The idiocy of "henry": This illustrates the lack of reason on the blogs these days:
"Looks like the Mayor or Lenzen cannot buck the Marxx brothers. Maybe when we get a new council they will get their backbones back."
From Norm: This is has all the elements of a joke. Mr. Lenzen voted against Norm and/or Lenny numerous times. The Mayor took serious issue against the Council on the office issue the public hearing issue. But on the Meister issue Norm and Lenny "controlled" Mr. Lenzen and Mayor Garcia? What "henry" doesn't get is that all four of us agreed not to second the motion to elect Mr. Meister to EDAC...but that doesn't square with his view of life...it must be Lenny and Norm...those tricksters. Believe me, Mayor Garcia speaks his mind and so does Mr. Lenzen.
From Mark Meister:
I like this comment by Stormin' Normin,"What "henry" doesn't get is that all four of us agreed not to second the motion to elect Mr. Meister to EDAC..." It wasn't to be elected but to have discussion.
Did Councilmember Hunt make a motion to have a discussion? Was that the motion? Or was it a motion to appoint Mr. Meister to EDAC? I think it was the latter.
Mr. Meister wrote the following: "I was disappointed at the fact that nobody did second this which would have led to discussion."
Uh, not necessarily. In fact, the individual appointed to EDAC had no discussion after a motion and second to appoint her.
Council member Hunt made a motion to appoint Mr. Meister, not to have a discussion. While a second to a motion opens it up to discussion, a discussion may not occur and a vote is then taken. There was no second to the motion of appointing Mr. Meister. While Mr. Meister wanted the Council to have a discussion, he might not have gotten it even with a second to Council member Hunt's motion.
There is no rebuttal to what I've written unless it is off topic and/or just a personal attack - like "Stormin' Norman" or "Squiggy". Mr. Meister misconstrues what I say and "henry" is just happy that I've read it, but, sadly, not concerned that what he says is nonsensical.
This will be fun for a while... but not a long while.
Norm
Mark Meister gets slapped in the face:
Councilman Dan Hunt brought my name up for being nominated into the Economic Development and Advisory Committee. I had put my name into this position because I have served once before in this capacity. I was disappointed at the fact that nobody did second this which would have led to discussion. I had been sick yesterday and called Councilman Hunt to explain that I would not be present,. I wanted the Council to know that I was still interested. Much to my displeasure, I was not even seconded to bring up for discussion.
I could have accepted the facts for the reason that I was not nominated for this position if it were discussed. Since it wasn't, I feel that it was a slap to my face that not one councilman nor the Mayor would have entertained the idea of me being seconded. The city asks for volunteers and this is the way that a volunteer, former EDAC member, and twice former candidate for city council was treated. A lesson was learned at this meeting and I shall remember it.
Mark Meister
Mr. Meister, I don't know why other Council members did not second your nomination, but I will publicly state why I did not: you do not have the ability to judge, assess, and/or evaluate information. You've been wrong on so many issues and misconstrue my motivations at every turn that I don't want to see you in any position of leadership.
You ran for office twice and lost. You came in 11th out of 11. Just because you're a former EDAC member doesn't mean you know what you're doing. Quite simply, you're glib on nearly every issue.
Only you could take a 5-0 vote and blame two Councilmen that it passed. Maybe this slap in the face will wake you up.
Now, this is why I didn't second that motion and I've put it in writing in a public forum. Whether others will or not is not known to me at this time. But maybe you should ask your friend "Bobby" why he didn't second that motion. Life is tough, wear a cup. And you want to run for public office?
When I asked this person for a name this is what was sent to me in an automatic email reply:
Thank you for your inquiry.
View more properties at: www.ahsbuys.com
You can go to the link. I thought it was interesting, but there was no name sent. Below is the email that is already in Citizens' Editorials. Norm
12/3:
There are two guys, Bob & Mort (sounds like a comedy show) that keep writing what Debary should allow. What would happen to Debary if we didn't have the council to set laws and codes and regulations. We need that. It is quite apparent that regular people don't know what is good for them and needs government to control and restrict their, sometimes illegal activites. We all know that gambling is bad, except for the State because that is a government entity and it knows what is best for us.
I mean really - why would we want a horse track that would have people coming into our town with lots of money that they might spend here. I agree with the council, lets build high rises ( 5 floors I think was the height discussed) and put apartments up on the top three floors. Now that is a great idea and shows that the City cares and wants to house people and the citizen that live in the areas with those vacant foreclosed houses - well that is just too bad. Debary wants progress and can't be concerned about vacant properties - we have code enforcement to deal with them.
So again I ask - who is this Bob & Mort? They just don't get it.
Ohio and Wisconsin voters were offered the glittering gift of bullet trains -- OK, not bullet trains but, rather, diesel-puffing trains that would average about 68 mph -- yet those voters rejected it. They elected men who promised to say no.
Trains of the Future, Politics of the Kennel
READ THE WHOLE STORY BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW:
High-speed rail
projects land in tug
of war between governors
Florida , Wisconsin and Ohio , each awarded
hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds,
have incoming Republican governors who have
vowed to kill their intercity rail projects or are
threatening to do so if they determine the projects
will become a drain on taxpayersGov.-elect Scott Walker says it won't happen.
"The Madison-Milwaukee train line is dead," John
Hiller , Walker's transition director, said in a
statement. "Wisconsin taxpayers will not be on the
hook for multimillion-dollar ongoing operating
subsidies, because of Gov.-elect Walker's efforts to
stop this boondoggle."
READ THE WHOLE STORY BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW:
This is regarding the Oct. 15 story "Candidate has too many irons in the fire?"My main concern is this: Chris Carson and all DeBary City Council candidates have been asked not to run a dirty campaign. Well, the article has kicked off Mr. Carson's dirty tricks campaign. In the story, Carson questions whether Mike Kolba can do a good job on the City Council with all the leadership roles he has with other organizations and committees.
This is dirty politics by Mr. Carson, his campaign team, a group of DeBary residents and The News-Journal. The real thrust of the article is not about city government issues but about a small group of homeowers who have issues with an HOA Board. Mr. Kolba has much more experience in business and community organizations than Mr. Carson. Mr. Carson's past voting record as a councilman includes voting to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a skateboard park. He also voted in favor of bringing a race track and gambling to DeBary in 2008.
Finally, I firmly believe that Mr. Carson and his campaign committee are very concerned about the many endorsements Mr. Kolba has received following the primary, and are now willing to do anything, including using The News-Journal as his mouthpiece. I believe that Mr. Kolba will use his many years of professional business experience to work hard for all the citizens and families of DeBary.
I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but how does a story like the one below that I’ve excerpted get published?
Candidate has many irons in the fire
Involvement in associations worries some
By MARK HARPER, STAFF WRITER
October 15, 2010
DEBARY -- As candidates for City Council go, Mike Kolba has qualifications.
The retired engineer chairs the DeBary Streetscape Advisory Committee, for instance. He's also president of two homeowners' associations, the subdivision where he lives, Quail Lakes, and the community of which it is part, DeBary Plantation. Some residents -- and his opponent -- are questioning whether it's too much.
But Kolba, 61, is confident he can manage those duties, as well as those of a city councilman.
"That's known as multitasking," he said in an interview at his home Wednesday.
Kolba's opponent, Chris Carson -- a former councilman -- questions whether representing all of those interests is a good idea. Carson lives in a homeowner association community, Glen Abbey, but says he has never held a leadership post on the association board.
"It's a huge conflict, especially because you're dealing with the stormwater issue," said Carson, a 36-year-old recreation and events coordinator for the city of Winter Springs. "What's he going to do, abstain every time?"
A couple of things:
1. Chris Carson has demonstrated he doesn’t know when or why to abstain from voting.
2. When Chris Carson questions if Mike Kolba should be so busy, Chris is doing that for the city of DeBary…because he cares about the process of government. If I were to raise these questions about Chris Carson, it would be called mud slinging and a power move. Also, Mike Kolba is retired so he has the time to do these things. While being on the Council I’ve worked full time, gone to Rollins College where I started and finished my master’s degree , run a household ( I don’t live at home with my mommy and daddy – I’ve been “out of the house” since I was 23. I have to pay a mortgage and balance a household budget, raise step-kids and a daughter), run a website, grade papers, etc,. Of course, I had to prepare for Council meetings as well which I did to a proficient degree. Perhaps I prepared too well and tried to hold too many people accountable...
3. From the Orlando Sentinel:
December 12, 2004 |By Kevin P. Connolly, Sentinel Staff Writer
(Maryann) Courson briefly choked back tears during her interview.
