LOOKS LIKE 3 BROOMS ARE GOING TO BE GONE IN MARCH…….

Dear Readers….As I finish up on the Town Manager and her “Gang of 3” at the 7/14/09 Commission meeting … Comm. Dodd’s agenda item under New Business concerning the Town Manager “severance package” in her contract…(prev post)…..make sure to get a copy of this week’s By-The-Sea-Future and Pompano Pelican…and read the many articles…letters to the Editor and the Editorials….concerning the insubordination of  Esther Colon……

In the previous post (#4) we addressed the scope of Comm. Dodd’s item…the “severance package” of a full year’s salary…if the Manager is terminated ….and revealed the difference between her 2 year old contract versus that of her predecessor ….who had NO such severance package…. Here is some more of what took place ….all because one Commissioner thinks  it is wrong for a Town Manager to have such an agreement…along with a non-fixed term clause ….No wonder she can be insubordinate…she holds all the cards…she saw to that all on her own!…..”Fiscal irresponsibility” to the tune of well over $150,000.00….

We left off with Comm. Dodd making his points…and then it was Comm. Clottey’s tirn…she chose to inquire from the Town Atty. on contract law and if the dais could do anything….

The Town Atty. said the following ” In general principal, yes (you cannot change the TMs contract, its binding) as long as the agreements enforced as long as it’s not been BREACHED um,  those would be the terms that would govern this.”

BC- She has breached her contract, by not having a performance review last year…for the audit that she accepted in a written letter without the approval of the Commission, though her Town Clerk wrote the Commission “accepted” it….(they did not) ….she ” informed them” of her intention , and did not present them with the current engagement letter containing the current and future charges…at approx. $200,000 over 3 years….(The 2009/2010 budget shows the $55,000- $60,000 budgeted item…whic includes the 2nd year % increase)…

Comm. Clottey went on to say that the suggestion made by Comm. Dodd to have the staff seek out info on neighboring town manager’s agreements…was “pushing it a little bit too far” and said each commissioner could make those inquiries themselves…We hear the Town Clerk did start those inquiries before this meeting…were there any responses back to the Town?…Can you imagine if all 5 commissioner called each town for the same info…But perhaps the Comm. knew full well no other Comms. would bother!…

We already pretty much covered Comm. Silverstone in the previous post…he was complicit in the managers fiction of the contracts…hers and Baldwin’s…thus making his outrage particularly disturbing to observe after revealing those facts…We guess BFF Silverstone has had so much practice in this type of behavior that he does not know how not to do it!….

It was quite amusing at the end of his “first bite of the apple” when he said ” I apologize for this ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN MANAGER CAUSE THIS IS EMBARRASSING….”…Hmmm……. Bet he didn’t know he had it exactly right!….

The Mayor tried to bring the dialogue back to why Comm. Dodd put this on …because he was requested by residents and that is what the commission is supposed to do…including the fact that Comm. Silverstone has often said this very thing himself from the dais….

Jimmy-boy didn’t disappoint…….”Let  me respond to that as Commissioner Clottey said it’s our job to do the HOMEWORK . BEFORE I PUT ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA, I DO MY HOMEWORK….” OOPS!…We guess he forgot to check his old memo from TM Baldwin on Jun 14,2006 that stated specifically to him and his BFF as new commissioners…that he [Baldwin} did not have severance…could be fired or resign without notice and his UP TO 10 week UNPAID time to do consulting…GIVE HIM AN F Professor Clottey!

His fellow recipient of the June 14.2006 TM Baldwin memo concerning his TM agreement …. VM McIntee really went to town..

VM-.” This is outrageous! It reeks of vindictiveness. It reeks of somebody who is very unhappy with the staff. It reeks of somebody that no matter what you do it’s not gonna be right. I read the e-mails that have come across all our desks, they’re outrageous, they’re nasty, they aren’t professional. They’re singling out people ah, using the excuse  that ah, asked me to do this, I got a phone call, a rumor. Ah, I just read one e-mail that specifically said that in 90 days you’re getting rid of the police department. I want a report on it. That’s outrageous! A rumor and you’re gonna call the Town Manager to task. She (OOPS) wants a report whether we’re getting rid of the fire (OOPS) police department in 90 days. It’s a year and a half. We know that that’s an outrageous statement to accept a rumor and go after the Town Manager with it. This is vindictive, this is wrong. We have a great Town Manager. We have done a tremendous job in this town. We are one of two towns in Broward County that are, that are in the tremendous financial state and it’s because of the Town Manger. This is a person that I’m not gonna get my way so I’m gonna bark and scream and holler. (sounds like the VM talking about himself inside the VFD according to the leaks) And it’s wrong and I apologize to the Town Manager and I GOT HUNDREDS , I’M NOT TALKING 20 or 30 PEOPLE ( The hall held “HUNDREDS”on 6/30/09). I’M TALKING HUNDREDS. (So where were/are they?) And she’s stronger then people realize cause they all know she’s honest, sincere and can be trusted. And that’s something that we all know. (Who’s all?) And I wouldn’t even mitigate this by accepting any part of it. If you want to know all these answers the person writing this should go get them himself and do his own homework (McIntee did not do his!) This is outrageous!”…He will come back to dig himself a deeper hole…

