The St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District Commission's Vice Chair, Realtor THOMAS J. RIVERS (born December 1, 1942), acted illegally September 17, 2019 (Constitution Day) when he forbade me to speak in public comment on matters voted on by the Commission before they were voted on.
Though several Board members wanted to hear my comments, THOMAS J. RIVERS arrogantly violated Florida's Sunshine Law and thereby rendered illegal their purported vote to allow St. Johns County to work under the Port's existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.
RIVERS also refused to provide answers ton any budget questions in the budget meeting, saying that answers to questions were not on the agenda.
During a break, I told THOMAS J. RIVERS that his attorney had given him bad legal advice. When I went to shake his hand, we fist-bumped because he broke his "pinky" in a fall at a University of Florida football game last week. RIVERS appeared hungover during the meeting, dazed, confused and barking commands, even gaveling Commissioner Flowers as she tried to speak her mind.
THOMAS J. RIVERS might as well have had a sign in front of him saying, "I'd rather be sailing." (In a text message, RIVERS stated that his middle initial, J., does not stand for Jefferson.)
When I was finally allowed public comment, Port District attorney JAMES BEDSOLE yelled, "Time's up. Time's up." Twice. Twice. How rude, gauche and louche.
Illegally-serving Port District Secretary-Treasurer ELYSE KEMPER whined in exasperation during the 5:05 pm budget meeting that it was the first time in nineteen years that anyone had spoken in public comment at a Port District budget meeting.
(Is there martyrdom involved?)
During a break between two meetings, illogical, ill-mannered illegally-serving Port District attorney JAMEES BEDSOLE called me an "ass," as did KEMPER.
In July, ELYSE KEMPER illegally demanded $50/hour in advance for watching me look at documents, an illegal demand in violation of a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling.
During that break, an angry, enraged insolent, vulgar attorney JAMES BEDSOLE insulted Port District Commissioner Sandra Flowers and me, falsely and irrelevantly claiming that we were not taxpayers or property owners, I've asked for his files on Ms. Flowers and me.
KEMPER has never apologized.
BEDSOLE has never apologized.
Does being the Port District mean never having to say you're sorry?
It's time for them to go.
As Harry S Truman said, "If you can't stand, the heat, get out of the kitchen."
The nongovernmental employee putative independent contractor has been repeatedly gigged by annual audits for years for conflicts of interest.
Those concerns fell on uncaring ears for years, when JOHN CARL BLOW and the late JERRY DIXON ran the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District as their personal fiefdom, as if it were theirs.
During the regular meeting, I called out RIVERS for his Sunshine violations and for his sexist, misognist behavior at every meeting toward Commissioner Sandra Flowers, the first woman. to serve on the District Board.
(No sign of Port District Chair BARRY BENJAMIN, who was absent without explanation. I've written previously about BENJAMIN's misrepresenting himself as a yacht broker (license expired after customer complaints) and a St. Johns County Code Enforcement inspector (no documents support this claim produced by County Attorney).
During the budget meeting at 5:05, RIVERS could not resist trying to pass a tax increase without hearing public comment. RIVERS' colleagues prevailed, and public comment was heard.
RIVERS was so out of it that he called for adjournment before the budget business was completed. Color this Trump-loving dull Republican clueless, as well as unconstitutional. What a louche lugubrious goober.
RIVERS wants to cut off discussion of possible fraud, waste, abuse, misfeasance, malfeasance, noneasance, flummery, dupery, nincompoopery, no-bid contracts, expired contracts, ultra vires acts, legal malpractice and domination of the district's business by engineering and. construction contractors.
Rude Republican RIVERS delivers, if you want money, like the Yacht Club, which almost waltzed off with $7500 for the annual Regatta of Lights. Fortunately, Commissioner Christopher Way insisted on an actual application, while saucy sibilant silly "independent contractor" ELYSE KEMPER lectured about how the Yacht Club has benefitted from Port District largesse (some fourteen years) without anyone asking questions, like how is this worthy of a taxpayer subsidy).
St. Johns County Sheriff's candidate Thomas Reynolds and I agreed that a tax increase was unnecessary, and that the District should go with the rollback rate. The tax increase passed 3-1, Commissioner Sandra Flowers, dissenting.