"I believe that I'm the best-qualified because, basically, I love this city," she said. "I have been here almost eight years and we have been through ups and downs, and I know the residents and they all have a very special place in my heart, just like this city does."
From the Deland-Beacon Editorial page:
Chris (Carson) served two full terms (2003-08) on the City Council, and was instrumental in U.S. Highway 17-92 lighting and the Gateway Park Christmas display, to name a few of his accomplishments.
The above indicates a person with experienced leadership, a sincere love for our city, and a logical choice for election to Seat 1 on the City Council.
John Rokop
DeBary
Since when does love of the city qualify someone to manage it or sit on the Council? It’s not enough for me and we’ll see if the voters have learned from the past or not to go down that road again. The people will decide. Meanwhile, why isn’t anyone promoting Bill Long’s experience that is broader and deeper with both City and County experience? The experience that is touted for Chris Carson is ignored when discussing Bill Long.
4. Lastly, why is this article even in the newspaper, who got it going and who called the paper? What was that phone call like? “Hey, Mr. Harper…have you heard the latest?” “No, what?” “Well, Mr. Kolba is really busy. He’s got lots of irons in the fire.” “Holy involved citizen, Batman…we can’t let that go by.”
Mike Kolba was interviewed in his home for this? Amazing. Meanwhile, Chris Carson repeatedly says that City Manager Courson never did anything illegal so therefore she must have been a competent city manager. So a City Manager can lie to Mr. Carson, give bad information, not follow the codes and not garner any criticism because those actions are not illegal? This is who we want back on the Council? The people will decide. Mr. Carson said the Council spent 15 thousand dollars on a forensic audit and found nothing illegal. We spent 8 thousand to clear the deck for the new City Manager. It wasn’t to find mud but to improve the process of government and find out what needed to be fixed such as new software which was suggested and we just purchased; we also needed to establish some policies and procedures. if you want someone on the council not interested in improving government, vote for Chris Carson – the people will decide. But this proves my point: the Council votes to do a forensic audit to find out if our financial house is in order, and Mr. Carson interprets it as trying to find dirt...it couldn't possibly be to improve the City...but he questions Mike Kolba because he wants us to think that he's concerned about the city. It's not what is done or said, but who does and who says it that makes the difference.
So for Mr. Carson love of city is all that is necessary to manage it and as long as nothing illegal is done they are above criticism. The people will decide if these thresholds are good for DeBary. Mr. Carson helped to spend 80 thousand dollars on plans for a skateboard park – those plans sit on a shelf; he didn’t question or vote against 200 thousand dollars on land for that skateboard park that was never built and he went along with over 100 thousand dollars on the Partnership Center that was never formed. The land for the Skateboard Park was next to Memorial Park which is an affront to veterans - but the people will decide if they want that kind of judgement or lackthereof back on the Council. He also agreed to hire a grant writer for 100 thousand dollars when it was in the job duties of the Asst. City Manager to do grants. That’s nearly half a million off the top of my head that was wasted. But the people will decide if Mr. Carson is to return to the Council. Mr. Carson is simply unable or unwilling - but probably both - to criticize anything or anyone at anytime. It’s all good. Everything is great. Is that what we want…the people will decide.
In addition, Mr. Carson put on his candidate literature the following, "During my tenure, I built the City's Financial Reserves to nearly six million dollars." He did that all by himself? He caused the real estate bubble to bring in all that money. We just discussed this at a recent meeting and it was agreed upon that the power company and the market brought in the extra million or thereabouts a year to the city...not Mr. Carson. But the people will decide to accept and vote for this kind of misleading and irresponsible information. Moreover, Mr. Carson notes the 10 acre addition to Rob Sullivan. That was acquired with a ten dollar fee and it's unusable because it slopes so severely; it would cost tens of thousands of dollars to level and three acres of it are reserved for the scrub jays. His campaign card also has two spelling mistakes...will he really be that accurate in reading the packet when it's not possible for him to do so with his own campaign literature? Mr. Carson touts experience...I'm looking more at ability.
But I do agree with this in the article: “As candidates for City Council go, Mike Kolba has qualifications.” Perhaps he has too many and someone called the News Journal to do this article. The people will decide. How they decide is an essay for another day.
Norm Erickson
9/27: HUH?
Train project keeps rolling
By MARK HARPER
Daytona Beach News Journal, September 27, 2010
FROM THE SAME ARTICLE IN TODAY'S PAPER:
1. "I have found with everybody I've talked to, that they're excited about (SunRail). People want to use the train."Noranne Downs, FDOT's District 5 secretary
2. Changing the car culture of commuting from the suburbs of southwest Volusia County into Seminole and Orange counties isn't likely to happen as soon as the trains start rolling.
The vote was 3-2 to approve the resolution prohibiting elected officials from having offices at City Hall, Erickson, Lenzen and Council Member Lenny Marks voting to approve it, and with Garcia and Council Member Lita Handy-Peters dissenting.
Garcia said, "I believe this violated the rights of the citizens of DeBary."
He said it is a constitutional issue."I will take it to the governor," he said.
On Aug. 5, Garcia told The Beacon the City Council violated the will of the people who elected them, and he wants to get the governor's direction on how to proceed.
Garcia said, "If I had the authority, the power,I would get rid of them alland hold a special election."
The governor is the only one who can remove the council, he explained.
"I don't need that council for direction of the city," Garcia said. "I preside over that council."
Garcia said he will take it to the president of the United States, if the governor doesn't help him, or he will request a congressional inquiry.
DEBARY -- What a difference a year and a new administration make.
In September 2008, DeBary's finances were in such disarray that the City Council adopted a budget without the benefit of the city's annual audit.
From the City Manager from the 5/5 City Council Meeting:
1. To be quite honest, I don't think the Citizens or the Council have been well served by Staff as far as the budget process nor financial reporting aspect of what we're supposed to be doing as an organization. It's very dysfunctional.
2. The budget process is the City Manager's responsibility and my review of what was submitted is that you were not well served.
3. The big issue is that the balance sheets are meaningless; they can't - don't determine our cash position.
Summary: It's very dysfunctional and no one is being very well served by the current process.
WHY CHANGE IS SO DIFFICULT:
FLASHBACK TO MAY 7TH 2008 MINUTES WHEN NORM ERICKSON AND LENNY MARKS ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CITY FROM DYSFUNCTIONAL MANAGEMENT TO FUNCTIONAL MANAGEMENT AND GET THINGS IN ORDER:
Mark Meister, 146 Pine Tree Drive, spoke in favor of Ms. Courson and thanked her for the work she has done for the City.
Rob Sullivan, 59 Lake Drive, said he hoped the Council would vote to support the City Manager and move on to the business of the City.
Bob Garcia, 101 Sunrise Blvd., said Ms. Courson is the most dedicated City Manager he has ever met; that she is an asset to the City; that she always addresses his concerns; and that her office is always open to the citizens.
John Wilson, 114 Pine Valley Court, said that any disciplinary hearing should be based on performance and measurable and quantifiable criteria. He requested that all the elected officials, department heads, and their assistants provide the following information for the public record: education levels, degrees attained, career experience, supervisory experience, and budgetary planning experience. He stated that Ms. Courson has the experience to run the City and asked the Council to get back on track and serve all the citizens of DeBary. FACT: JOHN WILSON IS THE CO-CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR NICK KOVAL
Rick Dwyer, 154 Hickory Stick Court, stated that he has observed Ms. Courson making recommendations that the Council has not followed; that she is always cordial and helpful; that one or two infractions do not justify her removal; and that she is a valuable asset to the City.
Gertrude DeSantis, 161 Maple Drive, voiced her support of Ms. Courson and said that although they have had their differences, she respects her, and the Council would be crazy to get rid of her.
Laura Lee Clark, 466 Fort Florida Road, stated she supports Ms. Courson, and her door is always open to the citizens. Ms. Clark said that her understanding of the codes is that they should be used as a guideline and are interpretive in nature.
Tino Farjad, 45 Alicante Road, said he has been a resident for eight years and has seen wonderful changes in the City of DeBary due to Ms. Courson, who has given many years of her life to the City. He asked Council Member Erickson to look much deeper and find better solutions before deciding to terminate her.
John Wanamaker, 102 James Pond Court, spoke in support of Ms. Courson and said he has volunteered his time for the last three years to work with staff on the new city hall. He stated that the city attorney would have advised the Council that it was improper if the impact fees were not legal.
