A Key West city commissioner could face removal from office if she misses next month’s regular commission meeting.
Health problems have forced District V Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover to miss the past three regular commission meetings — August, September and October. If she misses a fourth, Hoover could be removed from office, according to the city charter.
“No commissioner shall be absent from any regular meeting of the commission without an excuse acceptable to the commission,” the charter states. “Absence from four (4) consecutive regular meetings … shall operate to vacate the seat of the member, unless such absence is excused by the commission by resolution ….” The last regular meeting that Hoover attended was in June. She did participate in some special meetings remotely.
Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez said on Oct. 22 that she has heard from some District V residents who are frustrated that they effectively have been without representation for three months, and that it takes so long to remove an absent commissioner. The mayor said the rule dates back to when the commission met twice a month, so four absences would have only been two months.
“Now that we meet only monthly, I’m looking into getting the attendance requirements changed,” Henriquez said.
Hoover told the Keys Weekly on Oct. 22 that she intends to be at the November meeting. Her second term ends in August 2026.
