Healing Needed Here: Monday 1/25 at 5 PM:

Tell Commissioner TODD NEVILLE To Show Respect for Mayor Shaver


Note two inane "Anonymice" comments, below, from Roger Klein and his wife, Commissioner NANCY SIKES-KLINE?


Residents plan to 'stand for respect' at City Commission meeting
Posted: January 24, 2016 - 11:42pm | Updated: January 25, 2016 - 2:26am





By SHELDON GARDNER
sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com


St. Augustine residents want commissioners to show each other respect — and they’re planning on showing up at tonight’s City Commission meeting to make their point.

A message circulating via email and Facebook invited people to meet at City Hall “to make a stand for respect.”

The group plans to address the attitudes of commissioners toward the office of the mayor. The effort comes after dissent between Commissioner Todd Neville and Mayor Nancy Shaver at the last meeting.

“We will all quietly take our seats towards the front of the room when the doors open,” according to a Facebook post from Cash McVay. “St. Augustine Residents Count.”

A resident is expected to speak on behalf of the group about showing respect to others at the meeting, according to McVay.

“The short statement will [acknowledge] that the current Commission has made accomplishments and can be great. But ultimately, the statement will request that the rancor on the Commission and disrespect [toward] the office of the mayor be ceased immediately,” McVay wrote.

“There is so much potential for greatness by this City Commission and so many exciting projects in the works,” said McVay, a Lincolnville resident, via an email to The Record. “Our hope is that the distractions will become a thing of the past.”

At the last commission meeting, Neville and Shaver exchanged words over pending litigation. One case against the city involves four artists who are suing over the city’s vending rules — one of those artists recently protested the city’s ban on creating art in certain areas.

Shaver made an appearance at that protest.

Neville advised commissioners to let the city’s lawyers “engage with the other side. We should not be doing that,” he said, and later told Shaver he was referring to her.

“Standing with people who are suing us and having your picture taken. ... You might not have done anything wrong, but the appearance of it is not good,” Neville said.

“I have my picture taken doing many things, and I appreciate your interpretation of it,” Shaver said. “And I think you should understand that I have many years of experience dealing with complicated legal issues, and that my behavior reflects that.”

But the concerns go beyond the last meeting, Lincolnville resident Judith Seraphin said. She said making a statement at the meeting is a way of letting commissioners know that people are watching.

“I don’t think how many people realize how many people watch [the meetings] on television,” Seraphin said.

Shaver had few comments on Friday.

“I respect my fellow commissioners,” she said.

Neville said he doesn’t think there has been disrespect toward the mayor on the commission, but he said the commission will listen and take the comments into account.

“Constituents’ concerns are always fair,” Neville said. “You can never downplay how someone feels or what their thoughts of an issue are.”


COMMENTS
lifeisgood 01/25/16 - 12:54 pm 63Is this necessary?
Seems like a lot of hoopla over very little drama....I am all for expression, but not sure what these people are seeing? The meetings are not overly contentious, and I don't see disrespect shown during the meetings between the commissioners. Who keeps stirring this pot that isn't even simmering?

Just Asking Y 01/25/16 - 03:09 pm 73Couldn't agree more
Lifeisgood is correct, there hasn’t been anything over-the-top. Just people taking their positions and responsibilities seriously. Disagreement and discussion are not only good they’re a necessary part of any governing body. If they are viewed as bad behavior then there is plenty of ‘blame’ to go around, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango. The pot-stirrers know this is an election year and any excuse in an attempt to make their candidate look good will be taken. Don’t we the people of St. Augustine prefer someone who can speak for themself instead of having others speak for them?