Vice Mayor Carson said that Ms. Courson is honest, he respects her for doing the job that she does, and he does not support her termination.Fact: Chris Carson is running for office again for Seat 1.
From Norm: I see a repeating theme in the comments above: if you work hard and keep your door open, that translates, in the minds of some, to having the ability to manage a city. We now know that is not the case. The same is true with elections. It will be argued that Chris Carson is a hard worker, he's lived here his whole life and he's very cordial. All of these things are true, but are those qualifications to be on the City Council? Chris Carson hired, defended and voted to retain a City Manager that was not capable. He didn't and does not have the ability to asses, evaluate and judge and brings too little to the table for me to support his candidacy. Quite simply, I want five voices on the City Council not four. Mayor Garcia defended and voted to retain Ms. Courson as well. Eventually, Councilman Lenzen did see that the City needed to move forward with new management. All facts on the record. I wish it would have happened sooner rather than later.
I ran for office because like Lenny Marks and John Likakis we knew the city was not being managed properly. Everyone, as the list above shows, went against us. But today, with the kudos for the current City Manager and Asst. City Manager, few would want to go back to what we had having now experienced functional, ethical management. I know I wouldn't. Who should get credit? It's more important to know who should not get credit and who should be held responsible. This election, in part, is about just that issue. The other issue is gambling...but that's an essay for another day.
Some of you may think that I stopped the radio broadcast after losing the primary. That is not true.
I want to thank Mr. N. Erickson and Mr. D. Hunt for joining the program last night. They both had a lot to say and both had different opinions which is what the show is all about. Mr. Erickson did not express opinions as much as he answered some important questions and clarified some information. Mr. Hunt had ideas on what he wanted to do for the city of Debary and both promised to come back on the show again. My next show is September 22nd and all the candidates are invited.
I had 43 listeners (voters) at one time. I hope the program grows as it is a great way for the candidates to get their message out to the public and everyone is invited to participate.
I want to let all that are interested in knowing I plan on staying involved with city government. I was at last weeks city council meeting for a very short time and surprisingly I didn't see any of the candidates except Dan Hunt.
I now have a license to speak out and ask question over those that sit around and complain and do nothing to try and make changes. I tried to make a difference. One thing for sure, I learned a lot, and I want to thank those on the city council that supported me, that meant a lot. I learned for sure that the squeeky wheel gets the grease. I have always been a supporter of Mayor Garcia and him having an office but of course I should have known there are always two sides to every story, I am a walking - talking - breathing example of that. The other side absolutely makes common sense which is the platform I ran on, however they didn't use the media to holler their position, and yet it was said about me that ''we don't need a council man who will embarass the city''. (who called the media???) I know all the candidates, including myself, agreed to give the mayor back his office but if they investigate, like I did, that may not happen. We will find out real fast who is going to follow the rules and who is not. All I am saying is that I am NOT as committed to doing that as I once was, doesn't mean I would vote NO but it does mean I would openly discuss with the 'new council' what I am sure they will learn, or at least I am going to wait and see if they do learn it.
I am glad to see that the primary is over and maybe everyone can concentrate on real issues until November (I am suffering from sign fatigue). Don't forget, speak your mind to me or at me at: www.bobindebary.com Can't get rid of me that easy.
Bob Waldorf
(former candidate)
City of Debary Council Seat 2
8/26Well the election is over, for me that is. Missing the run off by only 22 votes is hard to swallow but that is what happened. Additionally what happened no body paid attention to because I didn't bring it up until now. I had spent one on one time with Mr. Parrott, Ms. Blissett, Mr. Marks, Mr.Seelbinder, Ms. Hammock and even Mr. Hooker. I even drove to Daytona and spoke with Mr. Ehlinger and Mr. Kizer. I spoke to each one of those people instead of being out campaigning. I spoke to each of those so I would have the knowledge to know what each one's responsibility to the city was and what they thought needed to be done so I would know how I could help them and the city. I was the only candidate at the budget workshop so I would know exactly how to proceed when the council decides to increase taxes, and they are going to just watch. They have too. I know all the reasons why and I was prepared to address the issues and the citizen would have won. I would have worked hard for the small business person just like I did when I met with owners of vacant buildings trying to get them to lower their rents hoping to bring new business into the community. I spent time helping Ms. Gokey over on Valencia find transportation back and forth to the doctor and grocery store. I helped others when the other candidates were campaigning. Even then, I was working for the people. Ask Mr. Parrott how many people called him that I referred to him. But in the end I did not receive enough votes and I have no reason to believe there was any reason other than what happened to me 25 years ago. What a shame. I had the early vote lead, that I know, because they believed in me, the candidate. What I lost was the later voters who had time to read the newspaper and believe everything they read even though I tried the best I could to get the truth out to the voters some just didn't care. But life goes on. Hopefully the candidates you have chosen will do the job that I would have done but just so you know, I am not done. I am still going to push logic and common sense at the council. I am still going to work for you and help make changes to better our city. I am committed to doing that - I only wish you could have been as committed to me, the person I am now. Be honest and realize we all have things in our past we wish didn't happen. That is what made me the good council man, a real, down to earth person who has been down and got back up and got up higher than I ever would have had I not been down. I said at the gateway - I will work for you using common sense and logic and all I ask in return was your vote. If you had used your common sense and logic and got to know me you would have voted for me. But that didn't happen. Let's hope you didn't let a good councilman get away and that the new council people will do you a good job. Debary needs it and who knows......I might run again because I believe in you the people and ask that you believe in me - Bob Waldorf
As I stated before the primary, it's unfortunate that citizens and the newspapers are more concerned with what happened 25 years ago, than what is happening today and in the last year. Example: the Orlando Sentinel took the time to tell us Bob's real name is William Robert Waldorf. What about Roberto Garcia-Nazario? Has anyone looked at the paperwork filed with the Supervisor of Elections? Does a legal name mean anything? It seems to for Bob Waldorf...oh...but that's him. If we look too closely at others we'll have the race card thrown at us. Two sets of rules. Has anyone done any digging in Deltona? Why "Roberto" on that ballot when he ran for mayor there, but "Bob" here in DeBary? Again I say, good luck Mr. Long...who knows how many articles they will try and come up...but maybe, because of Mr. Waldorf, it won't work to any one's advantage. And given the articles in the paper about these two men, how is it that Mr. Koval STILL couldn't win outright? It gives me hope that we still have some thinking citizens out there. Good luck, Mr. Long. Bob, I hope you continue being involved in the city.
Norm Erickson
Has Dr. Laura been viewing our City Council meetings? Read her words below:
"When I first started out in radio," she said, "people would disagree — they disagreed, they didn't hate. They didn't try to censor, they didn't try to destroy an opposing point of view. Instead, they just argued and debated, and argued and disagreed, and debated and argued." Now, she continued, "self-appointed activist types breed hate, breed anger, breed destruction should anyone hold up a mirror or dare to disagree." She added that the phenomenon could be observed in all aspects of society, from politics to education to the workplace.
Now read John Likakis' latest "Open Letter..." by scrolling below...
8/20:
Eyes wide shut:
Read about what is going on in Winter Springs and you'll know why Amendment 4 exists:
Let’s get the “I was thrown out of office…” corrected.
If the Mayor had stayed in his chair, stopped talking and become part of the discussion as everyone else tried to do, he would have been able to contribute to a variety of possibilities. It was about use of space. Not who was in it.
On July 21st after it was voted 4-1 to direct the City Manager to draft a Resolution, the Mayor said he “…would abide by the decision of the Council.” On August 4th he then said he would not abide by the vote. Why? At the August 4th Council Meeting the Mayor also refused to table the Resolution to discuss the issues. Why did he refuse tabling an open discussion? Maybe because a few days before he said “…if Erickson tries to remove the Resolution, I will try to bring the matter up.” Why? I guess because it gave him another “look what they have done to me” complaint.
Look over the following violations and questionable conduct and decide for yourselves if he should be representing you and DeBary. In my opinion they qualify as conduct unbecoming of the office, malfeasance, and misfeasance, which is against the law.
1. Refusal to accept 4-1 votes when he dissents. Treats the decision as if it never existed. Did this at least 4 times and ignored or said he’ll take care of it himself. It subverts the Council, undermines its effectiveness and it’s against the law.
2. Derogatory and slanderous comments during discussion about a previous Candidate for City Manager. “If that son of a …(pause)…Gentleman can’t handle…” Guess what fits the pause?
