Unwelcome Attitude Greets Citizens Asking to See Purchasing Records at City of St. Augustine, Florida City Hall

Should there be more (or less) open competitive bidding in government purchasing by City officials? Is it acceptable that our City buys gasoline on the spot market, by obtaining "telephone quotes" from three good-ole-boys every time one of the City's tanks needs filling? Other jurisdictions have long-term contracts and obtain substantial discounts. Why isn't our City using competitive bidding more to spend its $45 million annual budget for 13,000 residents? How much money could more competitive bidding save you?Why was the City Attorney so hostile April 26 when two citizens asked to see more purchasing records? Why would he threaten people with arrest if we did not leave (after sharing no actual purchasing records), send us to another office (for a document that office did not have), yell at City employees, then (for good measure) run to the elevator yelling at us, pressing the elevator button after the door had closed, causing the door to open and continuing the "argument" that he had started earlier?Why is he so pugancious and surly? This is the same man who made it his mission to kick artists and entertainers off St. George Street. How unhappy he seems.Why does the City Attorney become so unhappy whenever people ask to see their government records? Does he think they're his personal records and not yours?Why is the office of the City Attorney of the St. Augustine, Florida so indescribably unenlightened in comparison with other City offices and other government agencies? Other offices are friendly and gracious when records are requested.Why wasn't there an up-to-date Purchasing Manual in the Purchasing Office (which yesterday had only a ten year old copy, dating back to the days of Mr. Pomar's time as City Manager)?Why are thirteen different (13) offices doing purchasing and keeping purchasing records?Do we need an Inspector General to root out misfeasance, malfeasance and nonfeasance in City purchasing?Do we need IG investigators and auditors as a check on the City Manager's power?What do our City Attorney's and City Manager's offices have to hide with their hostile hauteur directed against inquiring citizens?It's our money. P.S. The next day, April 27, we went back to the purchasing office to begin examination of purchasing records. The staff was polite and records requested were being provided. The difference was that City of St. Augustine City Attorney JAMES PATRICK WILSON was not in the room. As poet Robert Frost would say, "and that has made all the difference."