SPosted: August 10, 2010 - 12:03am
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By PETER GUINTA
A 13-day, $25,000 informational trip to four Spanish cities by seven St. Augustine officials drew barbed comments from a few residents Monday night, though all complainants were already known as chronic critics of the city.
Seeking "economic initiatives" and "revenue centers" for the city's 450th birthday in 2015 are Mayor Joe Boles, Vice Mayor Errol Jones and commissioners Don Crichlow and Leanna Freeman.
Staff members are City Manager John Regan, City Comptroller Mark Litzinger and Heritage Tourism Director Dana Ste. Claire.
In addition, family members of three others are accompanying the delegation but are paying their own way.
The cities on the itinerary are Aviles, Cadiz, Madrid and Malaga.
Frequent city gadfly Anthony Serafin of Lincolnville said, "There are other, more productive ways to market our city to the world. If you have an extra $25,000, why not put it toward Riberia Street? This is a needless expense which slaps the taxpayer in the face during these tough times."
His wife, Judith, asked if the cost of hotels and meals in Spain were to be paid by the city of Aviles, one of the delegation's destinations.
Boles said, "On every trip to Aviles, the city has hosted us."
B. J. Kalaidi, who regularly castigates officials for expenditures she deems unnecessary, said, "Shame to our public officials. The State Department has declared that there's been racial profiling of African Americans who travel to Spain."
Ed Slavin, another frequent speaker at city meetings, pointed out that four elected officials meeting on city business for 13 days in another country was a blatant violation of Florida's Sunshine Law, which mandates that public business be conducted in public.
"A court ruled that the Alachua County School Board could not go 100 miles away and hold a workshop," he said. "If you were having a party, there wouldn't be a violation."
He begged the commissioners not to violate the Sunshine Law.
"You have no business going to Spain," he said.
City Attorney Ron Brown did not address the issue. Later in the meeting, the commission decided that it would review its working agenda in Spain at the Aug. 23 regular meeting.
Jones said, "We're still building that, expanding the itinerary." The group leaves for Spain on Aug. 25 and is scheduled to return on Sept. 8.
The City Commission did not respond directly to the possible Sunshine Law violation. The commission was set to address its itinerary in the latter part of its regular meeting, but decided to do so on Aug. 23.
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Comments (26)
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southernman
Violation Of The Sunshine Law? You Be The Judge
By southernman | 08/10/10 - 12:52 am
I think the city needs to rethink this trip as well as any in the future.
http://www.myflsunshine.com/sun.nsf/pages/FAQs#2
What is the Sunshine Law?
Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine law provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both the state and local levels. It applies to any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for action. There is also a constitutionally guaranteed right of access. Virtually all state and local collegial public bodies are covered by the open meetings requirements with the exception of the judiciary and the state Legislature which has its own constitutional provision relating to access.
What are the requirements of the Sunshine law?
The Sunshine law requires that 1) meetings of boards or commissions must be open to the public; 2) reasonable notice of such meetings must be given, and 3) minutes of the meeting must be taken.
What agencies are covered under the Sunshine Law?
The Government-in-the-Sunshine Law applies to "any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation or political subdivision." Thus, it applies to public collegial bodies within the state at both the local as well as state level. It applies equally to elected or appointed boards or commissions
What qualifies as a meeting?
The Sunshine law applies to all discussions or deliberations as well as the formal action taken by a board or commission. The law, in essence, is applicable to any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter on which foreseeable action will be taken by the public board or commission. There is no requirement that a quorum be present for a meeting to be covered under the law.
Can two members of a public board attend social functions together?
Members of a public board are not prohibited under the Sunshine law from meeting together socially, provided that matters which may come before the board are not discussed at such gatherings.
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paradisefl1
Of Course
By paradisefl1 | 08/10/10 - 02:07 am
it is! And how many Years have they been in office???
Comical.
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activevoter
Trying to keep up with Mrs. Obama?
By activevoter | 08/10/10 - 04:30 am
Mrs. Obama is being heavily scrutinized for her luxury trip to Spain - and I agree the Obama's are out of touch with the state of the country and, I also believe, wreckless and wasteful in their spending of our tax dollars. Are our City leaders following at Mrs. Obama's heels? Cancel the trip. How anyone in their right mind could justify this expense makes me certain whomever it is doesn't need to hold a public office.
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paradisefl1
Vote Them Out
By paradisefl1 | 08/10/10 - 05:40 am
Now is the time peeps.. Let's get it done!
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mubbob
Postpone or Cancel the Trip
By mubbob | 08/10/10 - 06:25 am
Until AFTER the elections. Why are "lame duck" commissioners going on a jucket to Spain? This is a waste of money for sure to send representatives to Spain that may not be in office after the elections.
Also, Why the RECORD commentary about the citizens who care to speak about the Commission's arrogant ways and past history of sweeping valid criticism under the rug because so and so said it. THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY FOUR PEOPLE IN TOWN WHO ARE UNPSET BY THIS TRIP AND BEHAVIOR OF THE COMMISSION !!! Sometimes these 4 named DO have valid points for consideration.
Commissioners, do right by the Citizens who elected you. Show that you can learn from others and cancel or postpone this trip. Show some intergrity and honor for once.
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greasyweasel
"chronic critics of the city"
By greasyweasel | 08/10/10 - 06:49 am
...they're not the only ones with valid concerns regarding this trip...I have a few.
I think that for nearly the entire commission to spend public funds for this when it can be questioned at all by anyone is stupid...for most politicians, if something even smacks of impropriety, they will cough up the funds themselves for something like this....for them to disregard comments and thumb their noses at any concerns, comes across as very arrogant.
