St. Augustine Record letter: 450th Commission meetings must be open

Letter: Meetings must be open

Posted: June 6, 2013 - 12:08am
By ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Letter: Meetings must be open
St. Augustine Record


Copyright 2013 St. Augustine Record. 

Editor: On March 30, 2009, Congress and the president enacted a St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission. On April 14, 2011, Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar appointed the Commissioners: former Senator/Governor Robert Graham; former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young; Cathedral Parish pastor Fr. Thomas Willis; St. Augustine Mayor Joseph Boles; billionaire-philanthropist Jay Kislak, Miami-Dade College President Eduardo Padron; historic preservationist Katherine H. Dickenson; Miami State’s Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle; former Florida Secretary of State Bruce Smathers; former National Park Service Director Robert Stanton; Castillo de San Marco Monument Superintendent Gordon Wilson; and Professors Michael Gannon and Michael Francis. This is a diverse and well-qualified Commission – exactly what StAugustgreen requested the Secretary to do (by July 15, 2009 letter, objecting to the then city manager’s demand for “affluent” members).

Hundreds attended the federal 450th Commission’s one public meeting in St. Augustine on July 18, 2011. There was applause when I called for creation of a St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore to preserve and protect what we love, including current state parks, forests and water management district lands. Last month, St. Johns County Visitor and Convention Bureau’s consultant, MMGY Global Vice Chairman Peter Yesawich, said that a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore would have a positive impact on our economy. The 450th Commission must hold open meetings to discuss the National Historical Park and National Seashore concept.

But sadly, Congress has still not authorized funds for the 450th Commission, which conducts secret meetings/calls in probable violation of the sunshine requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. A maladroit federal attorney once opined the Commission was “exempt” from sunshine as an “operational committee.” It’s not “operating” anything. Meetings must be open. The people must be heard. It’s our town, our time and our money. Congress must act.