rate must be reduced automatically each year.
Besides this issue, Councilmember Cody came under fire for posting a controversial comment about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. That prompted Mayor Karyn Cunningham to ask Cody to “step down” as a councilmember, a view echoed by others in the community. At the Sept. 15 meeting the council passed a resolution censuring Cody and formally asking him to resign.
“Once it became clear that Councilmember Cody was not going to resign during last night’s meeting, Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer moved to adjourn the meeting after stating that the council should not be conducting normal business functions while Councilmember Cody remains a seated member,” said Mayor Karyn Cunningham in an email message to residents. “His motion failed, and Vice Mayor Merwitzer and Councilmember Marsha Matson then left the chamber during the meeting and before our three zoning ordinances could be voted on.”
Mayor Cunningham also stated that she would continue to perform her normal duties while also working to heal the harm caused by Councilmember Cody’s actions.
“Dedicated officials should step up during a crisis, not step away,” she said.
During the 5 p.m., Sept. 17, meeting, the first hour and 15 minutes was taken up by residents making public comments at the podium. Most of the comments were about Councilmember Cody, with the majority demanding his resignation. Mayor Cunningham pointed out that they had done all that the council was allowed to do — they censured Cody and asked for his resignation, set the wheels in motion for a recall petition and contacted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to ask if he would remove Cody. That and the following meeting at 7 p.m. lasted past 9 p.m.
Working with the village manager and department staff the mayor was able to make adjustments to the village’s operating expenses and the budget passed by a 4-1 vote with Marsha Matson voting against it.
“I’m proud of the fact that despite recent challenges, our full council worked together to pass the budget for our next fiscal year,” Mayor Cunningham said. “We also passed a lower millage rate than last year which will bring a little financial relief to the residents, but will also require our council and administration to be more discerning and innovative.
“No matter what resources we have to work with, however, we will remain focused on prioritizing essential services and finding new ways to do more with less. This budget is the framework for everything positive to come in the next year and having it in place adds stability to our administration and hopefully comfort to our residents,” the mayor said.
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