NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Though a $9,000 purchase order has already gone through for an artificial Christmas tree for Riverside Drive with a unanimous vote in May by the Community Redevelopment Agency, the purchase was not made public until minutes of the CRA meeting were posted in July on the city's Web site. Robert Rees, a community watchdog, spoke in opposition to the purchase at Tuesday's City Commission meeting, asking a series of questions about the protocol for such purchases. He did not get any responses from the elected officials.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- For the second time in two weeks, a citizen has appeared before the City Commission to ask about the $9,000 purchase of an outdoor, artificial Christmas tree approved by the Community Redevelopment Agency in May.
"Who has the power to approve this kind of expenditure in this time of need?" asked longtime community watchdog Robert Rees at Tuesday night's City Commission meeting.
He got no response from Mayor Sally Mackay and Commissioners Randy Richenberg, Jack Grasty, Jim Hathaway and Lynne Plaskette.
Earlier this month, Former New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Bill Rogers and his wife, Glenis, questioned the purchase of the tree and asked the commission to consider more cuts to the proposed municipal budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
During the Aug. 3 meeting, during which the Rogers's spoke up, Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio announced $461,627 in additional cuts, including $30,000 for replacement of damaged or stolen fish artwork under the South Causeway Bridge. A $185,000 request for a massive electronic sign by the CRA was shot down last month by the commission.
The Christmas tree was unanimously approved May 13 by CRA members after a motion by Steve Dennis and seconded by Doug Hodson. Dennis is also vice president and executive director of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce and Hodson was then head of the News-Journal-owned Pennysaver. He is now advertising director for the weekly Observer newspaper.
The request for the tree was made by Parks and Recreation Director Liz Yancey. The minutes of the May meeting of the CRA was posted on the city's Web site last month and have not been updated to reflect CRA business in June, July or August.
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