TOWN MANAGER COLON- ” Commissioner Dodd, ah, you’ve known me for I’d say maybe 2 years? There’s some members on this dais that know me for 9 years. (Silverstone?) If you think for one moment think that I have been a Town Manager for one year (Comm. Dodd said 2) I guess we haven’t been sittin’ on the same dais. But there are many residents , residents that support me, residents who don’t support me. I think both sides. I am not changing my ways but since June of 2000 that I’ve walked in this organization I  have been assigned the task of Assistant Town Manager many a times.  In the interim of Laura Ward before and after Laura Ward was here. I was also assigned the task of Assistant Town Manager. I was never compensated for that task,  I never asked to be compensated for that task. But maybe you read the Pompano article a couple of years ago OOPS..it was a couple of months ago) that a manager was there for 1 year  and he received a 1 year severance pay. (and the Pomp. Bch taxpayers were outraged!)  I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY CONTRACT. (Now we know why…prev. post) I know that I am more than competent. The problem  is that I am gonna NOT bend for any elected official that doesn’t like my managing style. (Nope that’s reserved for the gang…especially McIntee)…AND I’M NOT CHANGING. THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS WHAT I AM . THIS IS WHAT THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION AGREED WITH THE CONTRACT. And you like me you don’t like me that’s ok cause I’m still comin’ to work and I’m still doing my job and I’m gonna have my smile and I will support my staff tooth and nail. You can investigate whatever you want and I HAVE A LEGAL AGREEMENT DRAWN UP BY THE PREVIOUS TOWN ATTORNEY AND EXECUTED BY THE PREVIOUS TOWN COMMISSION. ( they were hoodwinked!) But not for one moment you or any residents out there that I really don’t know what you’re sayin’ think that I’ve been sittin’ here and assuming all of these responsibilites for only one year (No one said 1 year) cause that is not the case.”

BC- This …after the the “waiving of the fees” diversion to the noise ord….the RFP stubbornness…and the “sweetheart deal” for McIntee…makes many wonder how much further she can go with her “competency” as TM….

Comm. Silverstone jumped in again…and boy was it a beaut!…

“Just to add to that business in the integrity that Esther is saying right now. By getting rid of or transferring Chief Gooding  that’s probably the worst thing that could happen for me , for my political career, if I, if I decide to run again. If that’s not proof that I didn’t have anything to do with that I don’t know what is! ESTHER MADE THIS DECISION BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR HER , THE RIGHT THING FOR THE TOWN OK. IT WAS MADE ON THE BASIS THAT FOR MYSELF OR FOR VICE MAYOR MCINTEE OR ANYBODY ELSE UP HERE. IF THAT’S NOT PROOF ENOUGH, so everybody’s coming up to me and saying all this garbage and nonsense look at the facts. If the intent was to get me re-elected more easily or whatever the case may be or not by the action the Town Manager took has been a negative impact on that. Now that’s proof that she is not political. If she was political and would hear of that she would re-consider that. She didn’t do that SHE DID WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT THING TOWN AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT’S HER JOB. WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE TOWN AND I APPLAUD THE TOWN MANAGER FOR DOING WHAT SHE DID. And I yield”

BC- Commissioner Silversone has now sealed his fate …he is a ONE- term Commissioner …for his opponents will use this in their campaign to remind all he “applauded” the TM for “getting rid of ” Chief Scott Gooding!…WOW!…

The Mayor tried to move on to the next item…but the Vice Mayor wanted to go for a second “bite” at that apple…

VM- ” No, no I’m still doing my second bite of the apple Mayor, thank you. I mentioned an e-mail, I’m gonna read it to everybody at home and here, this is to Ms. Colon from Stuart Dodd …(Below is a copy of the e-mail the VM read)….

July 9th 2009

Dear Ms Colon,

I would like to be in a position to categorically confirm or deny whether any of the rumors I’m hearing from several sources have any validity. Normally I would not give such rumors the time of day but I am still trying to make sense over the dismissal of Chief Gooding. Under the current contract I understand the BSO police department can be terminated with 90 days notice. I would like some form of statement from the manager please that confirms or denies that any work or proposals to terminate BSO are under consideration. Are the budgets being revised and the costs of such a move being evaluated with the aim of forming a Lauderdale by the Sea police department in the near future or early 2010. A “fluffy” statement to the effect that the “ manager can be expected to look at all options” is not an acceptable reply. Are you prepared to notify all commissioners that you have not done any work, are not doing any work nor have you been asked to do any work with respect to producing figures for establishing our own police department again?

I look forward to your reply – You might also want to say a few words at your manager’s report at the next commission meeting to dispel the many rumors.

Many thanks

Stuart Dodd

BC- I was thrilled the VM read it…for first it showed this was NOT a nasty e-mail…it was a Comm. doing his due diligence…and second it dispelled the erroneous statements the VM kept making that night about rumors and “lies” that the Manager /Gang would replace the police in 90 days…What was asked in this e-mail/ on this site and in the local papesr was/is the 90 DAY NOTICE GIVEN to the BSO police…knowing (prev. post) that the BSO contract states the BSO will stay to transition in a LBTS police dept. for as long as it takes to provide the same level of public safety (HMMMM, if that really is the case…BSO is here to stay!)….