3. Ruling by tantrum and gavel pounding.
4. Verbal and face to face abuse directed toward Councilman Conoley at a City Hall meeting in front of a City employee. Severe enough for Councilman Conoley to file a police report. The Mayor prepared a countersuit a few days later.
5. Verbal abuse directed at Vice Mayor Erickson during a Council Meeting. Gavel pounding to cut off any further discussion. At the next meeting Vice Mayor Erickson asked for and received an apology as did Councilman Conoley.
6. During Public Speaking a citizen mentioned “recall” and was yelled at by the Mayor and told to “Meet me outside after the meeting and we can debate it.” Gavel pounded to end discussion.Another confrontation with Vice Mayor Erickson during a Council meeting when the budget was being discussed. The Mayor interrupted and said, “I’m going to dance with you tonight. A lot.” And “I’m running this meeting.”
7. The Mayor walked into a citizens’ meeting chaired by the City Manager and began to comment with curse words that caused two ladies to get up and leave the meeting. The City Manager reminded the Mayor where he was and the language he was using and the Mayor left. An embarrassment to the citizens and the City.
One of the ladies was disgusted enough to take the time to respond to his behavior with a well written e-mail to POP. She suggested he resign for the good of the City. Thank you.
8. Confrontation with me in the Walgreen parking lot when I walked over to him – by his truck – said “Hi, how are you” and asked about the status of the VFW sign repair. The Post Commander had mentioned it to me a few days earlier. The Mayor launched into a tirade and for the next 10+ minutes I was yelled at and cursed at, never got a word in before he decided to grab the truck door to get in and leave with the admonition to “never talk to me again except at a Council meeting.” The same day a transcript was sent to the City Attorney who suggested waiting before taking it any further action. I wanted a record of this because no one would believe what transpired. He mellowed slightly after that, so I held off.
9. The Mayor said in public and to the media that he will not follow Charter Law or Council decisions.
10. The Mayor has said in public and to the media that he doesn’t need anyone to run the City except himself.
There are other reports of questionable behavior. I will not list them if I can’t verify them personally.
How much is needed to qualify for violations of the Charter? In my opinion, start right at the beginning – 4.01 (d) “…whose promise of performance or actual performance in office best reflects the policies which the citizens desire to implement in the governing of the City.”
There’s more regarding conduct unbecoming of the office. How much do you need to see or hear about that he is not qualified to represent you? He wants sole control of everything. He said so. All of the preceding are his saying and doing; not mine or any one else’s.
I remind the City Attorney that he is here to protect the City. Not the Mayor. That’s the law. Too many “events” have been left to go by without legal intervention on behalf of the Council and the City. Should a hearing or other form of action be required, I hope the fiasco of abandoning the Council while the Mayor ranted and raved should not happen again. Procedures, rules, etc. MUST be presented by the City Attorney right at the beginning. No one is ignored and everyone knows their place and the sequence.
John Likakis
Citizen
8/13:
"Mr. Garcia,
If you truly care about this city, resign."
Which candidates would vote for future gambling such as the one defeated last year and which ones would vote against it?
Tom, I don't think you'll get many answers, Norm.
8/10:
It’s not lying…it’s something worse.
From the July 21st City Council meeting:
"If for any reason the council feels that it warrants that the office is not good for the mayor and you wish to remove it I have no problems with that."
The next day the media blitz started and Mr. Garcia embarrassed and shamed this City with his antics instead of discussing and working with the Council on possible compromises. On July 21st the Council merely agreed to direct the City Manager to draft a resolution. Mr. Garcia made the CHOICE, a poor one in my opinion, to stand in the heat, work from his truck, work from a restaurant and call the media to capture it all in what should be an Oscar-nominated performance. I've worked with teenagers long enough to know that if the Council TOLD Mr. Garcia to stand in the heat, work from his truck and a restaurant, he would surely be up in one of those conference rooms meeting with citizens.
From the television news:
“Because they can’t get one (an office) have an attitude…if I can’t get one…you can’t get one.” Bob Garcia referring to the council members not having an office.
No council member ever asked for nor was denied an office space, Mr. Garcia. Once again you just say things that have no connection to reality.
It’s not lying; it’s something worse and the free book review below will explain it better than I ever could.
In 2005 philosopher Harry Frankfurt , a professor emeritus of philosophy at Princeton University and who previously taught at Yale, published a nonfiction bestseller, that spent twenty-seven weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. The title of the book: On Bullshit.
For someone to lie, there must be a truth to contradict. In finding that truth the liar can then be brought to justice. But there is something worse than lying. This thing worse than lying is often easily perceived by people but difficult to point out because it’s not as definite or conspicuous or obvious as the outright lie. It is called bullshit. And one who bullshits is a bullshitter. The bullshitter does not reject the authority of the truth as the liar does. Indeed, the bullshitter pays no attention to the truth at all which is most treacherous.
Frankfurt claims on page 61 of this book that, "...bullshit is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are.” Why? Because while the liar deliberately makes false claims, the bullshitter is simply uninterested in the truth. A statement made by a bullshitter is grounded neither in a belief that it is true nor, as a lie must be, in a belief that it is not true. It is just this lack of connection to a concern with truth – this indifference to how things really are – that Frankfurt regards as the very essence of bullshit.
Frankfurt continues to explain that it is impossible for someone to lie unless he thinks he knows the truth. Producing bullshit requires no such conviction. For the bullshitter, all bets are off: he is neither on the side of the true nor on the side of the false. His eye is not on the facts at all. He does not care whether the things he says describe reality correctly. He just picks them out, or makes them up, to suit his purpose.
This is important because bullshitters can’t be called liars since they have no concern for truth; yet there is a motivation for spreading bullshit. Bullshitters aim primarily to impress and persuade their audiences. What he cares about is what people think of him. He wants them to think of him as someone with deep thoughts. While liars need to know the truth to better conceal it, bullshitters, interested solely in advancing their own agendas, have no use for the truth so concludes Frankfurt.
This is important when we think of what Cicero expressed over 2000 years ago: “Even a virtuous man can be corrupted by oratory (bullshit) though he cannot be corrupted by a bribe” (Cicero: On Government, Penguin Classics pg. 190). The most honest and trustworthy yet unlearned individual can be taken in by bullshit.
Frankfurt ends his book by explaining that bullshit is unavoidable whenever circumstances require someone to talk without knowing what he is talking about. Thus the production of bullshit is stimulated whenever a person’s obligations or opportunities to speak about some topic exceed his knowledge of the facts that are relevant to that topic. This discrepancy is common in public life or running for office.
At the August 4th meeting, Mr. Garcia said the following at the 2:42:24 time stamp:
"Once my Council decides to do something, guess what - I follow it through - I don't go against them."
On August5th, the next day, he said the following in the Deland-Beacon:
Garcia said, "If I had the authority, the power, I would get rid of them all and hold a special election."
Is it lying? Not really...but I think now we know what it is...don't we?
Norm Erickson
Still More from the Beacon Blog:
Life in a small town! | posted Aug 8, 2010 - 11:34:41am
Once again Mr Erikson has shown himself to be the true "professional" that he is and has always portrayed at the council meetings! People this is not a popularity contest, the issues at stake are much too important! I agree with Bernice, "a monkey" would have won against George Coleman because of the affects from Fay! It is most unfortunate that Mr Erikson and Mr Marks are not running for re-election. They seriously "raised" the bar on what it takes to be a competent councilman! I still have yet to see what their "secret" agenda is, I guess doing their best for the people that elected them is somehow viewed as "suspect" in this day and age!
More from the Beacon-Blog:
Big Cat | posted Aug 7, 2010 - 4:07:03pm
Making threats to get the Governor to fire the city council and take it to a congressional inquiry is ludicrous. Gov. Christ may give Garcia a few minutes of his time and politely show him the door. Taking it to the feds is entirely ridiculous. Garcia really has no concept of how government operates, either in his city or higher.
Berrnice | posted Aug 7, 2010 - 3:51:10pm
People, people, this whole thing is completely out of control. Having read the above article and previous ones, it sounds like our good Mayor has a bit power madness. Just who does he think he is, the Mayor of New York City, Chicago or the king of DeBary. DeBary is not his kingdom, the people aren't his subjects and we belong to NO ONE. He was elected because people were mad about flooding caused by tropical storm Fay and blamed the city council for it.
A monkey would have been elected over former Mayor Coleman. I voted for Garcia but you can bet the apple cart, I won't be doing that again. He is and probably will be in the future, using classic bulling tactics to get his way and people are buying into it because he's their buddy. Rest assured, he will not hesitate to turn those same tactics on whomever goes against him. To say he will take the matter all the way to the Supreme Court shows just how out of control he is.
