Sebastian council appoints Jane Garcia as city clerk

The City of Sebastian council unanimously appointed Jane Garcia as city clerk at a special meeting called to select the position.

Council members said the three finalists were highly qualified. "The three people I talked to were highly qualified," Council member Dodd said, adding that the city "would be highly beneficial if it were to hire any of those three." Other council members echoed that view. The clerk then called the roll of votes; each council member recorded a vote for Jane Garcia and the clerk announced, "Jane Garcia is our new city clerk."

After the vote, Mayor Jones invited Garcia to address the council. Garcia thanked the panel, saying, "Interviews normally are just so nerve wracking for me. You all made me feel so comfortable. I felt like I was home. It felt like my previous clerk experience in New Hampshire." She thanked members for their time and "for your faith in me."

Council members and staff briefly discussed next steps for onboarding and the appointee's contract. Ms. Stokes said staff would reach out to Garcia to begin that process. Council member Dodd noted an existing council-adopted policy from about "two and a half years ago" that assigns the mayor the function of negotiating this position's contract; the mayor confirmed that the negotiation would follow that policy.

The council adjourned after congratulating Garcia.

Votes at a glance: Councilmember Dodd ' yes; Councilmember Matthews ' yes; Councilmember Nunn ' yes; Mayor Jones ' yes; Vice Mayor McPartland ' yes. Outcome: appointment approved.