TOWN HALL MEETING SET

Wednesday, January 21

Prior to the last election, many residents literally begged for a Town Hall Meeting. The commission, for whatever reason, promptly decided against it--effectively "staving it off" by saying they would consider holding one after the election. Needless to say, one never transpired.

So, the IRB Homeowners Association has, once again, picked up the ball the City dropped and scheduled a Town Hall Meeting for Wednesday evening, January 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. Some have insinuated that sponsoring a Town Hall meeting is somehow not in keeping with the Homeowners Association’s raison d’être of uniting residents. What better vehicle is there for bringing residents together than holding a long-overdue group meeting chaired by an impartial moderator?

Resistance by this commission to schedule a similar event themselves speaks to the secrecy by which this current group has operated over the last two years. This resistance in addition to the implementation of a more-restrictive Public Records policy has served only to further hamper the efforts of residents to obtain public information they have a right to. If it takes a City employee more than 15 minutes to dig up the records, the resident must personally foot the bill for the staff member’s time in order to gain access to the information. The new rules also apply to the commissioners themselves. The folks who are your "mouths" in our local government, in essence, voted to limit the amount of information they have access to, at a time when financial misdeeds cry for more answers.

The bottom line is that the upcoming Town Hall meeting is a much-needed, positive step toward lifting the veil of IRB secrecy and returning openness to our local government here in IRB.

How do you feel about the Homeowners Association holding a Town Hall Meeting? Will you attend?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

CESSPOOL'S SHALLOW END

Introducing “Fact Fixer”

Those of you who refuse to visit “the other” Web site dealing with IRB politics--you really should. IRBeHEARD was recently referred to on that site as a cesspool of unsubstantiated allegations. Ironically, that site's very same posting was riddled with so many inaccuracies that it's impossible to tackle them all in one shot.

Thus…the birth of a new feature on IRBeHEARD--FACT FIXER--which will appear on a somewhat regular basis…and is designed to refute questionable IRB information published elsewhere.

Here’s a start…

STATEMENT: IRBeHEARD carries commentary on what goes on in IRB.
TRUTH: Info posted on IRBeHEARD is supported by a careful review of public records and a first-hand account of commission meeting activity. I attend as many meetings as my time permits--in person--and do not rely on the secret reports of "moles" for information.

STATEMENT: IRBeHEARD is a mouthpiece for former Mayor Bill Ockunzzi.
TRUTH: Comments on IRBeHEARD, whether fairly or unfairly, have sometimes been critical of Ockunzzi. IRBeHEARD, as it is billed, is “for IRB residents who have something or nothing to say about anything and everything.” Unlike other Web sites and blogs that don't allow comments, IRBeHEARD is a mouthpiece for EVERYONE in IRB--and yes, that does includes Mr. Ockunzzi.

STATEMENT: Former City Manager Al Grieshaber racked up 5,000 miles on the company vehicle while looking for a new job.
FACT: IRB has spent an unbelievable amount in legal fees going after a relatively small sum, the result of an admitted mistake by our former City Treasurer. And, the commission recently signed on for even MORE fees when authorizing the City Attorney to take this non-hunting doggy to trial at a time when IRB's financial picture is the bleakest in its history. Attempts by residents to get a handle on the exact amount of legal fees paid for by our tax dollars have been unsuccessful.

STATEMENT: The meeting to interview potential City Finance Directors is this Monday night, December 29th.
FACT: According to the online city calendar (which the "other source" obviously didn't double-check!) and the meeting agenda released last week by city staff, interviews for potential Finance Directors are scheduled for Monday MORNING at 9 a.m.--effectively precluding input from 78.5% of our residents who, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, are employed as wage or salary workers.

Check back on IRBeHEARD for more FACT FIXERS in upcoming editions and verify the information for yourselves. You won't need a GPS to find the exact location of the true cesspool, which I highly recommend you read nonetheless.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

WHO IS THAT MASKED BLOGGER

Anonymity Argument

IRBeHEARD accepts anonymous comments to postings. And, as a result, some have leveled criticism our way.

When this blog was established over a year ago, there was an option of accepting or rejecting anonymous comments. I thought about it long and hard before deciding to allow any and all comments—regardless of whether or not an identity was assigned.

First and foremost in my mind when making this decision was what some have referred to as the “IRB Fear Factor.” More than a few citizens have expressed reticence to voice their true opinions about their city government, which is the primary reason I launched this blog in the first place. By granting asylum through anonymity, I intended to encourage those who would otherwise have just kept quiet to share their thoughts and concerns without fear of retribution or retaliation.

Secondly, I felt that our resident readers had enough brains in their heads to read comments and decide for themselves whether or not to put any stock in them. I expected some narrow-mindedness…but it has well exceeded my expectations.

Many of us—including yours truly—have taken a slam or two upside the head in the comments on this blog, on other blogs/Web sites, in mass e-mails and sometimes even in a public forum. I, for one, am constantly accused of being overly critical and never doing anything positive for the community. After spending two and half years volunteering my time working with a great group of people on the Indian Rocks: As It Was pictorial history book, serving on the board at the Historical Museum, and attending as many commission meetings as my schedule permits—that’s a little tough to take sometimes. But, I can’t change how others feel. And, being fair, I probably have been a little too critical at times.

I personally detest censorship in any way, shape or form, which admittedly crept into my thought process as well. What is objectionable to one person may well be palatable to another. I simply was not comfortable sitting “on high” and being the decider of what should or shouldn’t be read by our entire community.

A recently posted comment on IRBeHEARD alluded to our good friend Leo being pressured not to continue writing negatively about IRB. I certainly hope that isn’t the case. Leo has done more to bring this community together than most would ever give him credit for. He effectively flushed certain issues out in the open and encouraged people to talk about them. Perhaps we should be thanking him instead of kicking him in the butt at every turn. Am I in total agreement with everything Leo writes? Hell no. But I applaud his talent and would never poo-poo his work simply because I may not always buy into his content. Those not capable of reading "vintage Leo" and making their own decisions are, in reality, more afraid of themselves that they are of Mr. Coughlin.

The standard response to anyone who posts anything negative on IRBeHEARD meets with the same third-grade response: “Stop being part of the problem. We have enough of those here in town.” I couldn’t agree more with that statement...only I consider the problem to be those who make statements like that! If encouraging folks to listen to all sides of an issue and learn more about how their local government operates creates a problem, then I guess I am part of the problem.

When the subject of the IRBeHEARD blog comes up, I’ve heard some emphatically say “No, I don’t read the blog.” I can only conjecture that these blog haters never read anything they don’t agree with and don’t really care what their neighbors have to say—unless they are “total agreement clones” of themselves. In the barn I’ve been so arrogantly accused of being raised in, we call that ignorance.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

CRYING FOR TRANSPARENCY

IRB Has Nothing on NASDAQ

Alleged improprieties by a former NASDAQ CEO have many screaming for more transparency on Wall Street. Even the most educated, financially savvy folks in our country don’t understand much of Wall Street’s inner-workings and have attributed this latest scandal to this lack of understanding.