Here's my September 18, 2019 letter to the Port, Waterway and Beach District, which I have shared with St. Johns County Commissioners and the Inspector General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin
To: elyse; elyse ; jim ; sandy ; mattybrown ; chris ; Barry.Benjamin ; tomj
Cc: kjakab; little ; mills ; flournoy ; ankersen ; angelo ; hamann ; jack ; tomcushman ; megan.wall ; jim.kowalski ; sunshine ; pat.gleason ; georgio ; sheltonhull ; sheldon.gardner ; stuart.korfhage ; jim.sutton ; pmccormack ; nshinkre ; mwanchick ; jpwilson ; jimwil03 ; jim ; bcc1jjohns ; bcc2jsmith ; bcc3pwaldron ; bcc4jblocker ; bcc5hdean ; comugeorge ; commengland ; commkostka ; comdsamora ; comdrumrell ; jregan ; mroyle ; jpiggott ; executiveinvestigationscomplaints ; ombudsman ; FOIA-SAJ ; michael.shirley ; dshoar ; shorsteinb ; larizzar ; tupchurch ; lfreeman ; nsikeskline ; rhorvath ; jvaldes ; jvalet ; aschindler ; jclark ; news ; ladydi.1 ; jmoe01 ; ceig ; waltblog
Sent: Wed, Sep 18, 2019 4:09 pm
Subject: ST. AUGUSTINE PORT DISTRICT MJST REMEDY VIOLATION OF FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAW F.S. 286.0114 -- Florida AG opinion enclosed
From: Ed Slavin
To: elyse
Cc: kjakab
Sent: Wed, Sep 18, 2019 4:09 pm
Subject: ST. AUGUSTINE PORT DISTRICT MJST REMEDY VIOLATION OF FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAW F.S. 286.0114 -- Florida AG opinion enclosed
Dear Chairman Benjamin, Vice Chairman Rivers and Board members Way, Brown and Flowers:
1. Below is the Florida Attorney General's April 25, 2014 opinion, pertinent to and establishing the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District's willful, wanton, discriminatory Sunshine lawbreaking at our Port District's September 17, 2019 meeting in repeatedly refusing to allow public comment before voting.
2. Please hold an open public meeting at 3 pm on October 3, 2019 -- before the already-scheduled 5:05 pm Port budget meeting -- in order to hear public comment and to reconsider all votes at the September 17, 2019 meeting.
3. Don't ever make a decision again without allowing public comment.
4. Our Florida Constitution was amended in 1992 to add Article I, Section 24, by vote of 3.8 million people (83% of those voting). That constitutional right, and F.S. 286.0114, are the controlling legal authority.
5. I have shared this e-mail with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Inspector General because one of the illegal votes taken at the September 17 meeting was purporting to allow St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners to operate under a USACE permit to the District.
6. That vote was illegal, and over my objection, seeking recognition in writing and orally from the Vice Chairman, Thomas J. Rivers.
7. Several Port board members wanted to hear what I said, but I was silenced by arbitrary, illegal, discriminatory action of the Vice Chairman, relying on illegal advice from the District's illegally-serving, retaliatory attorney, whom the Board has not voted to rehire in years, and who has never had a contact or retainer agreement with the Board.
8. Vice Chairman Rivers' illegal actions are a stench in the nostrils of the Nation, violating my First Amendment rights on Constitution Day.
9. While allowing various government officials to speak without time limit, the District's cabining of public comment is, at best unseemly.
10. Please cease and desist from all future lawbreaking.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com
---
Number: INFORMAL
Date: April 25, 2014
Subject: Jacksonville Ethics Commission
Print VersionDate: April 25, 2014
Subject: Jacksonville Ethics Commission
Mr. Joe Jacquot
Vice Chair
Jacksonville Ethics Commission
117 West Duval Street, Room 450
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Dear Mr. Jacquot:
On behalf of the Jacksonville Ethics Commission, you have asked this office for assistance in interpreting the Legislature’s intent by its use of certain words in section 286.0114, Florida Statutes. Given the statute’s straightforward requirements and the delineation of instances in which the statute does not require public participation, as well as the authority for governing bodies to prescribe rules to govern the public’s opportunity to be heard, this office is unable to render a formal opinion which would further clarify the statute. The following general comments are offered, however, in order to assist you in applying the statutory requirements to the actions of the commission.
Section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, passed during the 2013 Legislative Session,[1] states:
"(1) For purposes of this section, 'board or commission' means a board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of a county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision.
