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NSBNEWS.net photos by Sera Frederick. New Smyrna Beach resident Robert Tolley, a speakng fixture at City Commission meetings, is questioning the spending practices of the CRA, including the nearly $9,000 purchase of an artificial Christmas tree for Canal Street merchants. The 20-foot tree was put up Sept. 15, an all-day affair by city workers and abruptly taken down the next day.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The City Commission and the Community Redevelopment Agency are holding a joint meeting 6 p.m. Thursday and citizen activist Robert Tolley hopes to lambast both for what he believes is wasteful spending with the nearly $9,000 purchase of an outdoor artificial Christmas tree for the Canal Street merchants as a prime example.
The meeting will be held in the third-floor Deberry room of the Utilities Commission, 200 Canal St.
Tolley is a fixture at City Commission meetings where he routinely speaks during the citizen's participation segment. Tolley wrote a letter to City Clerk Johnny Bledsoe asking to be placed on the agenda for next Tuesday night's regular City Commission meeting in response to city workers putting up the Christmas tree on the easternmost end of Canal Street for what was called a "dry run." However, Tolley hopes city officials will allow him to speak during Thursday's joint meeting.
Here is Tolley's e-mail to the city clerk, which was written two weeks ago:
"The last couple of days have seen a total waste of the taxpayers money being utilized on our wonderful city managers new favorite item, the CRA Xmas tree.
"Just the other day I have seen as many as 6 city employees working on the tree with various pieces of equipment, staying out on the site up to 6 pm in the evening. In order to establish how much of the taxpayers money continues to be wasted on our city managers new pet project, I am requesting that you provide a total breakdown of costs involved with the placement and follow up removal of the Xmas tree.
"In this figure, please include not only the dollar costs in manhours, but also the benefit package costs associated with the hours worked.
"Our CM should be proud of the fact that since she has arrived she is now 0-3!
"One more thing! This tree is now being seen as the symbol of the indifference being shown by the elected officials towards the plight of those that continue to fight on a daily basis to simply exist out here, struggling to put food on their tables or keep a roof over their heads, while our city leaders waste all of this money. This tree has now angered the public, including myself, to the point that you are going to need full time security to protect it, as I will surely bet that this symbol of insanity will not stand for long. I for one do not think it will even make XMAS!
"Don't ask, don't tell!
"I need these figures for the next meeting Johnny!
Regards, Bob Tolley