At this time, we're going to go ahead and call this special commission meeting into order for Monday, September 22nd, 2025. If we could please have the city clerk call the roll. Commissioner Villa-Vasquez. Present. Commissioner Caldwell. Here. Commissioner Howington. Here. Commissioner Santiago. Here. Vice Mayor Harriet. Present. Mayor Villa. Here. Thank you. If I can please have everyone stand for the pledge, and I'll let Vice Mayor Harriet lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. I'm going to address this really quick. The deputies have now warned you both twice, three times, four times. There's a reason why you guys can't sit back there. If everybody in this audience kept moving their seats around everywhere around us, the seats would be dispersed. I'm going to ask you one last time. Please put the seats where they go. You're not staffed. You're not authorized to move chairs around and sit wherever you want. People have complained that they try to cross over there, and they're afraid of tripping over you guys. So I'm going to ask you kindly if you can please just sit where everyone else sits. There's nothing wrong with that. Thank you. All right. If I can please have the city attorney read the first action item. Yes, Mr. Mayor. This is action item 4A, ranking and selection of an individual to fill the remainder of the District 6 commission seat. As you are all aware, Commissioner Lully submitted his resignation letter to the City of Deltona on August 27, 2025, with an effective date of the same day. The process used to fill the vacancy is the same as used in the past and is set in City Charter Section 5, City Commission. The commission vacancy was advertised on the city's website, and the deadline for applications was by noon on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Thank you. City Clerk, I think before we proceed to public comment, you had there's – go ahead. There was one person that applied, I believe, Sunday, late, 1055-ish, which is in front of each of you, his e-mail, as well as all of his attachments. You have to decide whether you're going to include him in the rankings before I pass out the ranking sheet. Okay. Is it the will of this commission to leave him off the ranking sheet or to add him? I mean, we had a hard deadline, and if we add him, I mean, that's the will of the commission, but that technically means anybody can come up to the mic and add themselves as well. So what is the motion that I hear from anyone on the floor? Can you click on your mic, please? It is my will not to allow it. Can you make that into a motion, please? I make a motion to not allow a late entry. All right. There's a motion by Commissioner Caldwell. Commissioner Howington, you're next. I'll second. All right. Can we do a – do you want a simple vote? Okay. All right. All those in favor of the motion, say yes. Aye. Yes. All those opposed? All right. The motion passes unanimously. All right. At this time, we're going to go ahead and move forward. Can you please present us with the scaling cards? And while that's happening, we'll go ahead and start with public comments so we can hear from the public before we start ranking the candidates, please. Carolyn Hickerson, please. I wasn't sure there would be public comments today, so this is kind of a random comment, but it does kind of tie in tonight as well. So, Mayor, Commissioners, and City Manager, I want to appeal to our shared human dignity. In light of the events of the last three weeks or so, I'd like everyone to take a deep breath and look inside ourselves. Dori may have some ideas worth discussing. Dori may have some valid points. Ms. Carolyn, I don't mean to take your time. Is this regarding the vote right now or for the budget? Well, it does go into the vote, but no. This is specifically for the vote. Okay. They told me I could have it, so I'll apologize. Thank you. Dori, Wanneke, please. Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. I spent most of yesterday reading over all the applications while I was watching an amazing celebration of life on TV, and I realized the true qualifications for District 6 is to be kind, to be respectful, and to listen. I witnessed 2,000, over 200,000 people being kind, listening, and respecting. It shouldn't matter if you're red or blue. We all need to think purple. It's a thankless job up there, and I want to thank every one of you for giving your time and listening to the people. The staff does an amazing job. I feel the city's done an amazing job getting a great staff. Doc, you've been amazing. I appreciate everything you and the attorneys do for us. I just wanted to let you know that I've got all your backs. Thank you. And whoever is elected is more than welcome to join us at Pineite, and all of you also are welcome to join us. I know I've seen some of you. Thank you. Thank you. Kathy Bryan, please. Kathy Bryan. Oh, Bryan. Oh, I'm sorry. Kathy O'Brien. Good evening, Kathy Bryan, Deltona. I hope that all of you have spoken to the residents of District 6 to get their opinions and who they want in that seat because it feels like there's been a lot of backdoor deals, a lot of process changes that happened when they shouldn't have happened, people popping out of the woodwork that I don't know who knows anything about them or otherwise. There's a lot of sensitive areas in District 6, and it's my hope that whoever gets that seat is going to continue to support those areas. It's my hope that they're going to work with the commission, and we're not just putting somebody in there who's going to vote the way some of you want them to vote. Now, while the District 6 person represents us all when it comes to things like budget, things that help the whole city, so, you know, in a way, we all have a vested interest in this, but like I said, it's my hope that you guys have spoken to the residents of District 6 and got their opinion because otherwise I might have questions about how this whole thing ran and went. Thank you. Thank you. David Sosa, please. David Sosa, applicant for interim District 6 position. Former Deltona City Commissioner for District 6. Now, when Nick unfortunately left, it created a vacancy at a very critical time. We have a millage rate vote tonight. We have a budget vote tonight. Like, since I've been gone from the commission, I have followed very closely to everything. I know the budget inside and out, and I know where we can cut and where we can't cut and where the millage rate should be. That is crucial for tonight's vote. So