Palm Bay City Council Votes 3-2 to Fire City Manager Suzanne Sherman After Chandler Langevin Introduces Resolution

Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina disagreed with the resolution to fire Sherman

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – New Palm Bay City Council member Chandler Langevin led the charge in a 3-2 vote last Thursday night after issuing a resolution to fire City Manager Suzanne Sherman during the council’s first meeting since the Nov. 5 election.

Newly elected councilmen Mike Hammer and sitting councilman Kenny Johnson voted with Langevin to oust Sherman.

“Last night, I led the charge to relieve the City Manager of Palm Bay,” said Langevin.

“This new council was given a mandate by the voters to enact sweeping changes to reverse the course of our city’s decline. The City historically has lacked any vision or plans to accommodate our massive growth, has hemorrhaged taxpayer dollars on waste and abuse, and has stagnated our local economy. Palm Bay is in a uniquely poor state that will take strong leadership to climb out of.

“My vision calls for a proven Conservative leader with heavy experience in both private executive leadership and city management. I need a manager that is capable of drastically reducing our budget while increasing services. This can be done through implementing efficiency and by working with developers and community partners to contribute to the city. We don’t have an easy task ahead of us but it’s a task worth accomplishing for all the residents of Palm Bay.”

Langevin’s resolution stated: “The City Council hereby removes Suzanne Sherman as city manager without cause by terminating her employment with the city of Palm Bay. This resolution shall be effective as of Nov. 21, 2024.”

Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina disagreed with the resolution, saying it set a bad perception for the City of Palm Bay and suggested setting performance goals for Sherman would be a better alternative to immediate termination.

Sherman was named interim city manager in July 2020 and then city manager in January 2021. She worked in the city of Palm Bay’s human resources and utilities departments from 2006 to 2015.

City of Palm Bay Information Technologies Director Brian Robinson was appointed interim city manager. The city council will discuss the situation during a special workshop at 6 p.m. on Monday.

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