BRADENTON BEACH – Retired contractor Robert Talham was appointed to serve as the next Ward 4 city commissioner.
Appointed during the Feb. 5 commission meeting, Talham will fill the commission seat vacated by Jan Vosburgh, whose 11-year tenure representing Ward 4 ended on Nov. 20.
“I think I can help the city,” Talham told the commissioners. “I’ve been a contractor for 50 years.”
Talham’s application indicated he would be out of the area from June through August and Mayor John Chappie expressed concern about Talham’s availability.
“Those three months are prior to hurricane season and also it’s budget time,” Chappie said.
“I will make myself available,” Talham said. “I escape the Florida heat in the summer and I have grandchildren up north I want to see.”
Talham said it would not be a problem for him to fly to Florida if needed and he would be available to phone in to city meetings.
“The only challenge I perceive is if there’s more than one commissioner that is missing. You cannot have more than two appear remotely,” City Attorney Erica Augello said.
Commissioner Ralph Cole made the motion to approve Talham as the Ward 4 commissioner and the motion passed unanimously.
Talham’s swearing in date will be announced by the clerk’s office.
Talham is required to take an ethics training class as well as training in public records law adherence and compliance with Florida’s Government-in-the- Sunshine Law.
“Right now, we’ll consider you as a candidate-elect,” Augello said. “Please do not talk to other commissioners about anything that could come before the city. That would be a violation of the Sunshine Law.”