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Energyman
This is Nuts
By Energyman | 08/10/10 - 07:11 am
What in god sake are you people doing? It is stupid for lack of a better term to travel like this on the tax payers dime in times like these. We have hungry and homeless on our streets that need food and shelter. You can't pay the obligations of the city and are claming to cut corners to accomplish that. So where do you get off taking a vacation on my dime?
The spanish came here bringing with them desease and other things that wiped out the native people. I am Seminole indian for the most part and my ancestors died in the prison. To me there should be no celebration but there should be a moment where some hang their heads in shame as or city leaders should do for trying to pull this crap off.
Of all the years I have lived here one thing I have figured out is this citys officals are as corrupt as the Obama, Bush and Clinton Administrations combined.
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shurt645
The REAL zinger
By shurt645 | 08/10/10 - 07:18 am
came from Nancy Sikes-Kline last night! She isnt going to spain and made it clear why. I like that lady.
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citizen
No violation of the Sunshine Law
By citizen | 08/10/10 - 07:25 am
This is a paid vacation! No one talks business while on vacation.
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siobhan1970
UNBELIEVABLE....
By siobhan1970 | 08/10/10 - 07:47 am
is this really the best time, financially, to take a $25K trip across the world? wow...get your heads out of your butts and take a look around...the rest of us struggle in this stagnant economy...and you guys think its acceptable to use taxpayer dollars to take your families on vacation...? check out spain on the internet this year...lol...im usually all for arts and cultural enrichment...im a liberal...but i must say, this seems insane to me...very bad timing...very fiscally foolish...happy trails :)
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Ravendriver
August is "high season"
By Ravendriver | 08/10/10 - 08:22 am
Why on earth are they heading to Spain in August/early Sept? This is what is known as "high season" there. I moved to St. Augustine from Europe and trust me the costs of hotels, airlines, etc. are at their highest in August and September.
Additionally, many business close during August so that they may take their annual vacations.
Arrogance?
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seminolesam
is this news or editorial?
By seminolesam | 08/10/10 - 08:41 am
calling folks 'chronic critics' or 'gadflys' is not appropriate in a straight news column.....who, what, when, where, why, & how are all that's relevant.
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Oldmanbill
Ravendriver
By Oldmanbill | 08/10/10 - 08:46 am
You wouldn't expect them to travel at any other time than high season now, would you?
too bad ole junket joe didn't have the guts to go over the rough draft of his itinerary, Guess there really isn't enough meat to justify this trip.
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cduncan
Trip
By cduncan | 08/10/10 - 08:59 am
How about a trip to the square and St Gearge st and take care of some local problems.
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jvinson
Junket to Spain
By jvinson | 08/10/10 - 09:00 am
They are spending the taxpayers money for a vacation. They are statists. Throw them all out....
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greasyweasel
What kind of journalism is this?
By greasyweasel | 08/10/10 - 09:18 am
Critics of this are referred to derogatively and patronized....it is almost as if the commission approved the article prior to print.
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greasyweasel
...how about a trip up and down Riberia Street
By greasyweasel | 08/10/10 - 09:20 am
....they can have a real experience of what bobbing up and down on a 15th century caravel to Spain would have felt like as their fillings are rattled out of their collective heads
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longshot
Spain, ka ka
By longshot | 08/10/10 - 09:41 am
Why would the City want to deal with a country that turned tail and run after a train bombing , pulled troops from combating terrorist with our troops , then votes in a socialist government ?
Longshot
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Guru
The Record
By Guru | 08/10/10 - 09:44 am
Not even worthy of "mullet wrapper" status. Embarrassing to itself and the city.
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Danny32084
Please...
By Danny32084 | 08/10/10 - 10:01 am
There are quite a few concerned and valid arguments against this government sponsored trip.
Please, please e-mail, call, or contact by any means your concerns to the commissioners about this government sponsored trip!
To contact the commissioners, go here:
http://www.staugustinegovernment.com/your_government/city-commission.cfm
The above link takes you to a page on how to contact your commissioners.
Thank you!
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Maureen Ortagus
"The REAL zinger"
By Maureen Ortagus | 08/10/10 - 10:32 am
Then later she is asked a question on the homeless and she states that she has lived here so long she does not see it. (Panhandling locations)
Too funny!
Go to Spain :)
Leave John Regan we need him.
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mikeman
blacks and spain
By mikeman | 08/10/10 - 10:30 am
Leave it to someone to bring up the politically correct state dept warning. Spain is no more hostile to blacks than it is to orientals.
And in case you didn't notice the ridiculous warning was immediately lifted when the material girl vacationed there.
What Spain should be condemned for is its cowardice in face of Muslim intimidation and terror.
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Judge Mental
What a waste!
By Judge Mental | 08/10/10 - 12:09 pm
What a waste of our money!
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mimi32223
$25K Trip to Spain
By mimi32223 | 08/10/10 - 06:03 pm
I have an idea....let's all meet them at the airport for a big send off. We can all hold up our cardboard signs that state our current status (Unemployed, Sub-standard housing, not enough food, how many hub caps lost due to pot holes, etc., whatever the money would be better spend on. Maybe shame is still effective?
LoveGiveVolunteer
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localyocal
Better watch out!
By localyocal | 08/10/10 - 06:17 pm
The delegation better hope that city employees or citizens do not hire a private investigator to follow them like Nassau employees did that resulted in 4 officials being fired for inappropriate behavior.
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paradisefl1
On A Balcony?
By paradisefl1 | 08/10/10 - 06:26 pm
with um, very little on? Wonder if the Record would "cover" it? ;-)
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