When St. Augustine City Manager JOHN REGAN fired Planning and Building Director MARK KNIGHT, that didn't get similar treatment. The word "fired" was never used. The City Manager's "spin" was the only "news" --- the article on his departure said it was a "resignation agreement."
No investigation. Not even when KNIGHT showed up, practicing law without a license, representing the likes of DAVID BARTON CORNEAL, who got his way on a dodgy demolition of Carpenter's House and turning the former DOW MUSEUM OF HISTORIC HOMES into a Planned Unit Development, for a fancy-bears speculative $500/night hotel.
So let me get this straight, Record owners, controllers, publishers, editors and reporters:
A. So a high school football coach with a Jewish name is fired, so you blare it with big headline on Rosh Hashanah, announcing to the world that he'll probably never get a coaching job because his players did not win enough football games.
B. The longtime Planning and Building Director, MARK ALAN KNIGHT, serving in the job since April 18, 1998 gets fired by the City Manager, and you don't use the word "fired" and you don't think it's news that he might be violating state criminal laws representing applicants?
Well, Record editors, I just don't think you're very good journalists.
Some of you aren't even journalists -- you're pitiful practioners of public relations for the moneyed special interests who clear-cut our forests, destroy our historic buildings -- for them and the local governments that buy advertisements and spoon-feed you what you call "news."
Speculator DAVID BARTON CORNEAL looks crushed as he learns my appeal from his demolition of Carpenter's House (temporally) delayed his DOW PUD application; at left is fired former City Planning and Zoning Director MARK ALAN KNIGHT; at right is ROGERS TOWERS law firm partner ELLEN AVERY SMITH
Posted June 3, 2014 12:01 am - Updated June 2, 2014 11:42 pm
By By SHELDON GARDNER sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com
Knight makes exit from position with St. Augustine
Planning and building director has been on paid leave since May
Mark Knight will officially retire from the city of St. Augustine in August.
Knight, 49, of St. Augustine Beach, has served as the director of the planning and building department, and he has been a city employee since 1998.
He signed an agreement with the city on May 22 ensuring his retirement on Aug. 19. He is on paid administrative leave through July 15. Knight made more than $93,000 in 2010.
“Mark is in a career transition,” City Manager John Regan said.
Regan declined to discuss the details behind Knight’s retirement. Knight said he is not sure what his next step is, and he had no other comment.
Regan said Knight is available for consulting since he remains a city employee.
David Birchim is acting director of the planning and building department.
A retirement agreement says the city of St. Augustine will pay Knight while on administrative leave and will provide severance payment. Between July 16 and Aug. 19, Knight will be paid his normal salary in bi-weekly installments as severance payment.
Knight is entitled to regular benefits before his retirement, and he will be paid his accrued, unused sick and vacation time via a lump sum payment. He also will get any pension benefits he is entitled to.
He signed the agreement on May 22, according to City Attorney Ron Brown. The agreement also relieves the city from any possible liabilities.
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