FELLSMERE — The city has tapped Armando Martinez as its next city manager. He is expected to take the reins during the next City Council meeting Sept. 4.
The council offered the job to Martinez, 66, Aug. 21 but has not yet offered him a contract. He won the position from among a field of six candidates.
He comes to the city with prior experience leading a city, as he was city manager of Bunnell in Flagler County from 2008-2013. Prior to becoming city manager he was Bunnell police chief from 2006-2008.
Since 2013, he has been the CEO of a water-damage-remediation business in Palm Bay, where he lives, according to Fellsmere city records.
“I wanted to get back into public service, and have been coming to Fellsmere for years,” Martinez said. “When the job opened, I knew I had to apply.”
Martinez will be required to live within 45 miles of Fellsmere.
Community Development Director Bob Loring has been interim city manager since former interim city manager Noah Powers resigned earlier this summer for personal reasons.
Powers succeeded Mark Mathes in September 2024 after Mathes left to direct the Fellsmere Water Control District.
Neither Loring nor Mayor Jessica Salgado was available for comment.
Next steps
Martinez said he has started to get the lay of the land. He is bilingual, speaking Spanish, which will help him communicate with the city’s significant Spanish-speaking population, he said.
“First things first. I need to look under the hood and identify what to fix, and what’s working,” he explained. “While I assess, I am going to try and lead by common sense and run the city like a business.”
Being approachable was is one of his strengths, Martinez said.
“I have an open-door policy,” said Martinez. “I want the community to know I am accessible, and want to hear needs and concerns.”
Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: New Fellsmere City Manager Armando Martinez to be sworn in Sept. 4
Reporting by Nick Slater, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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