Ego and power are two very dangerous things when used like this. Take heed voters of DeBary. To say Mr. Parrott was disloyal to him---it is not Mr. Parrott's place to be loyal to the man--his job is to look after the city. Once again the Mayor's choice of words speaks volumes as do his action of calling in the press, tv stations and grandstanding.
Mark my words, DeBary will loose the best City Manager we have ever had and who will be to blame? Garcia and his little band of hooligians, that's who. When this happens and the city returns to what it was before--run by the few for the few and to heck with the rest--that same group will be the first ones singing the blues.
Read the whole Beacon Article in Citizens' Editorials
As it relates to office space for Mayors and Council members from the Deland-Beacon blog:
Look at Lake Helen and you will see exactly what the majority of the Debary City Council is attempting to avoid.
Orange City should learn from this and keep their Mayor away from town Hall completely. Maybe the two cities can rent a joint Mayor's office in Tampa or Ocala. Any place to get them out of here!
Garcia needs to get off his high horse. The council and mayor have no place in city hall where they can and will insinuate themselves into the daily operations of the city, which is the city manager's job. This set up keeps politics out of city hall and elected officials with their own personal agendas away from the administrative side of the city.
From the August 5th Deland-Beacon:
The council does not have the authority to dictate what he does, Garcia said.
Actually, Mr. Garcia...the City Council CAN dictate what you do...
From our Charter:
Sec. 4.02. Mayor.
(d) Shall perform such other duties, consistent with his office, as may be delegated to him by the City Council.
COMMENTARY: Since at the last meeting Mr. Garcia didn't know the difference between "should" and "shall" here is the definition of shall: 1a: will have to : must. The position of Mayor is subordinate to that of the City Council and the City Council CAN dictate to the Mayor. And Mr. Garcia says the Council members don't know THEIR roles? Wow. Since Mr. Garcia called the situation "bullshit politics" on television (and since Mr. Garcia used that term first, it's now ok for anyone to use it and not be taken to task), then Mr. Garcia has to be called out on this bullshit statement which is simply one of many. And what gives Mr. Garcia the right to charge into a meeting yelling "this is bullshit!" causing two ladies to get up and leave? Maybe you haven't heard about that incident but it happened and THAT is an embarrassment. The production of bullshit from Mr. Garcia is so great, it will require a separate POP Editorial in the near future. And remember when we were told by Mr. Garcia and his surrogates that he didn't use profane language? Remember "Son of a...GENTLEMAN" ? Now we know that was bullshit.
Also from our Charter:
Sec. 4.02. Mayor.
The Mayor shall serve as Chairperson during meetings of the Council. In addition, the Mayor shall:
On July 21st Mr. Garcia gave the Chair to Mr. Erickson. That violated the Charter. Again, the Mayor SHALL serve as Chairperson during meetings of the Council. Now that we know what "shall" means, will there be an outcry of Charter violation? If this goes unchallenged...well now, that's b.s. politics.
"I don't need that council for direction of the city," Garcia said.
Saying what you mean...meaning what you say
July 21st City Council Meeting:
"If for any reason the council feels that it warrants that the office is not good for the mayor and you wish to remove it I have no problem with that."
Mayor Garcia
From the Deland-Beacon:
Garcia said, "If I had the authority, the power, I would get rid of them all and hold a special election."
"I don't need that council for direction of the city," Garcia said. "I preside over that council."
Garcia said he will resign if the governor finds he's done anything wrong. If he doesn't get things resolved to his satisfaction, he will not run for re-election.
CANDIDATES: FEEL FREE TO SEND IN YOUR INFORMATION TO POST ON POP TO INFORM VOTERS FOR UPCOMING ELECTION
7/19:
Using your money to figure out how to take more of your money.
$unrail
...it's too late now
From WDBO.COM:
How are we going to pay for Sunrail and high speed rail?
Metroplan Orlando handles the area's transportation planning and with lots of new trains on the way the area needs money. How are we going to pay for Sunrail and high speed rail? WDBO's Mike Synan tells us your tax dollars will be used to figure it all out. 106 thousand dollars in tax money is going to study how to raise your taxes. Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal says he had no choice in that vote.
"They have to be done."
The Feds require the study as part of our rail plans. Want more federal cash? Tell us where you're getting the local match.
"We won't have to deal with it for 9 years, but that's certainly no reason to sweep it under the carpet."
What do we get for the money? Focus groups and polling on what residents think is the best way to pay for Sunrail and high speed rail once local governments have to operate the trains in 2020 and beyond. Segal says the best way in Orange County is to use property taxes. Others are calling for a half penny sales tax, more gas taxes, or a surcharge on rental cars.
Requires tax breaks, tax-increment financing, and other “public investments” to stimulate transit-oriented development? Check.
Declared a great success by the transit agency desperate for tax increases to fund further rail projects? Check.
Must be light rail.
As Wikipedia points out, when planned in 2000, Charlotte’s light-rail line was supposed to cost $225 million. The final cost turned out to be $467 million. Even after adjusting for inflation, that’s close to a 100 percent cost overrun. (Actually, considering inflation from 2000 to 2007, that’s about a 75 percent cost overrun.)
In 2008, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) reported less than 12,000 average weekday trips on its light-rail line. The Houston and Hudson-Bergen light-rail lines, both about the same length, each carried more than 40,000 weekday riders (and can hardly be considered successes).
Given the high capital costs plus nearly $10 million in annual operating costs, the annualized cost of Charlotte’s light-rail works out to more than $3.60 per passenger mile (compared with less than $1 for a typical bus and less than $0.25 for driving, including highway subsidies which, in North Carolina, average less than half a penny per passenger mile). Of course, most of that $3.60 is subsidized; transit users paid an average of just $0.12 per passenger mile to ride it, leaving a subsidy of nearly $3.50 per passenger mile. That also works out to a subsidy of more than $20 per ride, making Charlotte more expensive than almost any light-rail system outside of Buffalo and San Jose.
Tax-increment financing was only legalized in North Carolina in 2005, but Charlotte is using it to the hilt, expecting it to help pay for both future rail lines as well as transit-oriented developments. The city has also waived property taxes on some residences in these developments for 5 or more years.
Despite the high costs and trivial ridership, CATS wants more rail — but doesn’t have any money to pay for it. So it has rolled out a campaign of declaring the light rail a great success, especially in the field of economic development. Of course, in most cases it was the subsidies, not the rail, that stimulated the development, and most likely the development would have taken place somewhere in the region anyway, though perhaps not in that corridor.
So the taxpayers are out $467 million in construction costs, millions more to operate the thing, and millions more to support development that would have taken place anyway. What a great success!
7/1:
It seems that there are more campaign signs this year. Yes, there are eleven candidates for three open seats. Let me tell you from experience, a lot of signs don’t win elections for anyone. Maybe the candidates should be learning the issues.
A Council workshop was held Tuesday afternoon on the 2010-2011 Budget and only two candidates were in attendance; however one had to be there because she is on the current council and the other left the meeting half way through the meeting. Where were the other nine candidates? Did they even know there was a meeting?
If you win the election, you will have to live with this budget, maybe you should know what is in it!
Warren Graham
6/25: Livable Communities Act: Smart Growth from the Federal Government all the way to DeBary
DeBARY — A real-estate agent appointed to temporarily fill a City Council seat plans to run for the job in the fall election. The council unanimously appointed Lita Handy-Peters to Seat 3, which Van Conoley vacated in March, until the end of the year. But Handy-Peters, a 13-year resident, said she wants to serve longer. So far, residents Dan Hunt,Ryan Rinaldo and Mark Meister also plan to seek the seat. Residents have until noon Friday to file.
— Eloísa Ruano González
6/10: From WFTV.COM:
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. –
Seminole County sealed the deal for SunRail Tuesday. It was the last local government to sign a critical agreement that unlocks federal funding and promises to pick up SunRail's costs when that funding ends in seven years. WFTV asked local leaders if this means another tax is in Seminole County’s future.
It almost seems like there's nothing strong enough to knock the billion-dollar SunRail project off track. Seminole County commissioners approved their portion of the inter-local funding agreement with Orange, Osceola, Volusia counties and Orlando. Now, the state can get the 50 percent it was promised from the feds.
“It's worth one lane of I-4 traffic and that alone is worth something,” Department of Transportation Director Noranne Downs said.
