the commission'
s
own clown show !
the commission'
s
own clown show !
Produced and directed by city manager ron McLemore.
PFGG, since our early years of reviewing thousands of hours of tapes, and documents, has never had the unfortunate opportunity to listen to one of the most satirical, comical, and unrealistic tapes, as was the tape of the March 14th, 2003 City of Winter Springs Commission meeting.
The last tape of this three-tape session, long after participating public input, of those present earlier, has anything of this magnitude been produced. Although the substance of that tape in the sequence below is not verbatim, it is recommended that anyone desiring to hear the ensuing fiasco obtain a copy of the tape. How to obtain a copy for your listening enjoyment, or disgust will be revealed at the end of this article.
Twice monthly, at 1126 East State Road 434, in the City of Winter Springs, is held the "Show-Of-Shows". It's called the Winter Springs City Commission meeting, and can be generally be easily accessed for seating due to the lack of publicity this show has in Central Florida. If properly advertised, the Coliseum should be packed, and outsiders (not living in Winter Springs) wouldn't mind the least bit to pay admission for viewing the performances.
The newly elected "Ring Master" ( Mayor ) of this extravaganza has his hands, at times, full trying to maintain the flow of activity generated by the performers. Oftentimes his efforts are overshadowed by the boisterous "actors", and the evening's agenda runs amuck with internal thrusting and jabbing. Mayor Bush has tried his best to keep this show on the road, but the actors just couldn't stop making a travesty of the evening's agendas.
One Commissioner, in particular, almost seemed to go out of his way to continue disrupting the evening's meeting with snotty remarks, and just pure bad manners. Even an usually mild-mannered Commissioner, finally got upset with the snotty, out of place remarks, and went off in a direction very seldom seen on the dais. He, too, joined in the fracas, with well justified dialog, to offset the ramblings of cohort Commissioners. The repeated arrogance could not be silenced.
It was as if the evening's agenda had been programmed by the City Manager to generate dissension. He sat back, and did nothing to stifle the rambling monologs of those trying to discredit the dais. After all, the City Manager is the person who writes the script for the evening's performances.
We shall try to put the agenda, as presented, in the sequence and substance of that last tape (tape #3). It opens with a lengthy discussion on annexation as follows ---
SUBJECT ITEM number ONE
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Should the City, after writing invitations to annex into the City, send notices by mail to the occupants/property owners of the surrounding properties involved, and what class mail? |
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NOTICE -- THE CITY IS OPENLY INVITING ANNEXATION --- without publication, or prior public notice. What makes this agenda item so hilarious is --- they can't decide if the letters of intent to surrounding property owners be sent certified, or first class mail. |
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These notices are to inform the adjacent properties of the annexation, but the kicker to the annexation is the "waiver of all annexation fees" ! |
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As noted in previous publication on this web site, and as even discussed during this agenda item ------ the CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS NEEDS THE REVENUE FROM ANNEXATION ! |
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Commissioner Miller says it will take four people and hundreds of thousands of dollars to send it certified to their annexation program. It is mumbled by another Commissioner --- so what? |
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City Manager gets mad because, during a vote, he is not allowed to speak, and tells the Commission the "CHARTER" gives him that right. He ought to know -- he manipulated the Charter. This is the same guy that can't make a decision unless he has a consultant's opinion, or has the Commission vote on an issue so he can't be held responsible. He got his say --- it was the same as the motion on the floor for a vote -------- |
After over a half-hour they passed the certified mail motion.
subject item number two
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Next is the proposal to "waive" all annexation fees, especially those on parcels of ten acres or less to whom the City has issued "A WRITTEN INVITATION TO ANNEX" into the City. |
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It was pointed out that all cities in Seminole County had been sent letters asking about their policies, and only Casselberry had responded. That was the determining factor, no matter how the other cities answered. |
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Also pointed out, was the annexing fee of $500.00 which could soon be absorbed by the increase in property taxes. Not to mention the exorbitant service taxes as on water bills, phone, TV cable and etc.. |
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They even went further ----- it would include anyone wanting to annex into the City, regardless of the acreage. THE CITY NEEDS ALL THE REVENUE BASE THEY CAN GET ! |
Not too much more discussion took place. the motion passed unanimously !
the bickering continued
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At one time during the antagonizing Commissioner's comical dialog, and interruptions, he called his dais companions the "CUTIE-PIES". |
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Commissioner Miller then asked the Mayor to be removed from this "CUTIE-PIE" category. The real move should have been for the snippy Commissioner to have been removed from the dais --- after all, it was getting close to his bed time, at which point he usually walks off the dais. His removal should have taken place, because of the remark, and there is nothing cute about the disruptive Commissioner. |
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The next fiasco that took place was when the arrogant Commissioner challenged his fellow Commissioner regarding his memory of an issue. At that time the "challenged" Commissioner was willing to bet $100, with proceeds to go to the Senior Center. The arrogant Commissioner then uttered a few mumblings, and refused to bet the Commissioner, unless he went outside. He said something about gambling being illegal in the Commission chambers. |
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The Commissioner, who called his fellow Commissioners "CUTIE-PIES ", the Commissioner who made allegations about another Commissioner's memory, and refused to accept a bet challenge --- had ALL evening made sniping remarks. That Commissioner should have stayed home. His lack of protocol, manners, and his constant insertion of foot-in-mouth disease was atrocious. |
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The next tirade to be addressed was the picture show presentation of Commissioner Miller from his seat, who lamented on the destruction of some tree, the trash dumpsters, and a fence along the Moss Road Park. Here's another Commissioner who ought to check his facts before inserting-foot ! |
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Commissioner Miller made the remark that if the condition of the fence that he had shown had occurred in Tuscawilla, -- "the whole room would be full, and you'd (?) be jumping through hoops to take care of the problem". TCH -- TCH Commissioner Miller --- you want to see something --click [ here ] |
Commissioner Miller, if you're going to make a statement --- make sure you know what you're talking about !
As stated at the beginning of this page, we would tell you how to obtain a copy of this extraordinary meeting's tapes. All three of the tapes could be ordered from the City, and picked up at City Hall for $3.75. In fairness to the City Clerk's office, we are offering another way of obtaining a copy of the Number Three tape of this meeting. The women in the clerk's office have their hands full just keeping up with their business, and transcribing meetings such as the one referenced.
PFGG will offer to send you the third tape for a charge of $6.95 which includes tape, packaging, and postage. Just send to our address on our homepage, your name, full address, and remittance. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery. You'll chuckle and ask yourself ---
"DID WE REALLY ELECT THESE PEOPLE ?"
[ ka-ching ] ** [ pros or cons ? ]