On March 9, 2015, four Commissioners -- Leanna Freeman, Todd Neville, Nancy Sikes-Kline and Todd Neville -- seemed to act in concert in resisting Mayor Nancy Shaver's modest request for a 450th contract audit and compliance review. Commissioner Leanna Freeman was especially rude. Watch the tape at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu_gcKfdJFs
Was the Gang of Four's "massive resistance" planned? If staff and Commissioners violated Sunshine laws to block a contract audit, it would subject each of them to criminal prosecution and removal from office.
Those four Commissioners voted to allow the City's Journey film contractor, Mummy Cat Productions, free use of the city's intellectual property, providing a windfall to favored friends of former Mayor Joseph Lester Boles, Jr. Mayor Shaver proposed charging them a 20% royalty, since it was a work for hire under the City's contract. Those four Commissioners showed favoritism toward a favored all-white firm given a no-bid contract to prepare a mediocre film about African-American history, without giving local African-American historic video firms an opportunity to bid.
Those four Commissioners voted January 26, 2015 for a no-bid below-market lease to St. Augustine Yacht Club.
Enough no-bid contracts. Enough favoritism and racism. Enough secrecy. Enough waste, fraud, abuse, misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, flummery, dupery and nincompoopery.
Citizens of St. Augustine are attending City Commission meetings in record numbers to work for justice, environmental protection and historic preservation. Tellingly, there are not enough chairs. City Hall staff removed half the chairs that were in the Commission meeting room in April 2005, substituting tables at the back of the room for City directors to occupy. Wonder why?
Watch City meetings live and online archives at www.cosatv.com Let your voice be heard. It is up to us to make democracy work in St. Augustine. Ask questions. Demand answers. Expect democracy.
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