Sound familiar? Isn’t that basically the same thing that caused the controversy over the unauthorized Sewer & Solid Waste Fund loans here in IRB? Had there been proper transparency in the financials, several things would have happened differently.

Firstly, the existence of the loans that no one claims to have authorized would have presumably surfaced much sooner. It’s improbable to think that any commission--the present one or any in the past--would have chosen to ignore the fact that our city was going upside down into the seven-figure range without speaking up. Multiple accounts collapsed into one, the absence of paper trails, no “visible” separation of the enterprise funds from IRB’s general operating kitty, a complete disregard for charter requirements…these are just a few of the “systems”—or lack thereof—that contributed to our current financial quagmire.

Secondly, there wouldn’t be such a high level of mistrust among some residents. This undercurrent admittedly existed prior to the “outing” of the loans but has increased exponentially since. And, our current commission, who unknowingly “signed up” for the task of fixing this mess, hasn’t done much to alleviate this community skepticism. Citizens approach the microphone at nearly every commission meeting and ask intuitive questions. Some have even been known to lose their cool in exasperation only to be chastised for the outburst.

Citizen queries are rarely met with plausible answers and almost never result in a commissioner saying: “Hey…he (or she’s) right…what about that?” Figures still don’t jive. Answers to pointed questions are sketchy at best. What is most disconcerting is that no new systems—at least in view of the public—have been put into place to keep another “million dollar oops” from recurring. This, too, is a NASDAQ re-run; NASDAQ has seen many an impropriety since it was founded in the mid-60s, primarily as a result of a failure to provide more transparency and learn from past mistakes.

Wouldn’t one think that the commission would be insisting on MORE control over city finances? What has transpired is exactly the opposite. The commission, over nearly every citizen’s and former mayor’s objections, has insisted that our March ballot include a potentially disastrous referendum. If passed, it would result in the Finance Director no longer being directly accountable to the City Commission. As it stands now, IRB’s CFO serves at the pleasure of the commission with dual reporting responsibilities to the City Manager AND to the commission. If the proposed charter amendment passes, the City Manager would become the point man--sort of a “go-between”--between the Finance Director and the commission.

Why would our commission want to put an extra layer of management between themselves and our CFO…especially after the problems that have come to light over the last year? Why would this commission, with the exception of Commissioner Torres, endorse a system with less checks and balances instead of insisting on more? Are they possibly concerned about their own liability for decisions made regarding these loans and the goal is to “shield” themselves by making the City Manager the responsible party?

This potential change to our City Charter is even scarier when you stop to realize that they have no idea who will occupy the City Manager’s chair. If recent history is any indication, our Finance Director may be reporting to a revolving door. This proposed charter change is almost as puzzling as when this commission voted NOT to continue seeing monthly check registers after the infamous Grieshaber check was issued in error. When the situation demanded more scrutiny, they insisted on less.

Now that the “unauthorized loan horse” has left the stable, the commission’s answer is to sell the farm instead of repairing the hole.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

SALZMAN REWIND

Missing the Mark Big-Time

After talking to a number of residents about last week’s posting regarding former IRB City Attorney Andy Salzman, I realized I missed the mark. Evidently, I must have conveyed the EXACT OPPOSITE of what I was trying to say. Hey…it happens.

Those I spoke with thought my comments were intended as criticism of Salzman when they were meant as precisely the opposite. So this posting is a bit of a rewind in the interest of clarification.

What I tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to emphasize is that Redington Beach, where Salzman is currently the City Attorney, has decided to consider “other” proposals for legal services. Mentioned was the fact that they overshot their legal budget by $3,000. Think twice Redington Beach! Compared to IRB’s overspending in this category since replacing Salzman, your little $3K is a mere pittance.

In fact, some have conjectured that IRB may well exceed the budgeted amount for legal expenses by an amount equal to Redington Beach’s ENTIRE BUDGET for the year…which, in retrospect, makes Andy Salzman a very good deal.

The truth is that we, as citizens, have not been able to get a handle on the total YTD legal expenses in IRB. And it’s not for lack of trying. A public records request made about six months ago for copies of legal invoices associated with the Whitehurst litigation resulted in being asked to wait until the current City Attorney, Salzman’s replacement, had an opportunity to review the bills. Nothing more has been heard on the subject since. No doubt the Whitehurst invoice request fell into the ever-deepening chasm of unanswered public records requests from numerous IRB citizens.

Public records law says that if attorney bills contain items that are exempt because they reflect a legal conclusion, strategy, theory, etc. only that portion of the information can be withheld. Hours worked and the hourly fees do not fall within the scope of the exemption. Unfortunately, the only means a citizen has of compelling public info to which they are entitled but have been refused access to is to file suit…incurring even more legal fees for the city.

Similar “dancing” resulted around a similar question about whether or not the City’s insurance had kicked in with regard to the Grieshaber case or whether the City was still picking up the tab using City funds.

Legal expenses seem to be the topic of conversation in a few other beach communities, too. Last Sunday’s Neighborhood Times featured articles about St. Pete Beach’s struggle under the weight of attorney’s fees and about Madeira Beach paying a hefty price tag to reimburse a former commissioner who was unsuccessfully sued for defamation.

When I asked fellow bloggers to impart advice to Redington Beach regarding their request for proposals for city attorneys, I expected a good many of you to warn them to be very cautious when replacing Salzman because his type of experience and integrity is very tough to come by…especially at a reasonable price. I half expected someone to say that IRB unfairly showed Salzman the door because he refused to tell the commission what they wanted to hear. I thought someone might pipe up and offer the following advice to Redington…”Caution guys: the legal grass is not always greener.”

In 20-20 hindsight, do you feel the city was well served by replacing Mr. Salzman as our City Attorney or would you welcome him back tomorrow if given the opportunity?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

(Note: If you'd like to comment on this posting, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of the article and follow the prompts. You may comment anonymously if you'd like. Or, you can always e-mail your comments to irbeheard@cmdinc.net and we'll post them for you!)

SOBERING IRB STATISTICS

We're NOT All Rich

There is a perception that everyone living in Indian Rocks Beach is rolling in dough. Perception, in this instance, couldn’t be farther from reality. Either that or the 2000 U.S. Census numbers are terrible awry.

Census Bureau statistics show that the median income in IRB is $53,770--half earn more and half earn less. Nearly ¼ of all our households reports an income of less than $30,000 and 80% make less than $100,000. Sadly, 5% of our residents live below the poverty line.

