Public comment and an extended exchange among councilmembers highlighted concerns about the city manager contract process and council decorum at the July 8 North Miami meeting.

Several members of the public addressed the council during Citizen Forum, criticizing the process used to approve the city manager’s contract and questioning whether adequate vetting and transparency had occurred. A public speaker asked for records regarding the manager search and contract negotiations. Veronica Guzman, a resident, said she was concerned about a lack of process and asked for clarification on how many applicants applied for the city manager position and how the selection was handled.

A lengthy and heated exchange on the dais followed. Councilman Pierre Franz Charles directly criticized the mayor’s conduct and language during prior meetings, called for mutual respect and said behavior “has to stop,” citing repeated incidents he described as bullying. The mayor responded, defending his decisions and saying he had received resident complaints that informed his actions.

Council members urged civility and changes to the tone of meetings. City Attorney clarified a statutory point raised during the discussion: if a member is present for discussion on an item, the member is required to vote unless they leave the meeting; if a member leaves and does not return, no vote is required. The meeting included back‑and‑forth accusations and requests to address conduct, and councilmembers asked staff to consider steps to reduce disruptive exchanges going forward.

No formal personnel action was taken during the meeting; the criticisms and requests for records were made as public comment and on the dais. Councilmembers asked for better communication and to return to more civil discourse in future meetings.