NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. New Smyrna Beach Commissioner Randy Richenberg explains his vote on the Angler's Club lease in this exclusive video from Tuesday's City Commission meeting. Videos from the Aug. 19 discussion and vote follow the story below.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- City Commissioner Randy Richenberg explained why he cast the lone vote against the city commencing negotiations with the Angler's Yacht Club on negotiating a new lease: "I wanted additional information."
Richenberg was asked during Tuesday night's public citizen's portion of the City Commission meeting by resident Robert Rees why he cast the lone dissenting vote.
Richenberg also answered in part that he first wanted information on property survey and a list of improvements and inventory of the property.
"I'll be glad to sit down and talk with (the Angler's), but I need to know where we're at when we go in to negotiate," Richenberg explained.
Judy Reiker, one of Richenberg's opponents in the Sept. 22 primary questioned the wisdom of his vote following the Aug. 19 meeting, especially since the commission was adamant about not wanting to get into protracted and expensive litigation.
"I would decidedly have voted in favor of this negotiation this evening, in contrast to my opponent," Reiker said, in reference to Richenberg.
Prior to the commission vote on Aug. 19, Frank Dalton Jr., the other challenger for Richenberg's seat, told the elected body he believed the focus of the lease should be focused on its market value from this point forward as part of negotiations as opposed to litigation over the validity of the lease signed in 1944 that gave the Angler's exclusive rights to prime riverfront property with 43 slips on the North Causeway for 99 years at an annual cost of $25.
Scott Glass, outside counsel hired by the commission to review the legality of the Angler's lease, said the city would likely prevail in court in invalidating the lease, there is no guarantee of that. Instead, he said his recommendation would be be for the city to "get together with the club and work out an amicable solution."
Andrew Brigham, a Jacksonville attorney retained by the 99 members off the Angler's, said he believed the Angler's lease would hold up in court.
Both attorneys agreed negotiations were preferable to litigation, which they agreed would further divide the community.
Mayor Sally Mackay and commissioners Jack Grasty, Jim Hathaway and Lynne Plaskett voted to authorize City Attorney Frank Gummey to negotiate with Brigham to reach an agreement on a revised lease.
Here are our videos of the Angler's lease discussion from the Aug. 19 City Commission meeting:
Angler's Club part 1 -- Anglers' attorney: 'There's a valid lease in place'
Anglers Club Part 2 -- Outside counsel: 'The lease was void from the outset'
Anglers Club Part 3: City Commission approves renegotiating with Anglers over lease, but 1 commissioner dissents