Boynton Beach picks longtime commissioner Woodrow Hay to fill in as mayor

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - During a meeting colored by intense disagreement, Boynton Beach's city commission elevated one of their own to the mayor's seat Tuesday night.

The appointment of commissioner Woodrow Hay to serve as temporary mayor comes nearly two weeks after the elected mayor, Jose Rodriguez, was accused by State Attorneys of encouraging the police chief to drop an investigation into allegations that Rodriguez was mistreating his estranged wife.

Authorities also said the interim city manager, Lori LaVarriere, was offered political favors by Rodriguez.

After a 3-1 vote Tuesday night, commissioner Woodrow Hay tried to strike a unifying tone.

"We'll come together," said Hay.

Some of the applause in the large city hall crowd was from people who hoped the Boynton Beach political veteran could soothe division.

"This is what we need, we need some stability in this city," one speaker said.

Moments later though, commissioners Steven Holzman and Marlene Ross called for a vote of no confidence against the city manager.

"One thing that has been lacking in this city has been strong leadership," said Holzman. "This wouldn't have happened if we had strong leadership."

Many residents spoke against the measure of no confidence.

It was defeated 2-2, with commissioner Bill Orlove and Mayor Hay dissenting.

Mildred Hay, the mayor's wife, then rose to the lectern during public comment and accused Holzman and Ross of violating open meetings laws.

"Apparently, you had conversations before you got here," said Hay.

The two commissioners called her out of order, denied her claims, and demanded apologies.

The mayor pleaded for calm.

"We need healing in this city," said Mayor Hay.

"Start with your own wife, sir," said Holzman.

"Why don't you just be quiet and just let me speak," Hay retorted.

Afterward, the mayor called uniting his city job number one.

"I am going to reach out to the leaders of this great community," said Hay.

But 35 minutes after being appointed mayor, there were signs of a different kind of problem.

Gunshots heard outside city hall led police to urge people to stay inside.

When informed of the shots, which were not audible inside the chamber, the mayor walked to city hall's front door for a conversation with officers.

Afterward, he address the chambers for the second time as mayor.

"As some of you have heard, there were gunshots outside and we were not letting anyone in our out. I don't know the details. As soon as we do, we'll share that with you," Hay said.

An official lock-down was never ordered.

Police say they are not sure what distance from city hall the shots were fired from or whether anyone was hit by them.