(2) Members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before a board or commission. The opportunity to be heard need not occur at the same meeting at which the board or commission takes official action on the proposition if the opportunity occurs at a meeting that is during the decisionmaking process and is within reasonable proximity in time before the meeting at which the board or commission takes the official action. This section does not prohibit a board or commission from maintaining orderly conduct or proper decorum in a public meeting. The opportunity to be heard is subject to rules or policies adopted by the board or commission, as provided in subsection (4).
(3) The requirements in subsection (2) do not apply to:
(a) An official act that must be taken to deal with an emergency situation affecting the public health, welfare, or safety, if compliance with the requirements would cause an unreasonable delay in the ability of the board or commission to act;
(b) An official act involving no more than a ministerial act, including, but not limited to, approval of minutes and ceremonial proclamations;
(c) A meeting that is exempt from s. 286.011; or
(d) A meeting during which the board or commission is acting in a quasi-judicial capacity. This paragraph does not affect the right of a person to be heard as otherwise provided by law.
(4) Rules or policies of a board or commission which govern the opportunity to be heard are limited to those that:
(a) Provide guidelines regarding the amount of time an individual has to address the board or commission;
(b) Prescribe procedures for allowing representatives of groups or factions on a proposition to address the board or commission, rather than all members of such groups or factions, at meetings in which a large number of individuals wish to be heard;
(c) Prescribe procedures or forms for an individual to use in order to inform the board or commission of a desire to be heard; to indicate his or her support, opposition, or neutrality on a proposition; and to indicate his or her designation of a representative to speak for him or her or his or her group on a proposition if he or she so chooses; or
(d) Designate a specified period of time for public comment.
(5) If a board or commission adopts rules or policies in compliance with this section and follows such rules or policies when providing an opportunity for members of the public to be heard, the board or commission is deemed to be acting in compliance with this section.
(6) A circuit court has jurisdiction to issue an injunction for the purpose of enforcing this section upon the filing of an application for such injunction by a citizen of this state.
(7)(a) Whenever an action is filed against a board or commission to enforce this section, the court shall assess reasonable attorney fees against such board or commission if the court determines that the defendant to such action acted in violation of this section. The court may assess reasonable attorney fees against the individual filing such an action if the court finds that the action was filed in bad faith or was frivolous. This paragraph does not apply to a state attorney or his or her duly authorized assistants or an officer charged with enforcing this section.
(b) Whenever a board or commission appeals a court order that has found the board or commission to have violated this section, and such order is affirmed, the court shall assess reasonable attorney fees for the appeal against such board or commission.
(8) An action taken by a board or commission which is found to be in violation of this section is not void as a result of that violation."
In Herrin v. City of Deltona,[2] the court acknowledged the enactment of section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, stating that the statute "specifically provides, with limited exceptions, that the public be allowed a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before a board or commission."
When the language of a statute is clear and unequivocal, the legislative intent may be gleaned from the words used.[3] Moreover, absent a statutory definition, the plain and ordinary meaning of words may be used to determine their effect.[4] The terms "proposition" or "official action" are not defined by the act, nor is there a distinction between official action taken at a formal meeting versus an informal setting, such as a workshop. Given that the Government in the Sunshine Law applies to all meetings of a board or commission at which official acts are to be taken,[5] it would be advisable to adhere to the mandates of section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, when a board or commission is taking official action on a proposition regardless of the formality of the meeting.
It should also be noted that section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, recognizes public participation need not occur at the meeting at which the official action on a proposition takes place as long as the public is allowed to speak before official action is taken and that a board or commission may adopt rules or policies regulating such public participation. In light of the purpose of the statute to allow public participation during the decision-making process on a proposition, it should be liberally construed to facilitate that purpose.[6] This office would suggest, therefore, that when in doubt as to whether the public participation is required, a board or commission should err on the side of allowing the public to do so.
I trust that these informal observations regarding section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, will be of assistance to you. Should you still have concerns about the application of the statute, you may wish to seek legislative clarification.
Sincerely,
Lagran Saunders
Assistant Attorney General
ALS/tsh
______________________________________________________________________
[1] See Ch. 2013-227, Laws of Fla. (CS/CS/SB 50).
[2] 121 So. 3d 1094, 1097 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013).
[3] See Holly v. Auld, 450 So. 2d 217, 219 (Fla. 1984), Reino v. State, 352 So. 2d 853, 860 (Fla. 1977); State v. Egan, 287 So. 2d 1, 4 (Fla. 1973); Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center, Inc. v. Tallahassee Medical Center, Inc., 681 So. 2d 826, 830 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996).
