THE SUN SETS ON TOWN MANAGER COLON ‘S DAYS IN LBTS … APRIL 20, 2010 AT 5:45 PM …
Dear Readers…allow for a little twist…a play on “Casey Comes To Bat”…He struck out that day…and today FORMER Town Manager Esther Colon did exactly that…with a 4-1 vote by the Commission…(Clueless voted no)…to terminate her contract effective immediately … and let the Town move on!… It was time to rip the band-aid off and let the healing begin…and within 45 minutes the newly elected commission began that process…After she was terminated…her most important point of privilege question was to make sure she would get her big bucks…She will!…The Commission appointed Asst. Town Manager JohnO to be interim to the interim…He accepted…He too can apply to the interim job…He was directed not to do any sudden employment changes (hiring/firing)….while he is temporarily in ……Hmmm….This should be interesting…to see if he and his fellow Town employees were really so loyal …so happy under the Colon “regime”?… On Mon. April 26th at 5 pm in Jarvis Hall the commission will again meet for a decision on the interim Town Manager to be in place as the search for the right Town Manager is in process to get it done right this time around…. It was “poetic justice” of sorts with the first candidate for the interim TM job being put forth by VM Dodd..being none other than BSO Colonel Werder…the BSO spokesperson who came to the hall to speak for former Chief Scott Gooding ….A point well made and take by those watching as the newly terminated Town Manager could only sit mute ….Yep, there is JOY in LBTS as the sun sets on April 20, 2010!….
HERE GOES….
The outlook was brilliant for the Lauderdale- By- The- Sea Five this day;
The score stood four to one, with but one meeting more in play,
And when the UOT sent an e-mail out first, and the CIC did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the “6 supporters” of this TM “Dame.”
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only the new majority could get but a whack at that –
We’d put up even her severance money, now, with the four at the bat.
But Silverstone preceded Vincent, as did also McIntee with Scot,
And the former was a lulu and the latter was but a blot; (on LBTS)
So upon that strengthening multitude grinning voters sat waiting for the boot,
For there seemed but no doubt of Colon getting her contracted loot.
But Mayor Minnet made an opening statement, to the wonderment of all,
And Stuart Dodd , the Vice Mayor, made a motion that kept their eye on the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the constituents saw what would occur,
There was Commissioner Sasser making at second and Commissioner Vincent a-bout to concur.
Then from their landslide constituents and more there rose an acknowledged look;
It rumbled through the aisles, it was time to close this chapter in the book;
It rocked upon the beach and recoiled upon the town,
For Colon, much less than a mighty town manager, was advancing to go down.
There was ease in the majority’s manner as they stepped into their places;
There was pride in the majority’s choices and a slight smile on commission faces.
And when, responding to the appreciation, they could be seen to be straightening their notes,
No longer could strangers in this crowd of 50 + doubt ’twas this new majority who had the required votes.
Attentive eyes were on Dodd as he said the contract would be adhered to;
The overwhelming numbers for change understood and kept from saying boo.
Then while the Clueless Commissioner Clottey took a swipe at the majority vote,
Was it defiance gleamed in Colon’s eye, or a sneer perhaps remembering a boat? (remark that never happened)…
And now the button pushing sound came hurtling through the air,
And Colon sat at the end of the dais a-watching with her haughty grandeur stare.
Close by the sturdy commissioners sat back as the hall crowd was more than ready to put this all to bed-
The votes were placed for replacing Colon. “4 to 1 ” this writer said.
From the seats, at home and in the hall, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
“It’s finally over!” The Manager is no longer!” whispered someone on the hall;
As they’d a- terminated her contract themselves had this Commission not been on the ball.
With a smile of Christian charity Town’s people refrained clapping;
The Mayor had no need to still the lopsided audience; She and the Commission saw no overlapping;
The Vice Mayor, 2 new Commissioners were aligned with the Mayor, once more;
But this time Colon could no longer ignore it, and this writer said, “this should even the score!”
“It’s about time!” cried the seated voters, and echo answered right;
But one scornful look from Colon and the audience could have said it was a fright.
They saw her face grow stern and cold, they saw her muscles strain,
And they finally knew that Colon wouldn’t be seen in that hall again.
The sneer was soon gone from Colon’s upper lip, her teeth no longer clenched in their usual state;
She expounded with her usual vigor the dollars attached to her fate.
And now that the commission holds all the cards, it’s now her time to go,
And now the air inside Jarvis is breathable again with the force of this commission’s blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is much joy in Lauderdale-By- The- Sea — mighty Colon has struck out.
4 CHEERS TO THE 4 COMMISSIONERS WHO VOTED AND GOT IT RIGHT!….
more to come….
Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Commission Terminates Town Manager Esther Colon April 20 2010, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Scoops