tonight's vote is the most important going forward until next year when this goes to an election. Personally, I prefer that the people vote for who they want to represent them. But under our charter, it goes to an appointment until next year. So, the will of the people must speak. Now, I know for a fact that all of you have received at a minimum of 50 emails showing support for me to be appointed to this position. I know I've gotten carbon copied on many of them. I did ask how many other applicants got, and the answer was zero. So, if we are going to do the will of the people, I think you need to follow the will of the people. Thank you. Thank you. Catherine O'Brien. Guys, we're not doing the clapping. We can't hear who's being called next. Very adult. Good job. It's my time. I'm sorry. My name is Catherine O'Brien. I live at 694 Riggs Avenue, Osteen, Deltona. I've known David Sosa for 15-plus years. I appreciated him when he was our commissioner previously. I think he really works on the landowners, the residents' behalf, and I would ask that you please vote for him. Thank you. Thank you. David. I apologize. David on Holly Street. Yes. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, Commissioners. Dave Markle, Hanley Street, Deltona. As you move forward this evening in filling the open District 6 seat, I ask that you make this decision with one guiding principle. What is best for the citizens of District 6? This appointment is not about personal preferences, political alliances, or longstanding relationships. It's about ensuring that the residents of District 6 and our community as a whole are represented with the most qualified and capable candidate. The people of District 6 and Deltona deserve a commissioner who brings knowledge, integrity, and commitment to the role from day one. That means looking at each applicant fairly, setting aside personal and political agendas, and guarding against implicit biases that could influence the outcome. Every applicant should be measured by their qualifications, their vision of our community, and their proven ability to serve the public. The decision is not just about filling a vacancy. It's about building trust with the residents who expect their leaders to act with transparency, fairness, and accountability. The choice you make tonight will not reflect only this commission, but the future of our city. I urge you to place the citizens first and ensure that District 6 is represented by the applicant who is best prepared to serve with dedication and effectiveness. That is what the citizens of District 6 and Deltona deserve. Thank you. Mayor, that closes for public comments. I think Commissioner Villavasco is here. Okay. All right. So we'll take about five minutes to do the ranking system, and then once we're done, if I can just get the commissioners to kind of click on your button to know that you're finished, that way I know that you guys are done. And then if you want to speak, we can speak at that time. Just make sure everybody signs the bottom of the ranking sheet and you rank all of them. Thank you. Vice Mayor, did you want to say something? All right. Whether tallying it up, if any other commissioner wants to speak, you're free to do so. Just let me know. Go ahead and click on it again. This was not an easy thing to do. Residents have been very vocal. There's no doubt that there was a lot of campaigning on one person's behalf, which is phenomenal. I think one of the last speakers spoke about integrity in that position, and that is something that is integral to the function of a city commissioner. So everybody should know that the same day that Commissioner Lully resigned, August 27th, I received a phone call from David Sosa's wife trying to make a deal that if I vote for Mr. Sosa, then his stepdaughter wouldn't run against me next year. So, if there was a way to not vote for somebody, then that would have been my request that we don't vote or take consideration for him because of that. And then also to receive calls that one commissioner's or one applicant's wife is also going to the Republican Party threatening that if we don't put in a Republican, then they're going to remember that next year and vote us all out. My vote up here is based off of one thing, what's best for the residents. That is it. It's not about politics. It's not about party. It's about what's best for the resident, and that's it. So, however this shakes out, everybody needs to know what took place behind the scenes. Thank you, Mayor. So, the rankings are as follows. Kimberly Eddins got 21 points. Christopher Novick got 13. Christian O'Brien got 18. Julio David Sosa got 19. And Jody Listerozik got 19. So, 13. Christopher Novick would be the lowest score. All right. This time, I'll entertain a motion for the person that won and a second. Vice Mayor Harriet. I'll make a motion to accept the scoring sheet, the scoring totals, and appoint Chris Novick to position six. There's a motion by Vice Mayor Harriet. Is there a second? Commissioner Avila-Vasquez. Second by Commissioner Avila-Vasquez. Can we please, we're going to do a verbal vote, right? Just go do a roll call. Commissioner Avila-Vasquez. Yes. Commissioner Caldwell. No. Commissioner Howington. Yes. Commissioner Santiago. Yes. Commissioner Harriet. Vice Mayor Harriet. Yes. Mayor Avila. Yes. Five-one. Motion passes. Five-to-one. All right. At this time, we're going to go to Section B. If I can please have the city attorney do the swearing in. Yes, Mr. Mayor. This is going to be the swearing in of the commissioner appointed to fill the remainder of the term of District 6 until November 2026 in the next election. And the city clerk will perform the swearing in. Joyce, you need me to move out of the way? I know you do it in the middle. Okay. I'll move. I, Chris Nobick, have been duly elected as City Commissioner District 6 of the City of Deltona, do hereby solemnly swear and affirm that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida from all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will faithfully support the provisions of the Deltona City Charter and ordinances passed in accordance therewith, that I will faithfully discharge the duties as Commissioner of District 6 of the City of Deltona, Florida, and that I am duly qualified to hold the office of which I'm about to enter. So help me God. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. This time, we hit city manager. Any comments? Yes, sir. All right. Meeting's adjourned until the regular commission meeting at 630.