NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bob Tolley tasked the City Commission at Tuesday night's meeting to clean their own house regarding the CRA mess and not just the mess regarding the recently uncovered improper grants to CRA Board members, but all of it, along with the other problems in New Smyrna Beach.
The problem, as Tolley said at the podium ader than these grants and it deals with the overall integrity, transparency, and reputation of the city. He stated his preference was to have the City clean its own house, in “true” partnership with the citizens.
The problem, as Tolley said at the podium ader than these grants and it deals with the overall integrity, transparency, and reputation of the city. He stated his preference was to have the City clean its own house, in “true” partnership with the citizens.
But, if they chose not to, he was concerned enough about the situation that he intended to submit a letter to the governor, attorney general, state auditor, and local state attorney asking them to conduct an investigation of the city, the CRA, the hospital district, etc.When Tolley asked if the commission was interested in having a workshop with the public to address these issues, the mayor, without soliciting comment from the other Commissioner’s, the mayor smirked, but otherwise showed no interest and Tolley walked back to his chair in the nearly empty chambers.
When Tolley asked if the commission was interested in having a workshop with the public to address these issues, the mayor, without soliciting comment from the other Commissioner’s, the mayor smirked, but otherwise showed no interest and Tolley walked back to his chair in the nearly empty chambers.
That brings me to the real problem here.
We have a citizen that has a real and sincere concern with the manner in which the CRA and the city is being operated. Tolley then asks for the city to review its behavior and makes, what some might call a veiled threat that if you do not, he will ask the state to investigate.
Given this scenario, did the commission ask further about his concerns? No! Did they make any effort to explore options or even challenge his assertions? No!
They just sat muted and waited without expression or comment, for the next person to speak, as if it was some kind of computer-generated process and not really taxpayers standing before them. While later in the meeting, the Mayor had time to defend his friend, CRA board member Chad Schilsky and CRA Chairman Jim Kosmas as the “victims” in this situation, he had no time for any discussion earlier with Mr. Tolley, a citizen. It's a sad commentary on who is more important in this City.
Is this what you, as a voter, thought you were voting for? Is this what you expect your elected representatives to do?
Do you want them to ignore comments and protestations from citizens?
I don’t and object to this continued disconnect on the part of the city commission and the mayor from those they serve.
Their arbitrary 3-minute time limit on public comment, elimination of any public comment on specific matters before the commission and improper use of the consent agenda are all genuine impediments to the exercise of give and take between citizens and their elected officials.
I am personally very tired with the “royalty syndrome” exhibited by this city commission. It is time for them to remember they do not own this city nor are they its’ “royalty,” never to be challenged. For you see, they only temporarily represent the taxpayers who live here and need to keep that in mind always.
Kudos to Mr. Tolley for standing up to this otherwise apparently out of touch group.
Kudos to Mr. Tolley for standing up to this otherwise apparently out of touch group.
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