SEBASTIAN — Charles “Ed” Dodd sat on the City Council dais for the final time Monday, ending a decade in elected office and more than 20 years of involvement in local government.
Dodd, who did not seek another term, was sworn in as a council member in November 2016. He and his wife, Denise, have lived in Sebastian since 2001. His public service began earlier, when he started volunteering on city boards and committees in 2004.
He chaired the Code Enforcement Board from 2004 to 2006, served on the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2007 to 2016 (including time as chairman), and also sat on the Charter Review Committee.
The city credited him with bringing a business and technology background to the council. One area he focused on was the city’s stormwater system. He pushed for a broader look at vegetation removal in the canal system, including cost estimates and the pros and cons of different methods. After roughly a year of work with staff and community leaders, the effort helped produce Integrated Pest Management Plans for the city’s stormwater and recreational assets.
Those plans set a framework for handling vegetation, maintaining the system, and dealing with issues that can contribute to flooding and environmental problems. The city has shared the approach with other Florida communities.
Dodd also supported sustainability work through the city’s Natural Resources Board and the Sustainable Sebastian effort, which aimed to cut landfill waste and expand recycling. Beyond Sebastian, he served on the Indian River County 2020 Census Committee and held leadership roles with the Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities, including a term as president.
He also served on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments. Fellow council members selected him as mayor during his tenure. He was recognized as a 2024 Home Rule Hero for work defending local decision-making authority.
A Vietnam veteran, Dodd retired after more than 30 years in business and technology consulting. Before that, he was president and CEO of a health insurance technology firm.
In a statement, the city thanked him for the volunteer work and public service and wished him and Denise well. His seat is being filled by Deborah “Deb” Shellenberger, who won election Tuesday.