Palm Bay, FL – If the goal was “uncomfortable meetings for fun,” as Councilman Chandler Langevin promised in October, Thursday night was a banner achievement.
What began as a routine agenda regarding drainage pipes and noise ordinances ended with City Manager Matthew Morton reading a prepared statement alleging that a former police official is attempting to “extort” the City of Palm Bay.
Amidst the shock, the dais itself fractured. A raw, personal discussion between Councilman Langevin and Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe over the police department forced Councilman Kenny Johnson to call a “Point of Order” to stop the chaos, leaving the concept of decorum in tatters.
While the cameras rolled, the City’s legal team was simultaneously filing emergency motions in federal court, pleading for more time to handle Langevin’s lawsuit because they are simply overwhelmed.
Here is your post-game analysis of a night where the business of the city took a backseat to the war for its control.
The “Extortion” Bombshell
In a stunning deviation from standard “Manager’s Reports,” City Manager Morton did not discuss budgets or potholes. Instead, he read a defiant statement regarding the ongoing friction within the Police Department.
Morton alleged that he and others have been told that the negative publicity surrounding the department: specifically a YouTube channel and rumors of affairs “will all go away” if two conditions are met:
Specific police employees are fired.
A payment of $450,000 is made to settle a claim.
“If this is not corruption, what is?” Morton asked.
He concluded by stating he is contemplating filing a criminal complaint for “attempted extortion of a public official” and subpoenaing the individuals involved.
The allegation provided immediate context to a public comment made earlier in the evening. Resident Michael Bruyette had demanded the “immediate termination” of Officer Shawn Rollins and the resignation of City Attorney Patricia Smith. Holding up a “20-page email,” Bruyette claimed the document removed the city’s qualified immunity and demanded that former Deputy Chief Lance Fischer be given a platform to speak. a demand that aligns with Morton’s description of the pressure campaign.
The War on the Dais: “You are a Coward”
The tension migrated to the Council members themselves during reports. Deputy Mayor Jaffe, citing the charter, expressed concern over the repeated controversies involving Officer Sean Rollins. Jaffe stated he was just “expressing his views freely” and asking for the city to fully vet its employees.
Councilman Langevin immediately counter-attacked.
Claiming Jaffy was undermining the police chief and city manager for political gain during an election cycle, Langevin did not mince words:
“I think your comments are disgraceful. I think you lack integrity and I think you are a coward.”
The exchange devolved into a contentious exchange. Councilman Kenny Johnson eventually intervened, calling a “Point of Order” to stop the personal attacks and scolding his colleagues for turning the meeting into a “spectacle” and a “mockery.”
The mood in the room had been set earlier by resident Parker Allen, who delivered a stinging, satirical “prayer” mocking the concept of police immunity. Thanking God that “any murder [federal agents] commit should not be questioned,” Allen’s sarcasm highlighted the deep anti-establishment current running through the chambers.
The Legal Reality: “We Are Overwhelmed”
While Morton and Langevin went on the offensive in the chambers, the City Attorney’s office was on the defensive in Federal Court.
New court filings obtained by The Palm Bayer reveal the City has filed a “Time Sensitive Motion to Continue Trial” in the Langevin v. City of Palm Bay First Amendment case.
The City is asking to delay the January 21 trial, admitting they are struggling to prepare. The motion cites:
Staffing Crisis: A key attorney is on FMLA, leaving the office short-handed.
Refusal of Outside Counsel: The City tried to hire outside lawyers, but they refused to take the case on such short notice.
The Holidays: Key witnesses and council members were traveling, making interviews impossible.
The Takeaway: The City is fighting a multi-front war: internal extortion claims, federal lawsuits, and personnel shortages—and they are blinking.
Policy Amidst the Chaos
Despite the fireworks, the machinery of government did manage to churn out significant decisions, largely driven by citizen pressure.
The “Drainage Ditch” Revolt
Residents of Palm Bay Estates, a 55+ co-op community, arrived in force to protest the City classifying their waterway as a “drainage ditch” and refusing to fix a collapsed pipe destroying their road. The pressure worked. In a rare real-time administrative move, City Manager Morton announced from the podium that he had secured steel plates to cover the hole temporarily while a long-term agreement is negotiated.
Surveillance Spending
Resident Kristen Lanzanna returned to the podium for the 10th time to question the “Flock” license plate reader program, noting the city has spent nearly $250,000 on it. This sparked a sharp divide on the dais: Mayor Medina dismissed the need for a workshop, calling the cameras “a tool,” while Councilman Johnson pushed back, asking for the data to determine if the cost is justified.
Turkey Creek & Weekend Noise
Turkey Creek Grant ($1M): The Council accepted $1M from the state for water quality baffle boxes. The vote was 4-1, with Langevin dissenting. He argued that while baffle boxes are good, the city has many, and the $800k matching funds could have been used to lower taxes or buy a fire truck.
Weekend Peace: The noise ordinance passed, restricting construction noise from 9:00 p.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. Monday.
What’s Next?
The Langevin v. City trial is still set for January 21 unless Judge Presnell grants the delay. Meanwhile, City Manager Morton has drawn a line in the sand. If he files a criminal complaint regarding the “extortion,” this political dispute will become a criminal investigation.
We will update this story as court rulings are released.