Of the 2,702 IRB households, almost 50% are “nonfamily households.” In fact, the average household size in IRB is 1.88 people. And, of the 50% of our households that are “family households,” less than 25% of that 50% have children ages 6-17 in the household.

With that in mind, does it make sense that IRB budgeted approximately $100,000 for the replacement of playground equipment? And what about the library supporters who claim the library to be a great benefit for our youth?

Turning to the subject of education, nearly 5% of our folks didn’t graduate from high school. Only 25.7% have bachelor’s degrees and 38.6% have a bachelor’s or higher.

And what about the belief that IRB is a community of business owners? IRB has a total of 2,731 civilian workers 16 years and older. While 11.6% do own their own companies, 78.5% are employed as wage and salary workers.

Florida’s population base grew by 10% from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2007. What did IRB’s head count do during the same time period? It experienced a slight decrease; we lost 40 residents. Those transplanting to Florida simply aren’t coming to IRB—and if they are, we’re losing equal numbers to offset the gains.

Are good folks in our community being priced out of town? Do those commissioners voting bingo-bango-bongo for large increases in everything just assume our folks are “good for it”? If the Census data is anywhere close to correct, IRB’s collective pockets might not be as deep as one would prefer to believe. Are libraries, playgrounds, dune walkovers and other frills--spiffs that would be nice to have if times were different--fueling up the moving vans?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

THAT'S THEIR STORY...

And They’re Sticking To It

Here’s a piece of info that should make it abundantly clear to everyone in IRB that we just might be being hosed.

Those who attended the November 13th commission meeting witnessed firsthand the commission’s approval of another surprise $300K prior-year revenue adjustment. It was revealed that Rob Garner, a hired outside consultant, is the guy who found the need for this adjustment back in April.

That’s interesting…because discussions with Garner about preparing the Sewer & Solid Waste Fund Analysis didn’t even occur until MAY…as evidenced by city e-mails obtained through a public records request. At that point in April when Garner supposedly flagged this discrepancy, the only task he had been hired for was a “Budgeting 101” tutorial to educate our commissioners about the budget process.

So, how did Garner find this error before he was even hired for the task? And, if he found it in April, why didn’t the commission take action to approve the adjustment until seven months later?

The bigger question is why isn’t city staff or the commission squaring up with us? Why aren’t our commissioners piecing this info together themselves and asking similar questions? It was Commissioner Kennedy who asked the question about who found this error…which was a damn good question. Too bad she was given a b.s. answer. At least she got an answer…which is more that can be said for the rest of us.

Maybe it’s that yowlers aren’t entitled to answers? Those who want answers may want to think about puckering up and smooching posteriors.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

NAME THAT BALANCE

Calculating the Loan Amount

Under normal circumstances, when you borrow money, you know the amount of the loan. You are informed of the interest rate, the terms of payment and what happens if you default.

None of that information was provided to the taxpayers of IRB or to our elected City Commission when the loans from our General Fund to the Sewer/Solid Waste Funds began…way back when. In fact, it took a paid outside governmental accounting consultant (paid for by YOU!) to calculate the amount; no one on our city staff was apparently able to determine the figure.

So how was the debt calculated? Were the prior-year revenues BEFORE the latest $300K downward adjustment relied upon in calculating the need for a 60% rate hike in our sewer and solid waste rates? If so, aren’t we in for yet another surprise? It only stands to reason that if sewer and solid waste revenues were LESS than what the books reflected in the prior year, that shortfall would carry through to this year’s financials, right? Wouldn’t that make the outstanding loan balance due back to those funds higher?

It all depends on when the prior year’s books were adjusted downward to reflect the “actual” sewer and solid waste revenues as opposed to the "projected" amount. In a perfect world, this reduction in revenue would have happened AFTER November 13th, when the commission voted 4-1 to approve amending the budget. By charter, this type of budget adjustment requires commission approval.

We know when the vote was taken to approve amending the budget (Nov. 13); what we don’t know is when the adjustment was actually made on the books.

There are two possible scenarios--neither of which is good:

1. The prior year’s books were adjusted AFTER the commission voted to approve the adjustment on November 13th, incorrect revenues were used to calculate our sewer and solid waste rates and the 60% increase wasn’t enough; or

2. The correct revenue figures were used when setting our sewer and garbage rates, meaning that the budget revision was made well BEFORE it was ever approved by the commission…and HERE WE GO AGAIN.

Isn’t this how we got into this financial mess to begin with—adjustments and movement of monies between funds without City Commission approval? Why aren’t any of the five people sitting up there screaming about this and insisting that systems be put in place and followed?

Mistakes are a way of life. In fact, they can actually be beneficial if one learns from them. If no learning occurs; however, and the system doesn’t change to keep the same error from happening again and again—isn’t that called stupidity?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

PAYBACKS ARE HELL

Especially When You Don’t Owe Them

Let’s say you give a needy cousin (Cousin Eddie) some money to stave off eviction of him, his wife and their eight children under the age of seven. Cheap at half the price because their plan was to move in with you!

You never once mention to your financially challenged relative that your handout is a loan. There is no discussion of a repayment schedule as you generously pass the much-needed cash to his outstretched hand.

Then, years later, when Big Ed is in even worse financial straits, you ask him when repayment is forthcoming. It’s safe to say he and his other nine mouths won’t be counted among those seated at your Thanksgiving table come November.

So…aren’t the million dollars in loans due from IRB’s general operating fund to the Sewer and Solid Waste Funds much the same thing? These monies were “given” to the enterprise funds without any approval whatsoever by our city commission—or anyone for that matter. There was nothing (and still is nothing!) in the way of a formal document outlining loan repayment terms or establishing an interest rate. Years later…an outside consultant swoops in and calls the ongoing stipends “loans”…leaving us as surprised as Cousin Eddie…and just about as broke.

The shock and awe over the 60% increase in sewer and, in particular, garbage is just now starting to create a low roar among our residents. Only recently has everyone seen the effect of the hike on their bi-monthly bills. Do you realize that the increase includes paying back loans that none of us—nor any commissioner—nor anyone else—knew anything about? Your current garbage and sewer rates include an amount for a repayment of these unauthorized loans but repayment doesn’t actually start until 2010.

Initially, repayment of these loans was positioned as a legal requirement. But as citizen after citizen overloaded the microphone at City Hall with evidence to refute this claim, the story changed to “it’s a good idea” to repay them.” Why is it that these “good ideas” always mean more money out of our pockets?

Did one commissioner even hiccup when asked to approve repayment of loans that no one authorized in the first place? Not at the meetings I attended.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

SALZMAN SHOPPED AGAIN

Redington Goes Attorney Shopping

On November 18th, Redington Beach town commissioners passed a motion to request proposals for attorney services. City officials expressed no lack of confidence with the current guy in the seat but felt it to be good business to send out for a bid now and then.

