Bradenton Beach officials are working with Commissioner Marilyn Maro to address extended absences from the dais.
“We talked with Marilyn just yesterday, actually,” Mayor John Chappie said Oct. 25. “It was great to hear from her. She is working on her commission responsibilities.”
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.
Chappie said city attorney Ricinda Perry would be meeting with Maro that week.
The Islander reached out to Perry by text Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 but, as of Islander press time, there was no reply.
The city commission voted 3-0 earlier in October to direct Perry to work with the state on behalf of Maro to determine if she needs further assistance from the city.
Perry had said the city was working on assisting Maro in meeting requirements for financial disclosure and ethics training.
Maro’s responses to the city will help determine whether any future absences, if needed, are excused or unexcused.
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.
Maro ran uncontested for her seat in November 2022 to represent Ward 2, which begins near 25th Street North and ends at the southern property line of Runaway Bay condominiums and the Lacosta condominiums near 17th Street North.
She is in her fourth consecutive term, having been appointed to a two-year term in 2016 and then elected in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Commissioners also serve on the community redevelopment agency board and Maro has not attended a CRA meeting since January.