PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Pete Beach city commissioners voted to fire City Attorney Andrew Dickman earlier this week.

City officials said the move is in response to nearly 20 lawsuits against the city, some from the appointment of interim commissioners earlier this year.

Now, after the commission approved expansions for TradeWinds Island Resort and Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach this year, officials are dealing with some development backlash.

Meanwhile, Dickman said he didn’t know his ouster was coming.

“I think it would have been courteous to tell me where your heads at,” Dickman said when receiving the news. “This is business, this isn’t personal for me...To sabotage me at a meeting like this…”

City commissioner Joe Moholland, who won office during the Aug. 20 municipal election, said he had no confidence in the city attorney based on his months of observation.

Moholland, fellow newly elected commissioner Lisa Robinson and Mayor Adrian Patrila voted 3-2 in favor of firing Dickman.

Commissioner Karen Marriott was among those saying it was not the best time for the move.

At the same meeting, commissioners also discussed considering a year-long moratorium on developments.

Earlier this year, there was a lot of back and forth from the public on the hotel expansion development projects.

There was so much discussion that votes had to be moved to different days multiple times, and it all happened while brand new commissioners were put into their positions.

Patrila said he wants a city-wide development pause so they can review their plans with a consultant.

But that's not set in stone yet.

It will come up again at a planning meeting in September.