BOCC meeting adjourned after board fails to reach a quorum

BRADENTON — A meeting of the Manatee County Commission was unable to convene for official business Tuesday after multiple commissioners’ absences left the board without a quorum.

Commissioners will revisit two items that were continued to Thursday: a proposed data center moratorium and a request to discuss County Administrator Charlie Bishop’s performance under his contract.

Commissioner Jason Bearden submitted the request concerning Bishop following a Sept. 1 meeting confrontation between Bearden and Bishop during discussions about the county’s hiring process for senior leadership positions. The disagreement arose as commissioners considered appointments for the county’s chief financial officer and a new deputy county administrator. Bearden and Commissioner Bob McCann raised concerns about the selection process, the candidates' qualifications, and commissioners’ access to information about other applicants considered for the positions.

The proposed data center moratorium, which was already scheduled for a continuation ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, would pause new applications for data centers and other large-load facilities in unincorporated Manatee County for 12 months while county staff develops regulations to address any potential future applications or proposals for their development.

Call-in public comments are also taken during meetings for all non-quasi-judicial items. Instructions for participating by phone can be found at the top of Thursday's meeting agenda published online here.

Written public comments can be submitted at: mymanatee.org/services-and-amenities/service-listing/service-details/submit-public-comment