Palm Bay City Council Votes 4-1 to Appoint Matthew Morton as New City Manager

Morton, pending contract negotiations, will succeed Suzanne Sherman

Morton previously served as city manager of Palm Coast in Flagler County, and has over 25 years of experience in public administration and a private sector role.

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – In a closely contested decision, the Palm Bay City Council has appointed Matthew Morton as the city’s next manager, rejecting a bid from former City Manager Gregg Lynk.

Following a rigorous selection process that included six finalists, the council voted 4-1 on Saturday to extend the offer to Morton.

Council Member Kenny Johnson was the lone dissenting vote. The council had voted 3-2 against reinstating Lynk, with Mayor Rob Medina, Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe, and Council Member Mike Hammer opposing his return.

Johnson and Chandler Langevin supported Lynk.

Morton’s selection is pending contract negotiations and will succeed Suzanne Sherman, who was removed in November by a 3-2 vote.

Sherman had been the city manager since January 2021 and earned an annual salary of $240,000. Since her departure, former West Melbourne City Manager Scott Morgan has served as Palm Bay’s interim city manager.

Morton previously served as city manager of Palm Coast in Flagler County, and has over 25 years of experience in public administration and private sector roles. He is an land acquisition and development executive with Perihelion Group Consulting in Flagler Beach.

Medina voiced reservations about rehiring Lynk, citing past controversies that he suggested could hinder Palm Bay’s progress.

“We need to move forward,” Medina said, emphasizing that Morton was the ideal candidate to propel Palm Bay toward a better future. He acknowledged Lynk’s positive attributes but concluded that a fresh leadership direction was necessary.

The six finalists met with Palm Bay department heads throughout the selection process, who overwhelmingly favored Morton as the best candidate.

The search for a new city manager attracted 114 applicants, with the Florida City-County Management Association narrowing the pool to 33 individuals who met key qualifications.

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