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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.

A burn ban is set to take effect Tuesday in Brevard County, Florida, following a vegetation fire in Palm Bay. The fire was located near St. Johns Heritage Parkway and Davis Lane, and smoke from the blaze was visible from Interstate 95 and surrounding local streets.

The Brief

PALM BAY, Fla. - On Tuesday, a burn ban will go into effect in Brevard County, where firefighters had been battling a fire on the south side of Palm Bay.

'It's super dry out here'

What we know:

A burn ban is set to take effect Tuesday in Brevard County, Florida, following a vegetation fire in Palm Bay.

The fire was located near St. Johns Heritage Parkway and Davis Lane, and smoke from the blaze was visible from Interstate 95 and surrounding local streets. Palm Bay Fire Rescue said crews were actively working to contain the flames.

Firefighters have confirmed that, as of now, no homes are threatened and there are no evacuation orders in place.

What we don't know:

It’s also unclear how many acres have burned or when the fire will be fully contained. No official timeline has been provided for how long the burn ban will remain in effect or what penalties may apply for violations.

The backstory:

Central Florida has been experiencing unusually dry conditions, prompting several counties, including Brevard, to implement burn bans. These measures are aimed at preventing wildfires sparked by controlled burns, fireworks, or open flames in vulnerable areas. In recent weeks, local fire departments have been on high alert due to a surge in brush fires across the region.

Big picture view:

The fire underscores the increasing threat of wildfires in Florida as drought conditions worsen. With more counties instituting burn bans, the region is bracing for a potentially dangerous wildfire season. Palm Bay, which includes growing residential developments, sits at a junction between urban sprawl and preserved natural land — making the area especially sensitive to fires caused by human activity.

What they're saying:

"It's super dry out here," said Sarah Kern. "All of the wood out here and everything… it was a fire waiting to happen."

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PALM BAY, Fla. — The city of Palm Bay is looking to partner with the Florida Department of Transportation to look at the possibility of widening a portion of busy Malabar Road.

What You Need To Know

Tremendous growth and increase in traffic in the area are key reasons for the proposed change. Tens of thousands of cars and trucks come through each day, plus, a steady flow of construction equipment.

Once a rural setting, the intersection of St. John’s Heritage Parkway and Malabar Road is now bustling with traffic.

Much of it is homeowners in St. John’s Preserve where 800 homes are being built.

Raul del Hierro is a sales associate for Adams Homes.

“We just started Phase 4, which is the last phase of the community,” he said.

He says one of the first things he tells prospective buyers is the potential plan to widen Malabar Road.

“The total area is growing and booming and that’s why they want to put in extra lanes,” he said.

The Palm Bay City Council is working on a design agreement with FDOT to widen a 4-mile stretch of Malabar Road from Minton Road to St. John’s Heritage Parkway.

The project is estimated to cost $150 million and would turn the stretch into a four-lane roadway.

The city is refining the plan to get right-of-way areas firmed up and make sure retention ponds would be put in the proper areas for drainage.

Officials said the goal of widening Malabar Road is to reduce crashes, improve commute times and improve safety.

A recent study included bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the corridor.

Widening the road is still in the design phase but ranks as the No. 1 priority project by the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.

Palm Bay City Council is voting to authorize the mayor and city manager to enter the agreement with FDOT at Thursday night’s meeting.