After an intensive investigation by people for good government concerning the disturbing conduct of the Winter Springs GSA director, City Manager Mclemore was forced to request the director's resignation.

            The resignation was signed Thursday, April 25th, 2002, as a result of allegations dating back as far as 1999.   It appeared that little, or no action had been taken even though the city manager had been informed of the ongoing actions.

            While it may be claimed that the City did an investigation, they were not aggressive enough to protect the work environment of the complainants.    Letters were sent to the Director about his conduct, but the problem still persisted.    Where is the integrity in City Hall?    What happened to the oversight of people by the City Manager?

            Early in April, PEOPLE FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT received two anonymous phone calls from two different women asking for assistance about a problem existing within the City Hall of Winter Springs.   Being very cautious, we gave a deadline of approximately one week to submit some proof of documented evidence substantiating the alleged action of an individual in City Hall.

            The deadline was not met, and not desiring to become part of a hoax, or scheme, we ignored it until a phone call that was received on Friday evening of April 12th 2002.   That call prompted our investigation into the "sexual harassment" issue, which uncovered more than initially anticipated.

The next action was correspondence faxed to the City requesting documents and the reply.

You can view those documents by clicking here on --- [ documents ].

            How was it possible that the ongoing sexual harassment by one individual of women in City Hall was allowed to persist for over two years, under the watchful eye of the City Manager?

            Why did the City Manager Ron McLemore condone the repulsive and unsolicited behavior of the Director of General Services?   If McLemore was not condoning the behavior, why was the Director of General Services still in the employment of the City, up until last week, after documented proof of his activities existed?     Isn't the City Manager suppose to have control of City Hall, or is that supposition phony?

            Was the City Manager too busy making deals with developers on the TownCenter to take this problem seriously?   Instead of managing the situation from the start, McLemore knowingly allowed it to persist.   The City Manager, as administrator of the City, failed these women and the process terribly.   He alienated the victims by not giving them the means to air their grievances, and by not following through with their complaints, without the shadow of the Director looming over them.

           Why did McLemore not immediately remove the responsibility of the Human Resources Department from the Director of General Services when it became evident that a clear pattern of sexual harassment by this person existed?   If Human Resources was moved directly under McLemore, the victims who filed complaints, and other women who may have been victimized too, but did not report it, may have felt their complaints were getting serious attention and resolution.

            McLemore's inaction was a clear message to the women that he did not take their complaints seriously.   Where were these women to go?   The top man was minimizing their sense of worth, so the only choice was for them was "put-up, shut-up, or leave!

            Some brave women chose to stand their ground and not leave.   If McLemore can't manage an issue as serious as sexual harassment competently, how can he be expected to handle other serious day-to-day responsibilities?

            Is this the reason for the fishing trips to the Village of Key Biscayne and Bay County recently?   Has the City Manager finally realized he is in over his head, and that the seas in Winter Springs are starting to get rough?   He's been on five fishing trips since signing his four-year contract.

            Is McLemore trying to bail out voluntarily because he is not, or never was, qualified to handle the responsibility of this City and its citizens?

            Where in all this mess is our illustrious Commission on this issue?   If it was possible for PFGG to discover the complaints of sexual harassment, don't you think someone on the Commission  knew about it too?    Maybe, the City employees can't even trust the Commission.

One person on the Commission knew, but he dropped the ball  --- must be a McLemore supporter.

We have a document uncovered which supports the above fact --- click here to view [ THE LETTER ]

            If anyone on the Commission knew of this situation, he/she did absolutely nothing about it.   It must have never come out in the back-room meetings.   However, if the Commission was kept in the dark about this, it only points out that the separation of power is too-well stacked in the City Manager's favor.   Our puppet Commission is at the mercy of what the City Manager will or will not tell them.    Why is it that the City Commissioners sit as the Development Review Committee for the TownCenter, but they are not the Grievance Committee for human resource issues?

            Where were women or anyone else to go when their basic civil rights were violated?    Again, it is clear which issues are elevated as more important to the Commission.   Development and their legacy are more important than ensuring that the basic civil rights of City employees are protected and upheld.    This has placed the City government at risk for more legal actions.

            Isn't it time that the TownCenter is put into proper perspective, in relation to more pressing and serious matters within the City limits.    Is it the attitude of "development at any cost" in this City more important than the public health, safety, and welfare of Winter Springs citizens and its employees who are being compromised daily?   Has the Commission's and the City Manager's total obsession with the TownCenter (designated a glorified strip-mall by the Orlando Sentinel) proven to be detrimental to the citizens of Winter Springs?

            We have another set of documented memos that sets a time period in a very puzzling manner.   One is dated June 7th, 2000, and the other April 11th, 2002.   Could this be proof of an internal cover-up throughout City Hall?    Was this method and procedural manner advised by the City Attorney?

The memos are self-explanatory and highly questionable --- go to [ documents ]

            Is spending tax dollars for lawsuits to defend the Commission's and City Manager's questionable wanton land annexations east of SR 417 more important than properly funding City services such as fire & rescue, law enforcement, recreation, and public works.    City officials would rather tax the people than deviate from their spending habits.    The TEN MILLION dollars spent on the TownCenter would indicate their lack of regard for the necessary expenditures.    The law enforcement issue is a huge example of their dereliction of responsible spending.   The tax structure of the City is in jeopardy.

            It's time to wake up and smell the stench coming from City Hall.   The City Manager and the Commission have mortgaged this City to the point that they can't even provide the basic necessities of life for its citizens or City employees, without taking drastic measures.

            Why do you think your property taxes went up 6.5% this year.    Don't be surprised in their next move to acquire money.    Why else do you think City fees (the unpublished, uncontrolled taxes) are sharply increasing for items such as water/sewer connections and services, impact fees (unless you are a developer), arbor permits, building permits, and many more?

            Where did this madness start?   It started with the actions of the City Commissioners and City Manager with their "pork barrel" TownCenter and aggressive expansionist agendas.   When does this madness end?

Publisher's note:

            PFGG did obtain over one hundred documents pertaining to this issue.    We will in no way violate the trust placed in us by the telephone callers.    It is only reasonable the names on the documents should be, and will remain anonymous by our organization.   

            The only names that should be exposed are those involved in the cover-up, or who chose to do nothing, and the staff in City Hall that knew.   The Commissioners and City Manager have absolutely NO EXCUSE other than their shortsighted  vision ---- the "infamous" TownCenter!

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