But now Seminole County leaders must figure out how they will pay for the trains that will take over the vacant piece of land after the state and federal money runs dry.
“Should we do a transportation tax, instead of an infrastructure tax?” Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dillari questioned.
It could cost Seminole County up to $3.5 million a year to operate SunRail when the state and federal money disappears. Residents are already complaining about being over-taxed, and school district officials are also talking about asking voters for a separate half-penny sales tax.
In Orange County, Winter Park city leaders have threatened to back out of the project if the county doesn't come up with a dedicated source of funding. WFTV asked the head of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) if she's worried about the major deal falling apart.
“I believe the community is going to stick with their guns and do what the people have asked for,” Downs said. From Norm: Who asked for this? This was never put to a vote but shoved down our throats and now...only now are elected officials who voted this in are asking..."hey...how we gonna pay for this thing?"
If everything goes well with the design phase this summer, FDOT officials say construction is on track to start early next year.
“I don't think there's anything worth doing at any cost or any unknown cost or liability,” Dillaha said.
Dillaha is among Winter Park leaders who want to re-work a deal with Orange County to figure out how to pay for SunRail. Winter Park's taxpayers could be on the hook for at least $350,000 a year in operations costs, even though they didn't vote for it. “Is this an end run around the voters?” WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked.
“In my view, it's an end run around the voters. It is trying to establish a system without any funding source at all and then putting it off seven years for future commissioners and future taxpayers to have to find a way to fund these costs,” Winter Park resident Joy Schaffer said.
*************************************************
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- It's the first move we've seen to raise taxes to pay for SunRail. Orange County still hasn't decided how to pay for the commuter rail when the Florida Dept of Transportation funding period ends, but WFTV found out Winter Park wants the county to raise taxes or the city may decide to drop out of SunRail altogether.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Luke 14:28-30:
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him saying, "This man bgan to build and was not able to finish."
Amen, Brother
Click below for a Variation on this theme of pass it then figure out how to pay for it later:
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- Late Monday afternoon, Osceola County commissioners voted to approve SunRail coming to town even though they don't yet know how much it will cost each year. The train will eventually connect DeLand to Poinciana.
The state and the federal government will pay for the rail for the first few years. Orlando, Orange County and Volusia County have all recently approved new agreements with the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Monday, the plan to run high-speed trains along 60 miles of track from DeLand, through Orlando and into Osceola County, passed another stop on the way to reality. Monday afternoon, Osceola County commissioners OK'd an amended SunRail agreement with Florida DOT. FDOT decided to pick up the entire tab for buying up properties in the SunRail corridor, but DOT now wants to adjust the cap on how much local governments like Osceola County, will pay to maintain the system once they are handed control of SunRail.
That raised concerns for Osceola Board Chairman Fred Hawkins, Jr.
“This amendment is creating an open check book,” he said.
Osceola's estimated operational commitment is from $1.2 million to $1.7 million per year. That would begin during phase II of the SunRail project.
For some reason, if DOT was forced to cover operational costs for a local government after control was handed over, the costs could be deducted from a region's DOT work plan, essentially absorbing money for local road projects to cover SunRail project.
“We had to commit to the FTA that we would make up those differences should the locals not be able to do so, and the form of revenue we have is our work program,” SunRail project manager Todd Hammerlee said.
But the only dissenting vote on Osceola County’s SunRail amendment would be more comfortable if the county had a dedicated source of operations funding.
“I just don't see how Osceola County can afford it,” Hawkins said.
Commissioners have discussed bringing a referendum to voters on an additional 1-cent sales tax that could pay for SunRail operation and road projects. Seminole County votes on the new SunRail agreement on Tuesday.
6/6:
Is it just me?
When the Council twice deadlocked on filling Seat 3, it was twice reported soon thereafter.
Here is it four and soon to be five days after the Council makes its selection to fill Seat 3 and...nothing...nada...zip.
And by the way, no more anonymous postings online at Daytona Beach News Journal.
6/2:
Breaking News:
DeBary's Seat 3 Councilwoman:
Lita Handy-Peters
Welcome to the Council
4-0 vote...and they say the Council can't agree...
5/27:
DeBaryPOP Asks:
Are we ready?
Up to 14 hurricanes predicted for Atlantic storm season
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Atlantic storm season could produce as many as 14 hurricanes this year, the U.S. government's top climate agency predicted on Thursday, setting the scene for potentially the most intense season since 2005.
In its first forecast for the storm season that begins next Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast 14 to 23 named storms, with 8 to 14 developing into hurricanes, making it one of the most active ever.
Three to 7 of those could be major Category 3 or above hurricanes, with winds of more than 110 miles per hour (177 km per hour), the agency said, echoing earlier predictions from meteorologists for a particularly severe season that could disrupt U.S. oil, gas and refinery operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
From Norm: According to my figures, I have it more at 11 or 12 hurricanes for this storm season with 5 to 7 developing into hurricanes at Category 3 or above with winds around 95 to 105 mph.
5/24:
Do we really have a water problem and what does it have to do with Amendment 4?
Editorial: Growth around train station holds promise
May 23, 2010
Poughkeepsie Journal
Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie and Metro-North Railroad officials might have some ideas for development around the city train station, but residents should realize any tangible progress won't happen overnight.
That gives the city and train officials time to keep the public involved in how this development could take shape. It could include restaurants, offices and residential properties and, yes, more parking, which is clearly needed.
Like most public transportation operations, Metro-North is keenly aware of the benefits of "transit-oriented development" — that is, the good-planning desire to have a vibrant mix of businesses and residents near rail stations and bus-line hubs, etc. As gas prices rise, people tend to take a closer look at housing near mass transit, and Poughkeepsie can gain from that trend.
With the Harlem and Hudson lines running through its borders, Dutchess County in fact has some other excellent opportunities, most notably in the City of Beacon and in Eastern Dutchess County where the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center is being converted into a mix of homes and businesses.
But Poughkeepsie, too, has potential, since some areas around the train station are either owned by the city or Metro-North. Under the memorandum of understanding signed by the two, the city and Metro-North will prepare an economic and financial analysis and a conceptual plan. The city will draft zoning regulations for the area that includes land owned by the railroad — and about three to five acres of city property west of the station on Water Street.
But, surely, other projects and parcels in this area will have a profound impact on how well any development turns out. For instance, the fate of Dooley Square — a private complex of restaurants, shops and offices next to the train station — is unclear, now that new owners are taking over after a bankruptcy judge has ruled that the sale of property can proceed. And any transit-oriented development should take into consideration the profound changes on the waterfront, which include various developments and others in the works — and the undeniable need to tie all this together with walking and bike trails. Such connections would help lure more tourists to the waterfront, especially in light of the opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson to the north of the city's waterfront.
Basic parking concerns also must be an important part of any plan. Commuters are on long waiting lists for permit parking at stations throughout the Hudson line in Dutchess County, including Poughkeepsie. The city's train station does have the potential to be a hub of more economic activity. But serving those actually using the station must not be lost in the shuffle.
*A long time ago...in a State not far away, Norm Erickson used to live in Poughkeepsie, NY, which is mentioned quite often in books, film, tv, and theater.
5/20: Breaking News:
Mayor Garcia, Vice Mayor Erickson, Councilmen Marks and Councilmen Lenzen…
“It Is What It Is”…Still no appointment to Seat 3…..
By Val Emerson
Tonight I found myself sitting at a Council meeting
with a true sense of wellbeing for our City
because of the thought and comments from EACH member of Council.
For the second meeting the appointment for Seat 3 has ended in a deadlock.
Both meetings, my name as part of the deadlock.
Once again, I personally want to thank
Vice Mayor Erickson and Councilmen Marks for their support.
I remain grateful and honored for the faith you put in me.
Mayor Garcia and Councilmen Lenzen
I truly respect the thought and candor you brought to the
discussion for the appointment.
Once again, I find myself writing a piece
removing myself from something…
Based on the outcome of tonight’s discussion and vote..
Effectively immediately
I remove myself from the list of candidates seeking the appointment.
Our City must be able to move forward
and sometimes it has to be enough to say “IT IS WHAT IT IS”.
I say this with only respect,
because tonight I witnessed something very empowering in our City Chambers.….
You are four men who do not, will not and cannot agree on everything….
no two people can…
However you Yourselves said it….
YOU AGREE ON THE BIG THINGS…
And that is true……in the scheme of the votes made that have the greatest impact on our residents, our businesses and our future….
YOU DO AGREE ON THE VAST MAJORTIY
However, my concern, like that expressed by Council is for the possible deadlock
over a vote whose impact will far exceed the 5- 6 months of this appointment.
