Guest column: City and FSDB must work out problems locally not by legislative fiat
At Friday’s emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees of The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB), at which angry and fearful neighbors were gratefully allowed to speak their minds, I was struck by how much it seems we are all puppets dancing to the strings of Bill Proctor.
Act One was 10 years ago when the school, under his leadership, purchased several residences in the block bordered by Genopoly and Alfred streets for future use. Proctor concluded the school paid too much and vowed to run for the Florida Legislature to give FSDB eminent domain powers so it would never have to over-pay again.
Act Two began last spring involving the Collins House, a large carriage house on a residential lot owned by FSDB used to house students. After two years of disuse, FSDB decided to renovate rather than demolish the structure and expand its use and size beyond that allowed under city single-family residential zoning. Nearly all neighbors were pleased the building was being saved, but many objected to the code violations. Over their and the city’s objection, FSDB nonetheless implemented its restoration plan and has moved students back into the building.
Into this cauldron of discord and mistrust Proctor thrust legislation to (1) resolve the Collins zoning issues in favor of the school by legislative fiat; (2) replace the requirement that the school cooperate with the city in its expansion with a requirement that the city serve FSDB’s interests even if that means ignoring the will of its citizens; and (3) give the appointed board of trustees the power to take private property by eminent domain even if over the objections of the owners or their elected officials.
Some have said that Proctor has chosen in his last year in office to represent FSDB rather than St. Augustine. I believe that in his personal quest to right a perceived affront a decade ago, Proctor now represents the best interests of neither. Clearly his quest is at odds with the City of St. Augustine and its residents. But in the long run, it does not further the interests of the school. Long after Proctor stops pulling the strings, FSDB, the city and its residents will have a relationship. Surely the school’s board does not wish it to continue as it is. I understand the board’s priority to protect and meet the needs of the students and their families. We all honor them for what they do.
Likewise, I respect Proctor’s devotion to FSDB, but on this matter, we clearly disagree. He says it’s just fair to give the school eminent domain because the other public schools have it. But that is casuistry. Even if those school systems did not, I believe he would argue FSDB should because it is unique. The simple fact is that one must view his quest not as filling in the last piece of some educational governance puzzle, but as pouring oil onto a raging fire. His legislation will ensure that for many years to come, the relationship between the school and its neighbors and the city will remain needlessly cold.
It will be hard to stop Proctor’s personal quest because through patience and political cunning he is positioned to effect trades with other legislators to achieve his goal. But it a misuse of the Legislature to keep us here locally from working this out ourselves. There is a saying that “things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.” If he will allow it, FSDB and we will work this out. For our future, we simply must.
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Bill Leary was elected to the St. Augustine City Commission for a four-year term in 2010. He previously served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.
Bill Leary
The best thing the city residents ever did was elect Bill Leary to the City Commission! Excellent editorial, Commissioner Leary!
NEFLNative