[4] See generally Sieniarecki v. State, 756 So. 2d 68 (Fla. 2000) (in absence of a statutory definition, words of common usage are construed in their plain and ordinary sense and, if necessary, the plain and ordinary meaning of the word can be ascertained by reference to a dictionary); In re McCollam, 612 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 1993) (when language of statute is clear and unambiguous and conveys a clear meaning, statute must be given its plain and ordinary meaning). I would note that the legislative history reflected in The Florida Senate Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement, CS/CS/SB 50, dated March 8, 2013, states that the term "proposition" is not defined by the bill.
[5] See Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government v. City of Sarasota, 48 So. 3d 755, 764 (Fla. 2010).
[6] Cf. Board of Public Instruction of Broward County v. Doran, 224 So. 2d 693 (Fla. 1969) (statutes enacted for public benefit should be interpreted most favorably to the public); Wood v. Marston, 442 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 1983).
Vice Chair
Jacksonville Ethics Commission
117 West Duval Street, Room 450
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Dear Mr. Jacquot:
On behalf of the Jacksonville Ethics Commission, you have asked this office for assistance in interpreting the Legislature’s intent by its use of certain words in section 286.0114, Florida Statutes. Given the statute’s straightforward requirements and the delineation of instances in which the statute does not require public participation, as well as the authority for governing bodies to prescribe rules to govern the public’s opportunity to be heard, this office is unable to render a formal opinion which would further clarify the statute. The following general comments are offered, however, in order to assist you in applying the statutory requirements to the actions of the commission.
Section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, passed during the 2013 Legislative Session,[1] states:
"(1) For purposes of this section, 'board or commission' means a board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of a county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision.
(2) Members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before a board or commission. The opportunity to be heard need not occur at the same meeting at which the board or commission takes official action on the proposition if the opportunity occurs at a meeting that is during the decisionmaking process and is within reasonable proximity in time before the meeting at which the board or commission takes the official action. This section does not prohibit a board or commission from maintaining orderly conduct or proper decorum in a public meeting. The opportunity to be heard is subject to rules or policies adopted by the board or commission, as provided in subsection (4).
(3) The requirements in subsection (2) do not apply to:
(a) An official act that must be taken to deal with an emergency situation affecting the public health, welfare, or safety, if compliance with the requirements would cause an unreasonable delay in the ability of the board or commission to act;
(b) An official act involving no more than a ministerial act, including, but not limited to, approval of minutes and ceremonial proclamations;
(c) A meeting that is exempt from s. 286.011; or
(d) A meeting during which the board or commission is acting in a quasi-judicial capacity. This paragraph does not affect the right of a person to be heard as otherwise provided by law.
(4) Rules or policies of a board or commission which govern the opportunity to be heard are limited to those that:
(a) Provide guidelines regarding the amount of time an individual has to address the board or commission;
(b) Prescribe procedures for allowing representatives of groups or factions on a proposition to address the board or commission, rather than all members of such groups or factions, at meetings in which a large number of individuals wish to be heard;
(c) Prescribe procedures or forms for an individual to use in order to inform the board or commission of a desire to be heard; to indicate his or her support, opposition, or neutrality on a proposition; and to indicate his or her designation of a representative to speak for him or her or his or her group on a proposition if he or she so chooses; or
(d) Designate a specified period of time for public comment.
(5) If a board or commission adopts rules or policies in compliance with this section and follows such rules or policies when providing an opportunity for members of the public to be heard, the board or commission is deemed to be acting in compliance with this section.
(6) A circuit court has jurisdiction to issue an injunction for the purpose of enforcing this section upon the filing of an application for such injunction by a citizen of this state.
(7)(a) Whenever an action is filed against a board or commission to enforce this section, the court shall assess reasonable attorney fees against such board or commission if the court determines that the defendant to such action acted in violation of this section. The court may assess reasonable attorney fees against the individual filing such an action if the court finds that the action was filed in bad faith or was frivolous. This paragraph does not apply to a state attorney or his or her duly authorized assistants or an officer charged with enforcing this section.
(b) Whenever a board or commission appeals a court order that has found the board or commission to have violated this section, and such order is affirmed, the court shall assess reasonable attorney fees for the appeal against such board or commission.
(8) An action taken by a board or commission which is found to be in violation of this section is not void as a result of that violation."
In Herrin v. City of Deltona,[2] the court acknowledged the enactment of section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, stating that the statute "specifically provides, with limited exceptions, that the public be allowed a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before a board or commission."