Our City needs 5 Councilmen to avoid a future deadlock,
the entities whose interests are in the outcome of the vote deserve a full Council.
As for me……
I will proudly continue my service as Vice Chair of EDAC.
I will work with this terrific group of people to help Debary
Continue to nurture a thriving and sustainable business community.
At the Meeting the American Legion Post 259
Presented each member of Staff and Council with a
”Challenge Coin”
A time honored tradition in military service to inspire people to keep doing better…
I went home and gave each member of my Family, myself included
A makeshift ” Challenge Coin”…not because I feel we don’t try our best… but rather as a reminder that each of us, every one of us…everywhere…. hold an amazing ability to Just Do Better Every Day….and it makes sense because if we truly challenge ourselves to do better every day, all of our yesterdays will be a compilation of effort, enthusiasm and actions that will make a difference on every level..
And for me..when it’s all said and done….thats really What it IS….
Respectfully
~~~val~~~
5/18:
City to accept candidate petitions through the election qualifying period of:
June 8th - June 18th at noon
So there is a month left to consider running for office.
Even so, George McClure, a Winter Park resident and retired electrical engineer, is no fan of the locomotives, saying they represent outmoded technology.
"To use diesel locomotives that are already 50 years old seems foolhardy. The price of diesel fuel can only go up," said McClure, a member of a disbanded Winter Park rail task force that studied the commuter-rail plan. He said he would prefer electric trains.
What?! Are they talking about Commuter Rail or building roads? I thought we went with Sunrail as an ALTERNATIVE to doing what is reported below. Incredible. Where is THIS money coming from? Now that so much time will be saved commuting, what is the reason for taking SunRail? - Norm
Toll-road work will create jobs, cut traffic jams, study finds
By Dan Tracy, Orlando Sentinel
10:42 PM EDT, May 4, 2010
Metro Orlando's road-building agency willrescue or create nearly 3,300 jobs annually and save motoristsfrom an average of 27 hours a year in traffic jams because of afive-year, $1.3 billion upgrade of its 105-mile network.
Those are the key conclusions of a $45,332 economic-impact study ordered by the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority.
The idea, said agency board member and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, was to "kind of accentuate the positive work the authority is doing."
That mission was clearly accomplished, said Fran Pignone, a former Orange County commissioner and frequent authority critic.
"It looked to me like they were trying to give the rah-rah to the community," said Pignone, who last year served on a panel that recommended ways for the agency to save money.
She reviewed the 22-page Power Point presentation that was supposed to be presented to the authority board last week but was delayed because Crotty, who asked for the report, could not make the meeting. The work plan had already been outlined.
The authority would have been better off figuring out how to increase toll-paying traffic rather than touting the anticipated financial spin-offs of its plans, Pignone said.
"It's great to speculate," she said. "It doesn't tell them anything they didn't know before."
But Stephen Reich, program director of the University of South Florida research center that created the report, said the findings are the result of objective analysis.
"If you are looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear, it's not us," said Reich, who runs the Center for Urban Transportation Research in Tampa.
Reich forwarded his results and methodology to economist Sean Snaith at University of Central Florida. Snaith reviewed it and characterized it as conservative and "well vetted," though he conceded that economic-impact statements can be "layer cakes of uncertainty."
The authority's work program, kicked off by a $360 million bond sale last month, was made possible by an unpopular 25-cent toll increase. Future increases tied to inflation are on the way, too.
The survey said better toll roads essentially would take traffic off other streets, reducing travel times for everyone by 27 hours a year. That, in turn, translates into each driver recouping $259 a year inwages that would have been lost sitting in traffic and another $46 because of lower fuel and operating costs.
"It takes a lot of stress off taxpayers," Crotty said.
But the biggest benefit is the 3,300 jobs a year linked to the work, Reich said. The jobs, some of which would be lost without the authority expenditures, include construction workers, engineers, landscapers, asphalt makers and even real estate agents buying right of way for roads.
The vast majority of jobs, though, are strictly related to road construction. Reich estimated they represent as much as 2 percent of all the construction jobs in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties.
"Two percent doesn't sound like a lot," Reich said, "but that's significant. To me, that's a big deal."
The $1.3 billion will be spent in several allotments, with a low of $123.1 million this year to a high of $410.8 million in 2012-13.
Among the major projects that will be undertaken are:
— Purchasing land and completing the interchange of the John Land Apopka Expressway, or State Road 414, with State Road 429. That $145 million job will serve as the western entrance to the planned Wekiva Parkway, or the final 26-mile segment that would complete the metro Orlando beltway.
— Continued widening of State Road 408, also known as the East-West Expressway. That includes rebuilding and widening the interchange with S.R. 408 and State Road 417. That work combined will cost more than $145 million.
— Widening S.R. 417 from State Road 528, or the BeachLine Expressway, to Curry Ford Road for almost $32 million.
Building a new toll plaza about 15 miles east of Orlando International Airport on S.R. 528 for more than $38 million.
The work likely would have been impossible without the toll increase. Traffic has dropped as a result of the higher tolls, but the tolls have raised enough revenues for the agency to be able to take on more debt.
If I may I would like to add my two cents to this very important matter. First of all, I think it would be a disservice to the voters of DeBary to appoint an individual to the Council that was rejected by the voters in the last two election cycles.
I would prefer to see a woman appointed since we all know that not only are we different physically, we differ in so many other ways. I think that it would be refreshing to have a womans perspective on the important issues that come before the Council.
I must also state my disappointment in Norm's decision not to run for reelection when his term ends. I do understand and respect that decision.
Tom Nance
4/14
DCA: FARMTON STILL NOT IN COMPLIANCE
WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW...DON'T WE?
READ BELOW:
Glen Storch gave numerous interviews and wrote "guest eds" about how they were working everything out with the state, and that it was going to be no problem.
I guess someone forgot to tell the state.
The reasons cited below are not a basis for approval:
Councilwoman Joie Alexander said the plan gives the county a rare opportunity to plan for the future.
"It might not ever develop unless the certain criteria are met," (the first criteria is that is should be consistent wtih the County's Comp Plan; it is NOT so says the state- Norm Erickson) Alexander said. "I do think we are operating in the best interest of the citizens of the county."
Councilwoman Pat Northey said she voted yes because the plan creates a "true conservation corridor" through the county.
PUBLISHED IN THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS JOURNAL ON 4/13/10
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
NOTICE OF INTENT TO FIND THE VOLUSIA COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NO. 2009-34 NOT IN COMPLIANCE AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS
ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NOS. 2009-27 THROUGH 2009-33
IN COMPLIANCE
DOCKET NO. 10-1-NOI-6401-(A)-(N)
The Depart ment gives notice of its intent to find the A mend ment to the Co m prehensive Plan for Volusia Count y, adopted by Ordinance No. 2009-34, on February 18, 2010, NOT IN COMPLIANCE, and A mend ments adopted by Ordinance Nos. 2009-27 through 2009-33, on February 18, 2010, IN COMPLIANCE, pursuant to Sections 163.3184, 163.3187 and 163.3189, F.S.
DID YOU KNOW THAT SOME KNOW-IT-ALL LEGISLATORS IN TALLAHASSEE ARE OUT TO DESTROY THE STATE AGENCY THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE?
DCA is the only thing standing between the people of Volusia and
New City-in-the Swamps, Farmton
Urge House Leadership to SUPPORT H 7107 to Reauthorize DCA and to PUT IT ON THE AGENDA for this Friday’s meeting of the House Economic Development and Community Affairs Council (Friday, April 16, 2010 from 9 am to 12 noon)
I shall begin by saying I will not seek re-election.
I have reached a point where two great fears have taken root: age and health.
I do feel that so far in my elected term serving the citizens of DeBary, great strides have been made to set this City on a better course than it had been heading when I started my tenure. The board has been re-set and the citizens now have a better shot at getting a fair shake; it's up to them to make the right choices.
I want to thank all the citizens whether friend or foe for allowing me the opportunity to serve with pride the City of DeBary.