Guess who their current attorney is...former IRB City Attorney Andy Salzman.

One Redington Beach Commissioner indicated that they had budgeted $50,000 for legal services and spent $53,000. Compare that with IRB recently amending last year’s budget to increase the legal fees line item by $34,000. Our BUDGET INCREASE in legal fees for the prior year was over 30% of Redington's TOTAL LEGAL BUDGET! Will IRB overshoot this year’s projected budget for legal fees as well?


Does anyone in IRB have advice for Redington Beach's Town Commission as they evaluate proposals for an attorney?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

DECK THE IRB HALLS

Weekend Festivus for the Restivus

If you can’t get in the holiday spirit after this weekend in IRB…you must be the Grinch.

FRIDAY-December 5th - 7 PM
IRB Official Holiday Tree Lighting
12th Avenue Park (Gulf Blvd. across from USA Grocers)

SATURDAY-December 6th
Post Office’s annual “Toys for Tots” Drive. Mail carriers will be collecting new unwrapped toys.

SUNDAY-December 7th – 1 PM
Annual IRB Holiday Street Parade from Chic-a-Si Park (across from the Post Office) to City Hall. Venture out to Gulf Blvd. and share some holiday cheer with your neighbors.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

TOYING AROUND

Giving Feels Good

Those of us who live in IRB are, for the most part, very fortunate. Shoes (well, at least sandals!) on our feet. Clothes on our backs. Good food on our tables. And a beach community in which to live, work and play that is second to none on the Gulf Coast.

Unfortunately…not everyone…especially in today’s economic climate…shares our good fortune.

Please open your hearts and your wallets as you have in past years to support two IRB events to benefit children and teens in need this holiday season.

DECEMBER 11
Homeowners Association Holiday Social/Toy Drive

This annual event (in place of the monthly Happy Hour) will be held Thursday night, December 11th from 6-8 PM in Chic-a-Si Park…across from the post office.

Please bring an unwrapped toy and join the “partying” IRB Homeowners for some holiday cheer. This year, the toys will go to The Haven, which provides safety, support and education for victims of domestic violence and their children. While most people donate to benefit younger children, The Haven has expressed a special need for more gifts for teens. And, the IRB Homeowners Association has, as usual, stepped up to meet the need by purchasing an additional $200 worth of teen gifts.

The IRB Friends of the Library are donating $300 in books. There will also be a surprise visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus while some classic holiday movies play on the big screen. Santa photos available for a donation. Free popcorn and refreshments.

If you are unable attend, you may still participate by dropping off an unwrapped toy at one of the following IRB locations: USA-Grocers on Gulf Blvd, Island Surf Shop on Gulf Blvd, IRB City Hall on Bay Palm Blvd, Nekton Surf Shop on Gulf Blvd, Crabby Bill’s on Gulf Blvd., or the IRB Library next to City Hall.

For more information, visit the "Events" page on the IRB Homeowners Association Web site: http://www.irbhome.com/events.html or e-mail Becky Griffin or Phil Wrobel at info@irbhome.com.

DECEMBER 13
PSFRD "Toys for Tots" Drive

Join in the true spirit of the holidays under the tents in the Cookie Cutter parking lot, 408 2nd St. on Sat., Dec. 13th, 7:00-10:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share and a refreshment plus unwrapped toys for children in need in the Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District. Canned and non-perishable foods are also needed for the Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry. Enjoy holiday carolers from Calvary Episcopal and end the year with joy and hope for the coming year!

For more information, call Commissioner Cookie Kennedy: (727) 595-5505.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

PUTTING TWO AND TWO TOGETHER

Publix Issue Alive Again?

You may or may not be surprised by an ad appearing on an Orlando realty company's Web site.

The ad, which also appears in at least one other developer-oriented publication, is leasing 8,146 sq. ft. of retail space in the Villages of Indian Rocks Beach, between 25th and 26th Avenues…WITH A 28,875 SQ. FT. PUBLIX AS THE ANCHOR!

Click here to view the ad: http://www.costar.com/costarconnect/MasterPage/Main.aspx?SiteId=23440&CheckSum=418133559&InvestmentProperty=False&propertyid=1020075&IsCostar=Costar

Is it a coincidence that, at the same time, proposed changes to our city’s Comprehensive Plan stand to open the door wider for the Publix development to finally become reality?

A quick visit to A.G. Armstrong's new Web site--the developer of the Publix project--reveals that the company has apparently relocated its corporate office from Tampa to Pittsburgh, PA. And, one name appears to be missing from the new site...A.G. Armstrong founder and major force behind the IRB Publix project: Allen Goins.

Pay close attention in the coming months to which IRB City Commissioners support the Publix issue. Will our elected officials opt to favor developer interests and ignore the wishes of their constituents who soundly rejected the project by a referendum vote?

How about you? As an IRB resident, have your personal feelings about the Publix issue changed? Are you FOR or AGAINST it? Do you feel as if the voters are now being backdoored on this issue?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

GOOSE AND GANDER

Please Pass the Preferential Treatment

Around the time of the First Thanksgiving in the seventeenth century, a person's social standing determined what he or she ate. The best food was placed next to the most important people. Instead of passing food and sampling a variety of dishes, diners simply ate what was in closest proximity.

This practice, which seems rather inequitable by today’s standards, is reminiscent of a citizen comment made at the November 20th IRB commission meeting.

The speaker aptly pointed out that IRB is a diverse community representing a variety of interests. Paraphrasing, he said that those with unlike interests shouldn’t “rain on the parades” of those not sharing the same mindset. He referred specifically to the IRB Library and mentioned that “hundreds of residents” enjoy the library, are good citizens and give of themselves and their time for the betterment of the community--while others are constantly trying to close the doors. The speaker positioned the library volunteers and others who give freely of their time to community activities as folks who deserve MORE than those who don’t.

To intimate that anyone in IRB deserves more than anyone else based on their proclivity or ability to volunteer is preposterous. If that were the case, wouldn’t felons doing “community service” be entitled to more than those without criminal records?

IRB is very fortunate to have a community with so many residents giving of themselves and their time to make IRB a great place to live, work and play. But the day these folks are entitled to more than those who can’t or won’t volunteer is a sad day in IRB. When that happens, maybe we should consider asking volunteers to pay MORE taxes than the non-volunteering residents. Wouldn’t that be fair, since they would be consuming and enjoying “more” of the services the town has to offer?

The services a community provides to its residents aren’t something earned by “good deed” contributions. They are a right NOT a privilege...even in IRB. It's a right that all of us are entitiled to the minute we lick the stamps on our tax bills.

Many IRBers have to work for a living, but does that mean that they deserve less than their trust-fund breathing counterparts? The construction worker on First Street should have the same benefits as the retired executive on Harbor Drive…whether or not he or she donates one split second of service to the community.

