CC09-04-2025Min_SM LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
Longwood City Commission Chambers
175 West Warren Avenue
Longwood, Florida
MINUTES
September 4, 2025
3:00 PM
Present: Mayor Brian D. Sackett
Deputy Mayor Abby Shoemaker
Commissioner Tony Boni
Commissioner Matthew McMillan
Commissioner Matt Morgan
Nerys Hernandez, Records Coordinator
Magdala Ridore, Human Resources Director
Molly Ralston, Human Resources Program Manager
1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Sackett called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m.
I 2. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
A. Human Resources presents City Clerk recruitment data and the selection process.
Ms. Ridore reported that Human Resources (HR) received 170 applications for the City Clerk
position. The applications were categorized into three groups:
1. Eleven (11) candidates with clerk-related experience in Florida, including one (1) internal
candidate.
2. Twenty-four (24) candidates who met the minimum qualifications of the job description.
3. One hundred thirty-five (135) candidates who did not meet the core qualifications or
demonstrate relevant experience.
She advised the Commission they had the resumes of the eleven candidates with Florida clerk-
related experience for quick reference on their laptops. Ms. Ridore initially recommended
interviewing five to seven candidates but, given that only one internal candidate applied, she
recommended narrowing the list to six candidates to ensure a focused and efficient process. She
asked the Commission to begin reviewing candidates and making selections.
B. Review and discuss City Clerk applicants.
The Commission reviewed and discussed the applications.
C. Determine candidates for interview.
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Ms. Ridore instructed Commissioners to indicate on their selection sheet the names of the
candidates they wished to interview, without ranking them. HR staff would then collect and tally
the results, with confirmation assistance from Ms. Hernandez.
Mayor Sackett moved for the Commission to select five (5) applicants to interview.
Seconded by Commissioner Morgan. Motion carried by a four-to-one (4-1) roll call vote
with Deputy Mayor Shoemaker voting nay.
Commissioners submitted their selections as follows:
• Mayor Sackett: Madelyn Bui, Ingrid Bundy, Lakisha Burch, Liane Cartagena, Cassandra
Killgore
• Deputy Mayor Shoemaker: John Brock, Madelyn Bui, Liane Cartagena, Jennifer Fitzgerald,
Cassandra Killgore
• Commissioner Boni: John Brock, Madelyn Bui, Liane Cartagena, Virginia Smith, Bonnie
Zlotnik
• Commissioner McMillan: Madelyn Bui, Cassandra Killgore, Erin O'Donnell, Virginia Smith,
Bonnie Zlotnik
• Commissioner Morgan: John Brock, Madelyn Bui, Liane Cartagena, Erin O'Donnell, Bonnie
Zlotnik
Ms. Hernandez announced the top five candidates were John Brock, Madelyn Bui, Liane
Cartagena, Cassandra Killgore, and Bonnie Zlotnik.
Commissioner McMillan noted his understanding that the internal candidate would automatically
be included, bringing the total to six candidates. A tie between Erin O'Donnell and Virginia Smith
was identified for the sixth spot.
Discussion ensued on both of the candidates.
Mayor Sackett moved to choose Erin 0' Donnell as the sixth candidate to interview for City
Clerk. Seconded by Commissioner Morgan. Motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
Ms. Hernandez confirmed the final six candidates for interview: John Brock, Madelyn Bui, Liane
Cartagena, Cassandra Killgore, Erin 0' Donnell, and Bonnie Zlotnik.
Commissioner McMillan moved to approve the six candidates. Seconded by
Commissioner Morgan. Motion carried by a unanimous voice vote.
D. Human Resources confirm selection and advise on next steps.
Ms. Ridore advised that HR will contact the selected candidates to schedule interviews. She asked
if, in the event of any candidate's unavailability, HR should contact the next highest candidate
from the Commission's tallied list. The Commission agreed to keep the list as is.
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She confirmed Commission availability as previously discussed: all members are available on
Tuesday, September 9, 2025; Commissioner Boni may be available the morning of September 10;
and Mayor Sackett is not available on September 11.
After discussion, it was agreed to schedule all interviews on Tuesday, September 9, beginning at
8:00 a.m. Each interview will be 45 minutes, with 15 minutes in between.
Ms. Ridore advised once interviews are complete, the Commission will reconvene at a Special
Meeting on September 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. to make a final candidate selection and the final
appointment will be scheduled for the October 6, 2025, regular City Commission Meeting.
Discussion followed regarding the timeline for the City Clerk selection. The Commission agreed the
new City Clerk will be selected during the regular City Commission Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on
September 15, 2025, with the official appointment to take place at the regular meeting on
October 6, 2025.
3. ADJOURN. Mayor Sackett adjourned the meeting at 3:39 p.m.
Minutes approved by City Commission: 09-15-2025.
Brian D. Sackett, M or
ATTEST:
cc c
Liane Cartagena,
Acting City Clerk
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