Dear Readers….This writer sent a request for information and an opinion to the Town Attorney with a Cc to Town Hall…This was the previous “practice” of the former Town Attorney and this writer…with some of those exchanges being previously posted…
All of the e-mails are below…we hear that the Town Manager chose to distribute only the initial e-mail made to the Town Attorney to the Commission and not to include the follow-ups even though she was in possession of them, thereby in this writer’s opinion intentionally “slanting” the response of the Commission in thinking I did something unprecedented or out of bounds…
Knowing who reads this site…the “rest of the story” will now be known…as it should have been in the first place….
We hear this Manager is mighty busy acting out…these days….HMMMM……..
From: Barbara Cole
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:28 PM
To: Susan L. Trevarthen
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Inquiries on 3/25/09 LBTS Comm. meeting
Dear Town Attorney Trevarthen;
At a previous Commission meeting Vice Mayor McIntee asked previous Town Attorney Abbott when “papers” become public record, and entered in the minutes.
At the time he was inquiring about notes Comm. Dodd was using for his comments. I believe Atty. Abbott said if they were used for public information.
At the continuation Commission meeting on 3/25/09 Vice Mayor McIntee held up a “400 page” report from the Florida Elections Commission and read the attached letter out loud.
I would like your opinion if this should be entered into the meeting records, and available to the Commission and upon request from the public?
I would also like to know why no warning was given to a resident before being removed from the hall, which occurred at that same meeting. This is the common practice agreed upon historically by the LBTS Commission.
I will be happy to pay your cost for time, and would ask if it requires more than an hour of your time you contact me first.
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend you on your first meeting, and let you know how much I appreciate your clear and succinct direction and summary of what is being addressed by the Commission.
Thank you, Barbara Cole
On Mon, 3/30/09, Susan L. Trevarthen <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Susan L. Trevarthen
Subject: RE: Inquiries on 3/25/09 LBTS Comm. meeting
To: “[email protected]”
Cc: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>, “Esther Colon” <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, March 30, 2009, 2:30 PM
Ms. Cole:
I act as the Town Attorney on behalf of the firm. My role is to represent the Town, which expresses its wishes through a vote of the Town Commission. I work with the Town Manager and staff to carry out the Commission’s direction. Municipal attorneys are not available to provide individual citizens legal representation regarding or analysis related to municipal matters, regardless of who pays for it. I have copied your correspondence to the Town Manager for her information. In the future, similar communications should be directed through the Town, and they will decide whether or not to get me involved.
Best regards,
Susan L. Trevarthen
Susan L. Trevarthen, Esq., AICP
From: “Barbara Cole”
To:”Susan L. Trevarthen”
Cc:[email protected]
Town Attorney Trevarthen;
Thank you, I have corresponded directly with Mr. Abbott a few times in the past, so I thought it was acceptable. I was charged in the past for any services from your firm per billing from the Town, and thought this would be the case again.
A copy of my request was sent to the Town Clerk, as well as this reply. I would still welcome a response and would pay for the time it would take,with the caveat on time charged without notice per the original e-mail, that is unless this is no longer the allowed practice.
I await a response from the Town, and thank you for your prompt response.
Barbara Cole
BC- There has been no response as of this date……We hear we are not alone in this regard either….these days…YIKES!….
More to come……….
Tags: local government, Local Politics, Scoops