The VM added commentary to Comm. Dodd’s e-mail…saying it was “outrageous”…”The Town Manager has a responsibility to look out for the good and fiduciary and honesty and sincerity of this whole town. And, and to send a nasty e-mail like this is outrageous, just plain outrageous….going on to say town staff moral is low…”most of the commission smile and laugh AT them (OOPS!) , try and go out of our way to be good”….going on to say Comm. Doddd doesn’t say hello to them (who says?)…and said ” I think we have the best town employees in Florida”…and that he deplores this…

BC What the VM did not include was the e-mail response to Comm. Dodd from the Town Manager to this particular e-mail…”Memorandum July 13,2009 …She answered a few of Comm. Dodd’s e-mails…in this one memo

“In reference to your email dated July 9, 2009 (4:45PM) please be advised that any elected official with fiduciary responsibility should be able to validate rumors that consist of any preposterous three month transition concerning public safety. I will not respond to your questions, as I don’t acknowledge rumors and I will wait for a policy from the Town Commission pertaining to any contractual services.”

BC-HUH!….Re- read it folks….re- read it!…YIKES!….

Commissioner Dodd tried once more …and when he misspoke …due to the late, late hour approaching midnight…(He was the only vote for the meeting to continue the following day)…..as he asked the TM when she was elected…It was Jimmy-boy who pounced on his mistake (Jimmy-boy …get real!)…Comm. Dodd rephrased it to ask when she was promoted …when she became TM…

TM- ” I really don’t know the exact date, I’ve been doin’ it for so long”…

BC- April 24, 2007….voted in 5-0…..May 22, 2007….received contract….and was Acting TM for 11 weeks before the vote per her own words in the 4/24/07 meeting minutes…

Comm. Dodd went onto clarify after all the diatribes from the “Broom Boys and the Broom Flyin’ Gals”….his original points of making sense of the Scott Gooding situation….the aftermath in town…….his right to e-mail for the answers and that those e-mails were perfectly professional and there was absolutely nothing wrong with them…in requesting the TMs policy and position…along with addressing her severance agreement….

The last words went to the Town Manager…and they are words that all should read and remember…..and then decide…if it might be worth paying 1 years severance to replace her ASAP!…

TM Colon -” I informed you I would not interrupt Commissioner Dodd anymore but I will inform every member of this dais one more time! I will not have one Commissioner tell me how to do my job, when to do my job, who to fire , not to fire, what kind of little deals people have, what kind of rumors going on out there because that’s not the way I work! And if that is what is bothering any particular Commissioner it’s gonna keep on bothering you because when 1 Commissioner comes in to my office and asks for a document. I tell that Commissioner if I have it available on my desk I will give it to you, but I am not gonna drop and I have given specific instructions to my staff that they will not drop what they’re doin’ to respond to THAT COMMISSIONER because he is a Commissioner! Every Commissioner and every resident has the same right and the same treatment (HUH?) and if any Commissioner wants statements of who I talk to and who I don’t talk to, I will tell you as you has come to my office from the best of my recollection. But I am not gonna be quizzed by you or any other Commissioner on what I do and what I don’t do cause the only thing I do is follow the law and do my job. And we can have this argument everyday and I WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH YOU COMMISSIONER DODD because I will tell you personally and I’m tellin’ every Commissioner on this dais you get more with honey then with vinegar (Listen to your own words much?) and YOU HAVE A HABIT OF SENDING E-MAILS and I have them because I RESPOND TO THEM ALL OR I RESPOND BY SAYIN’ I WON’T RESPOND. SO WE CAN HAVE MY CONTRACT ON EVERY AGENDA, YOU CAN INVESTIGATE EVERY COMMISSION, BUT COMMISSIONER CLOTTEY I APOLOGIZE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT WILL PROBABLY BE A REAL, I THINK IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN, BUT I ASK ANY COMMISSIONER WHO THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO HIRE AND FIRE (We hear she did just that with hiring the Fire Marshall…per VM McIntee) WHICH RFP YOU WANT ME TO ISSUE AND WHICH VENDOR THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO TALK TO (We hear she did just that with the VM and the VFD canopy, command car etc….) BECAUSE HONESTLY THAT’S NOT MY STYLE (we know!) I  AM A NEUTRAL (polarizing!) PERSON. I DO MY JOB AND YOU’RE THE POLITICIANS, I’M NOT. YOU SET POLICY, I DON’T!”

BC- We hear Yesterday the Town Manager had staff deliver letters of thanks to July 4th volunteers, hand signed with seal of LBTS pins attached….HMMMM. sounds pretty political to me!…”Campaigning to keep her job?” came to ind…

In closing…how in the world could the dais have moved on after this? I agree with the 2 local newspaper Editors (from the non- Gang publications)…Town Manager Colon should be fired!!!!

more to come…

Tags: BSO, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local News, Local Politics, Public Safety, scoop, Scoops, town manager colon
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