Lenny Marks
AND THEN THERE WERE 15
Mark Meister withdraws
FINAL LIST OF INDIVIDUALS SUBMITTING THEIR NAME FOR VACANT SEAT:
Val Emerson Mark Meister Jack Wilson
Patrick Fulton
Danny Tillis
Ryan Rinaldo
Chris Carson
Nick Koval
Dawn Fitzpatrick
Stephen Bacon Danny Allen
Eugene Stump
Chris Yacenda
Lita Handy-Peters
George Coleman
Roger Accardi
Chris Bowman
Carmen Rosamonda
3/27:
In the summer of 2007, I decided to run for office for a few, specific reasons:
1. Robert’s Rules of Order needed to be adopted;
2. City Council meetings needed to be twice a month;
3. The City Council needed to address the issue of the City Manager;
4. Exploding the myth that a Council could not say “no” to growth or a project or could not negotiate growth when that is what it desired.
With City Manager Parrott and Assistant City Manager Blissett on board, the citizens and Council are defended; direction will be followed as will the processes and ordinances that have been established. What I had hoped to accomplish the Council has achieved.
Unlike the five reasons above, I have none to list that I would address for a second term. Concurrently, I have a strong desire to spend more time with my family and new daughter, so it seems that one term is what is best for all involved.
Being elected to a first term isn’t reason enough for me to run for a second term; I would have to feel strongly that I had something new to bring to the table and that's not the case.
Hence, I will not be seeking re-election - once again calling on my Kreskin-like abilities, I doubt much protest will be staged.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve; I will continue to give my fullest measure until the end.
Norm Erickson
3/16:
Councilman Conoley submits his resignation
From the Orlando Sentinel:
DeBary Council member Van Conoley, who was elected to seat 3 on the board in 2008, suddenly resigned from his position yesterday.
Conoley didn't specify why he was resigning, but said it was "due to circumstances beyond my control," according to his resignation letter.
The 63-year-old man sent a letter to Volusia County Elections Supervisor Ann McFall to announce his resignation. The letter was received by DeBary City Manager Dan Parrott yesterday.
Now that SunRail and High Speed Rail are passed, people are being REACTIVE instead of PROACTIVE before it was passed. So, here at POP we recognize the game changer and have created a new web page for all the changes in prices, job numbers, actual riders who will take the train as well as other unknown reversals. I deemed it appropriate to call the link (click below):
On January 27th, 2010, the DeBary City Council had a choice between two very qualified candidates for the position of City Manager. They were truly the best of the 82 candidates who sent in their resumes. A win-win situation which made the selection a little difficult - but in a nice way.
So let us Welcome and Congratulate...
Mr. Dan Parrott
He comes from Ardmore, OK., just a hop skip and a knock between Oklahoma City and Dallas, TX, where he served for many years. He also has roots in Florida so he is familiar with some of its "quirks". He was asked many questions by each Councilman and gave the right answers.
We look forward to his arrival on Feb. 8th and hope his family has a smooth transition to DeBary within the next 30 DAYS.
Our interim City Manager, Ms. Blissett, will keep the City running until Mr. Parrott arrives and then assist him in bringing him up-to-date for the next 30 days.
I've often written - and said - that DeBary can be the "GEM" of West Volusia. Maybe now?!
Welcome aboard,
John Likakis
DeBary POP
1/27:
By: K. MichaelDeBary, Fl. (January 26, 2010) -
Then there were two, as the choices for DeBary City Manager position was further reduced when John Drago withdrew his name as City Manager candidate leaving Stephen Marro and Dan Parrott. The DeBary City Council has interviews scheduled for Wednesday the 27 at 1pm. The list of potential applicants started out at 86… http://www.swvolusia.com/?p=4667
OVIEDO, Fla. -- A Seminole County developer lost a lawsuit over a controversial affordable housing project in Oviedo. People who live around there have been fighting the project on Alafaya Trail and Chapman Road. The judge's decision means that land could sit empty even longer.
Seven years after a developer first planned to build on the prominent Oviedo lot, the parcel remains lifeless. It was at the center of a fight over whether the city of Oviedo must allow the developer to build affordable housing rentals there and, Thursday, that developer, Atlantic Housing Partners, suffered a major setback.
“As a neighbor, I'm excited,” said Mechelle Renee Benson, Reflections Salon.
Business owner Mechelle Renee Benson says low-income rentals aren't what her city needs. She joined city leaders in demanding that the developer stick to an agreement to build only "owner-occupied" townhomes there. The judge Thursday threw out the developer's lawsuit challenging that requirement on a technicality.
“The judge decided that the developer made a deal and should stick to it,” Oviedo attorney Lonnie Groot said.
Originally, the entire site was covered with trees and vegetation, but once the developer thought they had the city's green light they clear-cut the entire property. Now, even they acknowledge it will likely stay that way indefinitely. That's because Atlantic Housing Partners says it won't build any of the 94 planned units there until the ruling is appealed or a new lawsuit is filed.
The developer believes Oviedo is discriminating against minorities by prohibiting the low-income rentals and says it will address that claim in a new series of legal challenges. The developer says the requirement that units be owner-occupied and not rented was imposed after the original agreement was signed.
The city disputes claims that its policy discriminates against minorities.
By: Maynard Joseph
DeBary, Fl. (January 20, 2010) -
The City of DeBary is close to selecting their new City Manager to replace interim manager, Kassandra Blissett former city Manager of Ponce Inlet, who has been serving the city in that capacity since the Assistant City Manager Anthony Gonzalez was rejected for the position and left the city.
DeBary then extended a job offer to Kenneth Weaver, a former City Administrator from Spring Hill Tennessee who initially accepted the position then suddenly changed his mind and rescinded his application.
From a total of 86 applications received, the field has been narrowed to three finalists. The DeBary Council will choose between Stephen Marro, Dan Parrott and John Drago. Anthony Otte recently withdrew his application.
Final interviews and the manager selection is scheduled for January 27, 2010
1/18:
COMING DOWN THE TRACKS: TAXES
New taxes to pay for Sunrail?
By Mike Synan
Orange County is looking at a host of options.
The state will pay for the operation of our trains for the next 7 years, but after that Sunrail will cost millions to operate. Where will the money come from? Several new taxes could be on the horizon. Metroplan is looking at several different taxing options to pay for rail. Commissioner Linda Stewart says lets start in Tallhassee and hit those tourists renting cars.
"Try and see if we can't get that 2 dollar surcharge because that would be a big help."
After that, gas taxes could go up in Orange County, but the big prize is a half penny sales tax, and you can bet Mayoral candidate Matt Falconer will be opposed.
"When you raise taxes, it reduced disposable income for consumers."
There's broad support for taking a half penny sales tax to voters. Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell:
"I think if you make amendments or tax initiatives clear to citizens, they don't have a problem supporting them, similar to the half penny for school construction."
They could also use existing money, but other services would have to be cut. Whatever method, the state will only pay to run those trains for the first 7 years. Lynx is also eyeing that half penny sales tax as it way to meet its budget every year.
"You're going to be asked to sign a new agreement," County Manager James Dinneen told the County Council. "The terms are all different now."
The annual payment would be $4.8 million to $5 million, Bruno estimated, and the county would probably pay the debt service from its general fund, which derives its cash from property taxes.
Bruno said much of the county's expense for commuter rail would be related to economic development.
Economic development...more homes...apartments...people...cars...but I thought commuter rail was to reduce...sorry..
1/4:
New Citizen Editorial in response to my POP Editorial
POP Editorial by Norm Erickson
********************************
Despite a new streetcar and TWO new light-rail lines, the number of Portland-area commuters taking transit to work actually declined between 2000 and 2007
The administration has likened President Obama's high-speed rail plan to President Eisenhower's Interstate Highway System. Yet there are crucial differences between interstate highways and high-speed rail.
First, before Congress approved the Interstate Highway System, it had a good idea how much it would cost. In contrast, Congress approved $8 billion for high-speed rail without knowing the total cost, which is likely to be at least $90 billion.
Second, highway users paid for interstate highways, whereas high-speed rail will be almost entirely subsidized by general taxpayers who will rarely use it.
Third, interstate highways connect all 48 contiguous states and major metropolitan areas. The FRA's high-speed rail plan consists of six unconnected networks that reach only 33 states and less than two-thirds of the nation's 100 largest urban areas.
Fourth, the average American traveled 4,000 miles on interstates in 2007. High-speed rail proponents optimistically estimate that the average American would ride the FRA's high-speed rail system less than 60 miles per year.
Finally, interstate highways improved social welfare by increasing highway safety. In contrast, far from saving energy and reducing pollution, high-speed rail would actually increase energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
For all these reasons, the United States government should not fund high-speed rail. The $8 billion in high-speed rail stimulus funds should be invested in safety improvements, not in new trains and new routes that will add to future taxpayer obligations.
Life in a small town! | posted Aug 8, 2010 - 11:34:41am