Bradenton Beach is taking action on the absences of one member of the city commission.
Commissioner Marilyn Maro has been absent from the dais at Katie Pierola Commission Chambers in city hall — and at all functions of her elected office — since the start of 2023.
City attorney Ricinda Perry raised the issue with commissioners Oct. 5, another meeting that Maro did not attend.
“As you know, Vice Mayor Maro has been absent with excuse and I am not getting into any sensitive conversation about that but I do want procedurally to address this particular matter based on communications the clerk’s office has been having with the state of Florida,” Perry said.
Perry said the city was checking with the state regarding assisting Maro in meeting requirements for financial disclosure and ethics training.
“There needs to be certain obligations given to the city clerk’s office to make sure that we are carrying out our procedural requirements,” Perry said. “The position, as elected officials, is a position that has been given to you by the electorate. It is an office that carries with it responsibilities to the public.”
Perry asked commissioners for a motion to direct city clerk Terry Sanclemente to prepare correspondence to Maro in accordance with the state’s direction to determine if further accommodation or assistance should be provided to Maro.
“If no further accommodation is requested, the new step would be to bring that back to the city commission at the next meeting to provide notice regarding roll call attendance of Mrs. Maro and to identify future absences with or without excuse based on the response that the city receives,” Perry said.
Under the city charter, a commission seat can be forfeited if an elected official fails to attend three consecutive regular commission meetings without a formal excuse by the commission entered into the minutes.
Commissioners Oct. 5 approved two motions in the matter:
- Commissioner Ralph Cole motioned to direct Sanclemente to prepare correspondence to Maro in accordance with the Florida Commission on Ethics allowing 15 days for a response.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh seconded the motion, which was approved 3-0.
Commissioner Jake Spooner was absent with excuse.
- Cole also motioned to direct the city clerk and the city attorney to work with the state on behalf of Commissioner Maro to determine if further assistance is needed from the city.
The motion was seconded by Vosburgh and passed 3-0.
Maro ran uncontested for her seat in 2022.
She has served as Ward 2 commissioner for three consecutive terms. She was appointed to a two-year term in 2016 and was elected in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Commissioners also serve on the community redevelopment agency and Maro has not attended a CRA meeting since January.