The speaker at least put a loose number on the library folks; he referred to them as “several hundred.” Information received from past public records requests has not successfully been able to quantify this group.

Let’s see a couple hundred (200) in a community of what...3,000+ voters? Hmmm. There are more boaters in this community than Friends of the Library yet there is no city-sponsored group for our marine folks. No city Boat Board handpicked by the commission. No city subsidy and no full-time boat captain. Hmmm.

Does politics govern which interests are represented in IRB? Maybe it’s time for the boaters to throw their weight behind boat-loving commissioner/mayoral candidates, so they, too, can have their agendas advanced at the city's expense.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

AN IRB THANKSGIVING

Beach Trail Turkey Day

It was two weeks before Thanksgiving eleven years ago that we moved to Indian Rocks Beach. We had our First Beach Trail Thanksgiving that year. And, by popular demand, we've done so every year since.

Even though our celebration is about as far removed from the “over the river and through the woods” Thanksgivings we grew up with in Ohio, our Beach Turkey Day has become tradition nonetheless.

It's all over now but the clean-up, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the photo of our Beach Trail Thanksgiving table at the top of this posting. Martha Stewart has nothing on me…except a little jail time.

Here’s wishing that all of you enjoyed the day as much as our family and friends did.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRB's TOCOBAGA INDIANS

Did They Have Thanksgiving?

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumnal feast which became the first Thanksgiving. This meal, to celebrate the harvest, represented cooperation between the Indians and the early British colonists.

Were our IRB Tocobaga Indians also celebrating and giving thanks simultaneously with their northern counterparts? Not exactly. In fact, it was just about the time the colonists and the Wampanoags broke bread together in Plymouth that our Tocobaga were on the verge of extinction.

These Native Americas who “crossed the rocks at the Narrows--legendarily at least--provided our community’s name. Instead of feasting in the early 1600s, our Tocobaga were attempting to survive the disease and violence brought in 1528 by Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez. (Chapter One in our Indian Rocks As It Was pictorial history, written by Mayor R. B. Johnson, covers this portion of IRB history.) By some accounts, the Tocobaga were totally extinct in 1620 when the first Thanksgiving jumped off. By some accounts, they existed until the early 1700s.

If the IRB Tocobaga had a Thanksgiving, what would have been on the menu? Fish (of course), shellfish, deer, turtles, dogs, rabbits, armadillos, squirrels, watercress, pumpkins, cabbage palms, and beans. Also on the diet were manatees along with an array of berries, nuts, and fruit as a supplement. Puzzling is that the Tocobaga Indians ate corn, an unusual find in our area. How they got the corn is somewhat of a mystery; some suspect barter with a northern tribe was somehow involved.

The Tocobaga were expert potters and were famous for their hunting and cooking tools. Earlier this year in July 2008, workers erecting a shelter at a city park in Safety Harbor dug up an old knife, which archeologists determined it to be between 6,000 and 8,000 years old…and likely used by the Tocobaga Indians. (Some of my silverware looks to be that old!)

The Tocobaga Indians built mounds--large piles of earth, shells, or stones--within their villages. Many of Florida's roads were paved with the shells of Tocobaga mounds. The Park Street site of Jungle Prada is one such example. In 1903, shell mounds were discovered on Caladesi Island where the Tocobaga are believed to have been the original inhabitants and used the island as a burial ground.

Does anyone have a delicious armadillo recipe they’d like to share?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

P.S. Indian Rocks Beach As It Was--A Pictorial History makes a great Christmas or Chanukah gift and is available for sale at the IRB Historical Museum, across from the post office.

(Note: If you'd like to comment on this posting, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of the article and follow the prompts. You may comment anonymously if you'd like. Or, you can always e-mail your comments to irbeheard@cmdinc.net and we'll post them for you!)

STOMACHING THE TRUTH

Too Much To Swallow

Dwelling, for a moment (or maybe two), on the $300K adjustment recently made to the city's books. More questions arise. The downward revision in revenue was not for this fiscal year (’08-’09)—but for the PRIOR one (’07-’08). And, all but $34,000 was a reduction in Sewer and Solid Waste Fund revenues. You know...the same funds that have been being subsidized with our General Fund tax monies FOR YEARS, allegedly without a single soul knowing about it. You know...the funds that IRB taxpayers will be struggling for years to repay. You know...the funds that involve loans that--even as of the reading of this blog posting--have yet to be authorized by our elected officials.

You can bet that if the general public is asking questions about this latest surprise adjustment, the State may have a few questions of their own. Like why an adjustment was made so far after the prior year's books were closed out? Or, was the actual adjustment made more than a half year BEFORE the commission voted to authorize it? If so, who authorized the adjustment when it actually occurred? Has the pen of Caspar the Ghost stuck again? And why did it take the commission nearly seven months to approve an adjustment revealed in April? Will the city auditors be forced to add a footnote on this year’s financials to explain this budget amendment because of its usual nature?

The commission approved this adjustment on November 13th by a 4-1 vote (Kennedy-NO). Under citizen comment on the subject, one resident asked how the need for this "correction" in revenue was discovered and who unearthed it. Guess who? Governmental accounting consultant Rob Garner found it—BACK IN APRIL! Odd. That's one item none of us remember him mentioning in all his resident-funded trips to from Tallahassee to IRB to attend commission meetings. Wasn't that a bit more important than telling us who served on the commission at the time each related enterprise fund activity occurred?

It almost feels like we’ve been paying Garner to spoonfeed us "this stuff,” because the entire scenario all at the same time is way too much to swallow. Feels a lot like too much turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie (with double whipped cream!) on Thanksgiving. On Thursday, you can take some Pepcid, Tums and Rolaids...belch and feel better. No antacid on earth is strong enough to relieve the pain of a million dollars in loans stuck in the throats.

Nancy Obarski

Beach Trail/IRB

CASPER THE GHOST APPROVAL

Who In The Hell Is Authorizing This Stuff?

In a surprise move, the IRB City Commission voted at the November 13th meeting to approve another nearly $300K adjustment (in a negative direction!) to the prior year’s budget (FY ’07-’08). Then, this year’s budget for FY ’08-’09 was adopted (for the third time!) a week later on November 20th. This third go-around was required by the Department of Revenue to fix an only slightly incorrect figure used for IRB's property valuation figure. It allegedly had nothing at all to do with the prior year adjustment. Hmmm.

Think about it…if the prior year’s revenue was adjusted downward by $300K, wouldn’t this reduce the amount of carry forward from last year to this year’s budget? One would think so. However, that is not what is reflected when comparing the most recently published budget to the one published prior to the commission authorizing the $300K downward adjustment. Was the revenue reduction reflected in the most recently adopted budget approved this past week? When the commission was asked that precise question, Commissioner-Mayor R.B. Johnson’s response…“YES.”

