Post-election, Deltona commission looking for 'bigger and better'

Published: Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 4:11 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 4:11 p.m.

DELTONA Even after voters chose two new city commissioners and re-elected Mayor John Masiarczyk last week, a new direction for Volusia Countys largest city remains unsettled.

Two key issues remain: Who will serve as the District 2 city commissioner after Dec. 31, when Webster Barnabys resignation takes effect, and who will be the next city manager?

Those issues will be decided after Monday, when the new commission, including District 1 representative Mitch Honaker and District 5 winner Brian Soukup, participate in a swearing-in ceremony.

Masiarczyk, who defeated Zenaida Denizac by barely more than 1 percentage point for a fifth term, said Wednesday getting past the election will be a good thing for Deltona.

Im looking forward to bigger and better things, and the enthusiasm that comes with being new and fresh, Masiarczyk said. Hopefully, we will have the ability to get some new ideas, some fresh thoughts on things that are lacking.

Vice Mayor Heidi Herzberg, who was re-elected to her District 3 seat without opposition earlier this year, doesnt necessarily disagree, but says the past year shows a city government that has lost its way.

City Manager Dave Denny, citing commissioners overstepping their bounds, announced he was retiring. Some commissioners talked him into staying on awhile longer, but he eventually left at the end of August.

Dale Baker, the interim city manager, has run into several controversies.

After a 7-0 vote by the commission, Baker fired the human-resources director following revelations of an email, regarding union negotiations, that commissioners found offensive. Commissioners were also critical of staffs handling of the search for an executive search firm. Commissioners had wanted to hire a firm to lead the search for the next city manager, with key parts of the process timed to follow the election. But only two firms applied, and Baker has re-started the process of advertising for proposals.

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Post-election, Deltona commission looking for 'bigger and better'