Saturday, March 03, 2018

SAB Commissioner Kostka to submit resolution on censure of O’Brien (SAR)

Kudos to Commissioner Kostka for standing up for the rights of citizens to open, honest, accountable government in St. Augustine Beach. RICHARD BURTT O'BRIEN's behavior is outrageous and must not be tolerated. His selfish, oafish approach to demanding special favors, is a stench in the nostrils of St. Augustine Beach. Once upon a time, such Caudillos and clods ran our county and both itty-bitty cities. Such unethical behavior is no longer tolerated by new generations and new residents. "The sleaze factor" emanating from O'BRIEN is an embarrassment. If Commissioners Margaret England and Donald Samora will not speak out and vote to censure O'BRIEN, they are part of the problem. And as the character Josh Liman said in the tv series, "The West Wing,": in our American democracy "we get to overthrow the government ever two years."



Kostka to submit resolution on censure of O’Brien


By Sheldon Gardner
Posted Mar 2, 2018 at 8:15 PM
Updated Mar 3, 2018 at 1:45 PM
St. Augustine Record

St. Augustine Beach Commissioner Maggie Kostka plans to raise discussion at Monday’s City Commission meeting about whether to reprimand former mayor and current Commissioner Rich O’Brien.

On Friday, she provided a copy of a resolution she’s planning to submit to commissioners to consider censuring O’Brien. The document cites several things that happened in recent years, including O’Brien showing up late or being absent at commission meetings or city-sponsored events.

The document cites other events:

• Then-mayor O’Brien used city letterhead to write to St. Johns County in support of extending the St. Augustine Beach Civic Association’s operation of the farmer’s market at the beach pier parking lot — a move the Commission had not approved, according to Kostka.

The city’s policies and procedures manual says that the mayor isn’t allowed to commit the city to a position without the Commission’s approval.

• The Florida Elections Commission issue. St. Augustine Beach Mayor Rich O’Brien paid $200 in 2017 to clear up a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission over campaign literature used in the 2016 election. The issue stemmed from his use of the phrase “Republican’s Choice” on his campaign fliers.

The Republican Party of St. Johns County took issue with the phrasing since the party had endorsed O’Brien’s opponent. Though it wasn’t an official action of the party, someone affiliated with the group filed a complaint: Michel Pawlowski, father of then-St. Augustine Beach Vice Mayor and current Mayor Undine George.

The Florida Elections Commission found that one allegation of a Florida Election Code violation was legally sufficient: That O’Brien campaigned via the ad based on party affiliation in a non-partisan race. As part of the consent order with the elections commission, O’Brien paid a civil penalty of $200 to the Florida Elections Commission to avoid an investigation into the allegation. Signing the order didn’t mean he admitted or denied wrongdoing.

In fact, O’Brien said the issue was “a lot of fanfare going on about nothing.” O’Brien also said he was a Republican and was a choice of two opponents.


“I feel like it was a very appropriate mailer because there was a choice of two Republicans running for the same seat,” O’Brien said during a previous interview.

• Kostka’s resolution also references the setback violation of a conditional use permit on property on F Street owned by O’Brien and his wife, Lauren Ringhaver, via their business.

The conditional use permit that allowed construction of the property required a western setback of 15 feet, but work stopped on the property once the city realized it was being built with about a 12-foot setback.

While there were differing opinions between the city’s side and O’Brien’s about how the error came to be, and where the blame should lie, commissioners voted 3-1 in 2017 to fine O’Brien’s team $25,000 and allow his request to adjust the permit to keep the building’s setback.

Kostka said on Friday that her main issue with that decision, which she voted against, is that O’Brien didn’t follow the rules of the original permit. His error, she said, cost city officials and commissioners time and resources.

Kostka said people have spoken to her with concerns about O’Brien, including asking about “why they feel he as though he is getting away with things,” which is why she wanted to have a discussion on whether to censure him, she said.

Kostka’s resolution restates city policy that O’Brien can’t sign or write letters on city letterhead or identify himself as speaking on behalf of the city without prior commission consent.

It also says that, “violation of the terms of the resolution may result in his removal from St. Augustine Beach Commission meetings and further sanctions may be warranted.”