What does that mean? Since the most recent budget published didn’t change by $300K from the budgets advertised BEFORE the commission voted to amend last year’s budget, there is only one possible explanation: THE PRIOR-YEAR BUDGET HAD ALREADY BEEN AMENDED BEFORE THE COMMISSION EVER VOTED TO DO SO. Was the valuation screw-up fortuitous in that it allowed the commission to sanction the adjustment and then re-approve this year's budget a week later? If the commission didn't vote on this amendment to the budget until November 13th yet the adjustment was made well prior to that date, who approved it the first place? Is it the same person who authorized nearly a $1 million dollars in loans that we are now all being forced to repay?

Why aren’t our city commissioners livid enough about these mysterious “Casper the Ghost” approvals to insist the public be provided with answers? Only Commissioner Kennedy voted NO to approve the $300K adjustment—is this perhaps why? The other four commissioners seem intent on sliding this stuff through under the radar screen. Why do you think that is? Who are they protecting and why?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

DAZED AND CONFUSED

Lost in IRB

I haven’t written much lately. Quite frankly, I don’t even know what to write. Former Mayor-Commissioner Ed Piniero summed it up at the last commission meeting on November 13th when he said, “This gets more bizarre by the moment.”

As predicted, there will be third setting of the millage rate and re-re-adoption of the 2009-2010 operating budget tonight, Thursday, November 20th, 7 p.m. at City Hall. When is the fourth re-do scheduled? Never rule it out.

Normally, I would see this as yet another chance to get plausible responses to a ton of unanswered questions that many citizens persist in asking. Although, I will fully admit that I’m so confused at this point, I’m not sure I even know what the questions actually are.

Even those of us who have followed the city’s financial missteps from the get-go can’t follow what’s going on of late. An unbelievable surprise whizzed through at the last meeting on November 13th. Adjustments were made to the tune of nearly $400,000…not to this year’s budget…but to THE PRIOR YEAR'S FIGURES…would you believe? Forget about cutting out the pumpkin carving contest and eliminating three cell phones to save a few bucks for a moment. How can a budget be amended that far out from the close of the fiscal year? The auditors can’t be too happy, that's for sure.

The commission voted 4-1 to increase legal services by $34,006 and reduce revenue for the Sewer and Solid Waste Funds in the amount of $220,069 and $126,401, respectively for FY 2007-2008—which was last year. Only Commissioner Kennedy had the balls to say NO WAY. Commissioner Valery called it “B.S.” but voted to approve the resolution just the same.

Wouldn’t a budget adjustment that sizeable impact not only last year’s budget, but this year’s and next year’s as well? So how can they be adopting the same budget again tonight that was approved BEFORE these latest adjustments were announced? It seems that consultant Rob Garner found the error requiring the adjustment in April…so why no mention of it until seven months later? In all his appearances at commission meetings, why didn’t Garner mention this “small” detail? (Is this guy slated to fill in for the recently axed Marty Schless as our City Treasurer?)

And what revenue figures did Burton & Associates use for the sewer/solid waste fund rate study? If they used unadjusted revenues, does this mean that the 60% increases we were all crying about weren’t enough and we’ll be seeing yet another increase in short order?

The city has now published three public notices for the millage and budget—all with different figures. When the figures changed, didn’t the City have to go back to the first reading again instead of picking it up at the second/final reading? Will that be the next violation the State catches to propel us into a fourth millage-setting session?

Excuse my rambling, but I'm so lost; it’s the best I can do. Maybe after tonight’s meeting, clarity will set in…

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRB HINDSIGHT

On the Backside...

A hearing was held, nearly two months ago on Sept. 30, for the purpose of “re-setting” of the millage rate. This was necessary in order to rectify a procedural error in the initial vote taken. At that meeting, several residents brought to the commission's attention what they saw as other possible violations of Florida Statute Chapter 200-Determination of Millage. One speaker went so far as to request the hearing not move forward. It did anyway.

But not before a former mayor came to the podium to chastise those of us who dared to read excerpts of statutes into the record; he felt that by offering information for consideration that we were somehow “playing lawyer” when IRB pays someone for those services. (Leo even referred to one speaker, Ed Piniero, in his column of Nov. 3rd regarding another matter, as one "who thinks of himself as Oliver Wendell Holmes when it comes to tricky legal matters.") Citizens were, yet again, ignored, another vote was taken, and the required paperwork was subsequently filed with the State.

It seems now that the State of Florida, too, has an issue (or two?) with IRB's "re-do" procedure…although it's uncertain if their issues were the same as ours. Soooooooo...THE THIRD SHOT AT SETTING THE MILLAGE RATE IN IRB IS NOW SET FOR NOVEMBER 20TH.

Somewhat puzzling is that Ed Pinero's public records request for a copy of the paperwork certifying the "re-do" millage rate to the State has yet to be provided. He received the paperwork for the initial incorrect vote, but not for the 9/30 "re-do." Now Leo has the information on his Web site? Is Leo, who is NOT an IRB resident, getting public information that we, as taxpaying citizens here in IRB, are being denied?

What exactly are the ramifications of the City’s latest millage-setting misstep anyway? We already know that we're out the money to pay for another newspaper ad. Does this latest fiasco put the $100K IRB receives in state sales tax monies in jeopardy?

One thing for certain…no one can accuse anyone on THIS commission of micromanaging. In fact, when classifying styles of management, there’s the micromanager, the hands-on manager, the delegating manager and the innocent bystander. From your standpoint, where does our commission rank on this scale?

The COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT—NOVEMBER 13th—AT 7 P.M. is another quasi re-do. Once again, Oliver Wendell Piniero, with about 35 years of municipal government experience, pointed out that the firing of Finance Director Marty Schless was done improperly and that a resolution is required to fire a charter officer. A RESOLUTION IS NOW DRAFTED AND ON TONIGHT’S COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA FOR A VOTE TO RE-FIRE MARTY…RETROACTIVELY? Huh?

Note: IRBeHEARD’s October 14th posting, “Untruth in Millage,” discussed the “possibility” that “other violations” had occurred when setting the millage rate. Our posting is still available in the archived section on the right side of this Web page under the “October” heading, if you’d like to re-read it!)

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

HEY BIG SPENDERS

The Minute They Walked In the Joint…

Did everyone get their tax bills? Did you notice that the percentage that goes to IRB is significantly more?

One resident reported that, after subtracting the PSFRD non-ad valorem amount, the increase in IRB local municipal taxes is just over 11%. Can anyone verify this? If this info is correct and you compare that with past years when IRB’s percentage of our total tax bills was only 7%-8%, it’s pretty clear that IRB is out of step with most other local governments who have generally worked to reduce millage and taxes.