When the language of a statute is clear and unequivocal, the legislative intent may be gleaned from the words used.[3] Moreover, absent a statutory definition, the plain and ordinary meaning of words may be used to determine their effect.[4] The terms "proposition" or "official action" are not defined by the act, nor is there a distinction between official action taken at a formal meeting versus an informal setting, such as a workshop. Given that the Government in the Sunshine Law applies to all meetings of a board or commission at which official acts are to be taken,[5] it would be advisable to adhere to the mandates of section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, when a board or commission is taking official action on a proposition regardless of the formality of the meeting.
It should also be noted that section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, recognizes public participation need not occur at the meeting at which the official action on a proposition takes place as long as the public is allowed to speak before official action is taken and that a board or commission may adopt rules or policies regulating such public participation. In light of the purpose of the statute to allow public participation during the decision-making process on a proposition, it should be liberally construed to facilitate that purpose.[6] This office would suggest, therefore, that when in doubt as to whether the public participation is required, a board or commission should err on the side of allowing the public to do so.
I trust that these informal observations regarding section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, will be of assistance to you. Should you still have concerns about the application of the statute, you may wish to seek legislative clarification.
Sincerely,
Lagran Saunders
Assistant Attorney General
ALS/tsh
______________________________________________________________________
[1] See Ch. 2013-227, Laws of Fla. (CS/CS/SB 50).
[2] 121 So. 3d 1094, 1097 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013).
[3] See Holly v. Auld, 450 So. 2d 217, 219 (Fla. 1984), Reino v. State, 352 So. 2d 853, 860 (Fla. 1977); State v. Egan, 287 So. 2d 1, 4 (Fla. 1973); Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center, Inc. v. Tallahassee Medical Center, Inc., 681 So. 2d 826, 830 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996).
[4] See generally Sieniarecki v. State, 756 So. 2d 68 (Fla. 2000) (in absence of a statutory definition, words of common usage are construed in their plain and ordinary sense and, if necessary, the plain and ordinary meaning of the word can be ascertained by reference to a dictionary); In re McCollam, 612 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 1993) (when language of statute is clear and unambiguous and conveys a clear meaning, statute must be given its plain and ordinary meaning). I would note that the legislative history reflected in The Florida Senate Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement, CS/CS/SB 50, dated March 8, 2013, states that the term "proposition" is not defined by the bill.
[5] See Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government v. City of Sarasota, 48 So. 3d 755, 764 (Fla. 2010).
[6] Cf. Board of Public Instruction of Broward County v. Doran, 224 So. 2d 693 (Fla. 1969) (statutes enacted for public benefit should be interpreted most favorably to the public); Wood v. Marston, 442 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 1983).
1 comment:
Thank you for the information. Sadly, the Republicans that have been holding the majority of the offices in both Saint Johns County and Saint Augustine proper have been downright corrupt. As this part of Florida is mostly Republican, these officials feel as though they’re entitled to do as they please without the worry of being held accountable for their misdeeds. Thus, Saint Augustine has become known as a safe haven for the Good ‘ol Boys. If Trump, McConnell, Graham, and Paul Ryan haven’t shown just how corrupt the Republican Party has become, then you’re living in denial. This most certainly ISN’T the party of Abraham Lincoln or even Ronald Reagan for that matter. About the only decent thing Trump ever said was that it’s time that we start cleaning the swamp. Only Trump’s too stupid to realize that’s he’s the primary cesspool that’s polluted the swamp in the first place, followed by his spineless Republican followers that are only too happy to do a fool’s bidding, despite the outrage of their constituents. Voters have been so furious with the Republican Party that Senators and Congress members have all but stopped holding town hall meetings within their districts if, for anything, their own safety. THE CORRUPTION SIMPLY HAS TO STOP BEFORE WE BECOME KNOWN AS THE TOWN OF FOOLS. Perhaps it’s finally time to fully abolish the Republican Party all together and allow those responsible Republicans that formed the Lincoln Project to form a new, more honest, inclusive, and trustworthy moderate Conservative party with full transparency as its foundation. Without question, Trump has been the absolute WORST president this country has ever had. He’s single handily developed an entirely new meaning as to the definition of “CORRUPTION.” And yet we still have plenty of voters that’ll continue to believe any and everything Trump says, regardless of how outlandish his comments are. And not a single one of them will ever be bothered to verify if something Trump claims is actually true. More likely than not, it’s just another lie or another scam.
Post a Comment