The Truth ------
Last night brought a new black eye for the Lehigh Acres fire commissioners. After almost a year trying to replace Lehigh Acres best chief ever, James Cardoza, and spending thousands and thousands of dollars and hundreds of man-hours, the fire board finally chose Don Adams from Northport. After six hours of interviews and deliberations, the proceedings ended with a 4-1 vote (Commissioner Jeff Berndt dissented). So how much is Adams going to cost the taxpayers of Lehigh Acres?
$115,000? $150,000? $200,000? or more a year. We will wait and see.
The board appointed Commissioner Berndt to negotiate a salary and contract with Adams. This is the same commissioner who was appointed to negotiate the buy-out of Cardoza’s contact.
Cardoza’s last day is July 2.
The other three finalists were William Gulbrandsen, fire chief for the Sumter County Fire Rescue District; Kenneth Craft, a deputy fire chief at the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District; and Gary Weiss, fire chief for the Mulberry Fire Department in Polk County
With no legal notice that was given to the fire boards clerk and since there was no legal notice posted concerning this meeting at any of the fire houses in Lehigh Acres. And since the commissioners did not have a hard copy of the actual advertisement that was (so called) placed in the local newspapers, this meeting should never have taken place. Florida Sunshine Law requirements for a special meeting are specific.
The attorney for the board refused to follow the letter of the law should have read the following on the record – if the commissioners, indeed, placed the legal advertisement in the paper:
“I have reviewed the “Affidavit of Publication” and the Notice published in the _____, 2006 edition of the _____________ and find it legally sufficient for conducting the special public hearing. I am providing it to the Clerk for incorporation into the minutes of this special public hearing”.
Note - Reading this into the record informs the Board the public hearing has been duly and properly advertised according to its statutory requirements (or for the public’s information if there are no statutory requirements).
Since the board cannot follow the letter of the law and their own policy handbook, they made up the process that they used to hire a “Super” chief without allowing the public to question the candidates in front of the board.
Where is the accountability?
The board only allowed the following leaders to interview the candidates – Sheriff Scott, Dr. Joseph Lemmons (who holds both a salaried job with Lehigh Regional Hospital and the Fire District), Ollie Conover, executive director of the Lehigh Acres Chamber Commerce and the fire union leaders for Local 1826.
So why don’t the taxpayers also have the right since they pay the bills?
The district’s attorney, Richard Pringle, threatened the Lehigh Acres Watchdog last night stating, “Just take us to court if you believe we are wrong.” This is what lawyers are told to say if they feel their back is in a corner.
I will support the new chief for the good of Lehigh Acres but I truly and whole heartedly believe Weiss would have been the better, logical choice because not only does he have the education, but the way he presents himself to the public, the media and to other political entities that would impact the district favorably.
It’s time for change. It’s time for accountability. It’s time the board and administration create a permanent open door policy.
It’s time to do what is the right thing for the citizens of Lehigh Acres.
$115,000? $150,000? $200,000? or more a year. We will wait and see.
The board appointed Commissioner Berndt to negotiate a salary and contract with Adams. This is the same commissioner who was appointed to negotiate the buy-out of Cardoza’s contact.
Cardoza’s last day is July 2.
The other three finalists were William Gulbrandsen, fire chief for the Sumter County Fire Rescue District; Kenneth Craft, a deputy fire chief at the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District; and Gary Weiss, fire chief for the Mulberry Fire Department in Polk County
With no legal notice that was given to the fire boards clerk and since there was no legal notice posted concerning this meeting at any of the fire houses in Lehigh Acres. And since the commissioners did not have a hard copy of the actual advertisement that was (so called) placed in the local newspapers, this meeting should never have taken place. Florida Sunshine Law requirements for a special meeting are specific.
The attorney for the board refused to follow the letter of the law should have read the following on the record – if the commissioners, indeed, placed the legal advertisement in the paper:
“I have reviewed the “Affidavit of Publication” and the Notice published in the _____, 2006 edition of the _____________ and find it legally sufficient for conducting the special public hearing. I am providing it to the Clerk for incorporation into the minutes of this special public hearing”.
Note - Reading this into the record informs the Board the public hearing has been duly and properly advertised according to its statutory requirements (or for the public’s information if there are no statutory requirements).
Since the board cannot follow the letter of the law and their own policy handbook, they made up the process that they used to hire a “Super” chief without allowing the public to question the candidates in front of the board.
Where is the accountability?
The board only allowed the following leaders to interview the candidates – Sheriff Scott, Dr. Joseph Lemmons (who holds both a salaried job with Lehigh Regional Hospital and the Fire District), Ollie Conover, executive director of the Lehigh Acres Chamber Commerce and the fire union leaders for Local 1826.
So why don’t the taxpayers also have the right since they pay the bills?
The district’s attorney, Richard Pringle, threatened the Lehigh Acres Watchdog last night stating, “Just take us to court if you believe we are wrong.” This is what lawyers are told to say if they feel their back is in a corner.
I will support the new chief for the good of Lehigh Acres but I truly and whole heartedly believe Weiss would have been the better, logical choice because not only does he have the education, but the way he presents himself to the public, the media and to other political entities that would impact the district favorably.
It’s time for change. It’s time for accountability. It’s time the board and administration create a permanent open door policy.
It’s time to do what is the right thing for the citizens of Lehigh Acres.
posted by Editor Facts & Myths | 8:41 PM