And don’t forget that the increase in IRB taxes doesn’t include the 60% rate increase for our sewer and solid waste bills to pay back a loan that our commission (still to this very minute) has not authorized. Which of you is generating more sewage and garbage (other than City Hall!)? Once again, IRB residents are being asked to pay more for the same…or possibly less.

Some IRBers who unsuccessfully ran for seats on the commission last March claimed that this current group of commissioners would spend…spend…spend. And spend they have. Full-time librarian. Two new “hand-picked” city boards. Consultants out the ying-yang. A community planning study at a time when no developer has the financial wherewithal to begin executing it. All the while citizens trudge up to the podium at commission meetings to report they can’t afford to live in IRB anymore.

How many businesses will be forced out because they can't raise the cost of goods or services due to market pressure from competitors in neighboring communities who pay less in taxes and utility rates? How many homeowners and landlords will be forced to sell in the face of falling prices and take it in the shorts when they do?

Let me get right to the point...hey big spenders…spend a little time with the people who elected you.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRB T-SHORTS

Taste, Taylor & Takeover

TASTE
The Taste of IRB was even better this year than last year! What a great community event…thanks to the IRB Homeowners Association and all the sponsors involved!

TAYLOR
Danny Taylor has decided NOT to put his name in the hat for the City Manager job. This guy has done a good job as the Acting City Manager for less money than he should have under very difficult circumstances. So sure…why not throw away consistency to see if we can “attract” another “power-hungry hotshot.” It’s worked out so well in the past.

TAKEOVER
The Gulf Beaches Public Library director was fired last week as a result of Treasure Island’s decision not to continue supporting the consortium. Hmmm. Library services are being cut in other communities, yet IRB decides to bring our library operation in-house, retain a full-time librarian AND add a Library Board to the City’s roster…necessitating more administrative support--$$$. Of course, the Library Board is hand-picked by the commission. Is the commission filling the city boards with clones of themselves? Does this give the commission too much control? Is their plan to eliminate some charter officer positions also a move in the same direction? While admittedly taken out of context and not quite remembering the subject matter…a comment made by Commissioner Wollin about a year ago continues to hang in the air. Those attending the meeting literally gasped as Wollin said “We can do pretty much whatever we want to do.” Turns out she might be right!

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

TASTE OF IRB

Let the Good Food Roll

What is it that makes Indian Rocks Beach Indian Rocks Beach? A beautiful beach. Interesting people. Great businesses--including some of the finest restaurants anywhere.

This Saturday, November 8th, everyone will, once again, get a chance to sample the best IRB has to offer at the "Taste of IRB" presented by the IRB Homeowners Association. Admission is FREE.

The festivities get underway in Chic-A-Si Park (across from the Post Office) around 5 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. so bring lawn chairs and blankets (NO coolers or dogs!) and plan to spend the evening.

A special thanks to the local businesses, who even in these challenging economic times, came through to support this event...one the entire community looks forward to.

Parking: Munce Marketing parking lot (Walsingham & 2nd Street), the vacant lot on 1st Street next to the Fire Dept, and the IRB Post Office parking lot. (Or, you can always jump on the Beach Trolley.)

I’ve never been to an IRB Homeowners Association event yet that wasn’t a blast. Plus, all the proceeds from beer sales, etc. go back to the community. Contrary to what some have unfairly termed as "a drinking club that moves from bar to bar," the Homeowners Association holds events that bring our folks together (in bipartisan fashion) to have fun and just enjoy one another's company. Phil Wrobel and Becky Griffin, the "driving forces" behind the "Taste of IRB" and many other successful community events, do more than any others in town to draw residents from surrounding communities into IRB to support our businesses and to experience what we, as IRBers, enjoy every day. Kudos to both of them for the personal time they spend making IRB a better place. (And yes, these two are fun people and know how to make sure others have fun, too...which is a real talent!)

If you’d like more information, please visit the "Taste of IRB" page on the IRB Homeowners Web site: http://www.irbhome.com/taste.html

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

P.S. I, who have never draw a beer from a tap or served anybody anything for that matter, will be there selling beer from 8 to 9...so don't wear anything you value. See you there!!

LOVE SONG FOR LEO

Seventy-Seven Trombones

Leo…buddy…has your cheese finally slipped off the cracker totally?

It’s true. I did attend the last commission meeting—however--I uttered NOT ONE SINGLE PEEP. (And…I missed the prior meeting!) Yet, your Web site account of the October 28th meeting made it sound like I marched through the City Hall auditorium leading a 100-piece marching band with double euphoniums. What’s up with that, buddy?

Has your source failed you or did you just decide to take a little more creative license because it made for a better read? I didn’t know that merely “being there” seated in the audience at a commission meeting qualifies as yowling.

Damn…and here I thought attending commission meetings was akin to participating in my local government and caring about how my tax dollars are being spent in IRB. What was I thinking anyway?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRBeHEARD Bloggers: LEO NEEDS A THEME SONG. While I trust that many of you will do much better when you blog in with your own nominations, how about “Luck Be a 93-year Old Lady”?

Luck be a 93-year old lady tonight.
Luck be a 93-year old lady tonight.
Stick with me baby, Im the gal who beat up Leo.
Luck be a 93-year old lady tonight.

PAPER OR PLASTIC

Touch Screen to Scanner

Well…the big day is finally here and the sun is peeking out on yet another Presidential Election Day. This one proves to be more historic in nature than most of us have seen in a lifetime.

Election Day never goes by without me thinking about my grandpa. The last time he voted was for Herbert Hoover. His father, in his best broken German, told his young son, “You do down der and you vote for dat Herbert Hoover…he’s a good man.” Pops did as instructed, the country fell into the Great Depression and he NEVER voted again.

After the election debacle in 2000 that cast all eyes on an impotent election system, will Florida again be in the hot seat? (For those of you who haven’t already seen the made-for-HBO movie Recount with Kevin Spacey, currently running on cable, it’s definitely worth watching!)

Is leaving the disastrous touch screen system behind and returning to paper ballots read by a scanner going to produce more accurate results? It’s amazing that the finest example of the democratic process can’t seem to land on a voting system that is foolproof…especially in this age of technology. I have always wondered what area, other than medicine, could be more important for implementing the most advanced technology available.

Rumor has it that a bunch of IRB neighbors…Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians alike…will be watching the election returns tonight at the Red Lion from about 8 p.m. on. The more the merrier…so stop on by.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

INTERNET FOR TOURISTS

Indian Shores Charges Them?

Is it true that Indian Shores charges tourists for internet access at their library? Hmmm. And they didn’t even have to hire governmental accounting consultant Rob Garner to the tune of thousands of dollars to find that alternative revenue source, did they?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

S.O.B.