Edward Adelbert Slavin
  • Edward Adelbert Slavin
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1. Kudos to Commissioner Kostka for standing up for the rights of citizens to open, honest, accountable government in St. Augustine Beach. RICHARD BURTT O'BRIEN's behavior is outrageous and must not be tolerated. His selfish, oafish approach to demanding special favors, is a stench in the nostrils of St. Augustine Beach. Once upon a time, such Caudillos and clods ran our county and both itty-bitty cities. Such unethical behavior is no longer tolerated by new generations and new residents. "The sleaze factor" emanating from O'BRIEN is an embarrassment. If Commissioners Margaret England and Donald Samora will not speak out and vote to censure O'BRIEN, they are part of the problem. And as the character Josh Liman said in the tv series, "The West Wing,": in our American democracy "we get to overthrow the government ever two years."
2. Commissioners: please vote to schedule the proposed censure motion on Commissioner RICHARD BURTT O"BRIEN early in the March 5, 2018 St. Augustine Beach City Commission meeting.
3. I support the O'BRIEN censure resolution (sponsored by Commissioner Maggie Kostka) and I strongly urge its adoption by St. Augustine Beach City Commission.
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/03/proposed-censure-of-st-augustine-beach_22.html
4. RICHARD BURTT O'BRIEN still defends his illegal "postcard from the edge." SAB Commission races are, by law, NONPARTISAN. Yet O'BRIEN falsely advertised himself as "the Republicans Choice," when he was running in a NONPARTISAN race, and NOT endorsed by the SJC Republican Executive Committee. Unethical
5. RICHARD BURTT O'BRIEN's demand for special favors -- then violating the conditional use permit -- shows he thinks of SAB's government as a "mere appendage to [his] own affairs." (FDR, October 31, 1936).« less
  • 13 minutes ago
Edward Adelbert Slavin
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4. Commissioners: Please vote to rule "in limine" that, pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order, Commissioner O'BRIEN is recused from voting on the motion.
5. Pursuant to the SAB Commission's controversial new public comment rule, adopted by 3-2 vote, will Commissioner O'BRIEN be permitted to speak, from the audience, with only two (2) minutes for public comment?




TZ - Plays Roblox
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RICH RINGHAVER O'BRIEN ALSO STOLE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS of the ST AUGUSTINE BEACH POLICE CARS, THEN USED THE STOLEN POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTOS and INFO IN THE 2016 ELECTION, WHICH IS FEDERAL HATCH ACT VIOLATIONS.

Rich Ringhaver O'Brien, as a City of St Augustine Beach Commissioner, has CAUSED HUGE MIS-TRUST in ELECTED GOVERNMENT in St Augustine Beach.

This City will SUFFER from A VERY BAD REPUTATION FOR AT LEAST A FEW DECADES!

City Chief of Police Robert Hardwick has COVERED-UP SEVERAL CRIMES when Rich O'Brien committed them.

CRIMES of DUNE DESTRUCTION by Rich O'Brien were VERY SERIOUS, Chief Hardwick FAILED AGAIN WITH HIS DERELICTION!

BETWEEN VOTING Felony CRIMES and the Misdemeanors committed by Rich O'Brien, Robert Hardwick, the CURRENT HOLDER of St Augustine Beach Police Department, has NEGLECTED HIS DUTIES TO ENFORCE THE LAWS for O'Brien at least SIX TIMES.

PLUS, LET US ALL NOT FORGET ABOUT RICH O'BRIEN S FAILED SLAPP SUIT AGAINST ME, TOM REYNOLDS IN 2016!

YES ... I ... WON ... and the CITY WAS DRAGGED IN THE LAWSUIT by RICH O'Brien ADMITTING IN THE COURT CASE THAT ROBERT HARDWICK TOLD HIM TO FILE THE SUIT.

WAS THAT VICTORY SWEET and PROVING EVERYTHING RICH O'BRIEN ALLEGED WAS PROVEN FALSE... a BUNCH of LIES ...

WHEN the JUDGE READ OUT LOUD THE VERDICT ... RICH O'BRIEN TURNED GRAY OR GRAYER THAN HE USUALLY IS!

CENSURE THAT BAD ELECTED OFFICIAL RICH O'BRIEN and THAT WILL HELP RESTORE SOME TRUST IN OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY!

THANK YOU,
TOM REYNOLDS« less

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