MADEIRA BEACH — Facing a crescendo of criticism from residents and former city leaders, Madeira Beach commissioners voted Aug. 21 to pursue a separation agreement with City Manager Robin Gomez, ending his tenure amid accusations of mismanagement following Hurricane Helene.
The emotional workshop, requested by Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks, served as a public reckoning over Gomez’s performance since the storm. Brooks opened the meeting by declaring that the city was not receiving the “direction it needs” and that her confidence in Gomez had “diminished both among commissioners and within the community.”
Brooks detailed a litany of concerns, including what she called mishandling of the city’s post-storm dredging project, where Gomez provided “incorrect information on the permit process.” She also criticized the unilateral decision to remove the city’s jetty “without commission approval” and repeated violations of purchasing policies on projects including pilings and a contract with Integris…