Shop our Businesses in IRB

In a recession, the economy operates backwards. It recedes instead of advancing. Most folks you talk to in IRB have all felt the pinch…albeit to differing degrees. But, the folks most affected by the economic downturn are our small businesses—our shops, restaurants, bars, salons, etc.

The official definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth marked by a slump in consumer spending. Only a very few number of businesses—like funeral homes--are truly recession-proof. (Death and taxes, right?) For the average retailer here on the barrier island, the challenge is to keep the doors open with less revenue while maintaining the same quality and level of service. Nearly 70% of the U.S. economy relies on consumer spending. For our local restaurants, hotels, shops, bars, etc. in IRB, that percentage is undoubtedly much higher.

It’s more important now than ever to “buy” locally. As a community, IRB is fortunate to have so many solid small businesses headed by smart, successful proprietors. They deserve our respect and our support—now and always.

In lean times, businesses tend to reduce advertising expenditures, so we must be proactive patrons—and visit without waiting to be “coaxed” to do so. Some IRB businesses have intelligently explored ways to replace the business robbed by the economy. My Place, J.D.’s and Crabby Bill’s appeared at last Tuesday's commission meeting (10/28) to ask the City to allow them to extend live entertainment hours by one hour on the weekends. Please urge your City Commission to grant this request. And hopefully, as former City Commission candidate and IRB P & Z Board Member Don House suggested, the deadline for businesses to comply with the new sign ordinance will also be extended. As a community, we need to do everything possible to keep the businesses we love from being downturn casualties…even if it means lesser emphasis on the esthetics...at least in the short run.

You’ll notice a new addition to the right-hand column of the IRBeHEARD blog—IRBeBiz. E-mail us at irbeheard@cmdinc.net with a great experience you’ve had with an IRB business. We’ll share it with our readers in an upcoming posting—a little FREE word-of-blog advertising for our local businesses!

Shop, eat, party, pamper, recreate…right here at home in IRB. It saves on gas!

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

FIRED AND RE-FIRED

Schless Pink Slipped--AGAIN?

At the October 14th commission meeting, Finance Director Marty Schless was, by a 3-2 commission vote, relieved of his duties as our city’s Chief Financial Officer. However, the item, as it appeared on the meeting agenda, called for a performance review only. Once again, it took citizens to point out that Marty’s firing was not agenda-ed properly and that the action taken needed to be formalized by a resolution since termination of a charter officer requires it.

At last night’s commission meeting (October 28th), the City Attorney indicated that a resolution is in the works and asked that it be put on the next meeting’s agenda. So, another vote will be taken and Marty will be fired—a second time—by resolution. The termination, according to Kiefer will be retroactive. Doesn’t it seem like a lot of things require “doing and re-doing” these days?

Kennedy, who made the motion to fire Schless at the 10/14 meeting, went predictably into “blame mode” and asked if she did anything improper in making the motion to fire Marty. Kennedy carefully pointed out that she asked the City Attorney first before making the motion and Kiefer gave her the go-ahead.

Could this incessant need to point fingers be why no one on the commission seemed particularly “excited” about Kennedy’s desire to be appointed as the beaches’ representative on the Pinellas Planning Council?

In reference to Kennedy’s fingerpointing on the Schless firing, Kiefer said that everything was done properly but that a resolution was required. So, Marty’s “real” firing is now scheduled for the upcoming meeting on November 13th.

Blamers and bumblers and whiskers on kittens…some of IRB’s favorite things.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRB BLAME GAME

Fine Art of Fingerpointing

I often ask my two mischievous nephews the proverbial question…"Alright, which one of you two did this?" Inevitably, they grin and point to one another uttering those magical words nearly in unison “HE did.” I never get any closer to the answer, yet I still ask the question. The truth is that I get a kick out of their rather predictable responses. With kids, fingerpointing is amusing; with adults, it’s not…especially when it’s more motivated by politics than by a desire for “real” answers.

Last Sunday, October 29th, a St. Petersburg Times article included back-to-back fingerpointing quotes by two IRB City Commissioners.

When speaking of Finance Director’s Schless firing, Commission Wollin was quoted as saying: “It is not his fault that he was hired without that experience. That is the fault of the people that hired him.” Schless had no municipal accounting experience when joining the IRB staff. Do you think Wollin realizes she’s criticizing the judgment of the gentleman immediately to her right on dais, Mayor (then Commissioner) R.B. Johnson—who voted “Yea” on the Schless hiring? (Wasn't it Ockunzzi and Carmody who were the initial "NO" votes for Schless?)

Commissioner Kennedy's reported remark accuses the city of using “bad judgment” in hiring Marty without the proper experience. How soon she forgets that Marty's predecessor left behind an accounting mess so abomindable that it required a forensic accountant to unravel it. And that was a DiNicola commission who hired the Schless predecessor...right? That kind of spoils Kennedy's depiction of the “DiNicola Days” as some sort of beachy Camelot with herself as one the roundtable knights, doesn't it?

Commissioner Valery doesn’t point fingers. He speaks his mind and has very strong opinions but is not a blamer. The thoughtful Torres isn’t a fingerpointer either. Mayor R. B. Johnson almost goes the other way; he tends to accept responsibility for his decisions even when it’s not really warranted.

So…why is it that primarily the women on our commission engage in “blamecasting” every chance they get? Is the purpose of this selective disparagement to somehow make themselves look smarter or more qualified?

And, some of the fingerpointing has been rather expensive. Consultant Rob Garner’s timetable tracing the Sewer/Solid Waste Funds debacle represented thousands upon thousands of dollars in prime PowerPoint fingerpointing. His timetable listed the names of all the commissioners who sat on the commission and the dates when City Managers and Finance Directors came and went in relationship to the still-mysterious loans. Yet, when it came to showing important info, like the actual date when Pinellas County increased their rates to IRB, that info was noticeably missing. Instead, the date when the commission was TOLD about the County’s increase was shown…because that date better supported the claim that the County’s rate increase is what caused the Sewer Fund to go upside down.

Ironically, when it comes time to engaging in fingerpointing that could actually be beneficial, the commission suddenly develops a case of governmental carpal tunnel syndrome. Soon-to-be-departing Finance Director Marty Schless has been blamed for everything in IRB right down to Chief Chic-a-Si breaking his ankle while crossing the rocks in the Narrows. Don't some of the misdeeds Schless has been saddled with pre-date his arrival in IRB? Plenty of fingers were pointed at Marty alright. But, when it came to asking him the hard questions like “Who the hell authorized these loans?” or "Did you take it upon yourself to approve the loans," no commissioner so much as raised a pinky.

Is this commission protecting someone? Won’t the City’s errors and omissions insurance cover the loss if some sort of malfeasance can be shown? Isn’t that reason enough to put a proverbial finger on the culprit or culprits? Or, is it just easier to continue protecting those who put our City in such financial peril while the taxpayers foot the million dollar tab?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB