Bill Monteverde Letter to Inglis Constituents

The following with attachment is a complete surprise to me.
I need Your Support By Joining the meeting!!!!

This is a complete back door attempt to remove me from office, I did verbally state last week that I was quitting resulting from the actions of Commissions Morin, Webb and Brennan for their refusal to return Water Utility funds,$75,000 to the Water Department that was needed only if the Mastadon Grant was not approved.  The Grant was approved. Their action to not return funds is contrary to the original intent to use the funds if needed, not to keep it. Last fall I took them at their word; this is spitful.

I never formally resigned and immediately sent an email resending my verbal statement. I am not the first to do so, some have walked out, others did the same and then resended their statement just like me. Nothing happened, business, as usual, all while the Fugate Law firm was under contract with the Town of Inglis.

The Grant was approved and the money is not needed since the bridge grant has been funded for years In Road and Bridge under "Transportation Capital Outlay" with $125,000.00 set aside for payment just to pay for this Grant.  All the Commissioners were silent when I said this because they really don't understand the finances of this town. Withholding the extra $75,000.00 money from The Water Dept is only about payback in my opinion for me stirring the pot Last week. Remember, Commissioner Webb, Morin and Brennan raised your Water fees and they will do so again unless Challenged.

Very Important, the Commissioners, Morin, Webb, and Brennan are the commissioners in charge that did not fix this bridge for 7 years. All along we could have had a functional bridge years ago for about $ 30,000.00 vs out current outlay of over $100,000.00, and they want me out.

The Lawyer and others don't like me knowing what is going on and I am not afraid to dig deep for the truth. So let's examine what is really happening from last Tuesday.
   1.   I wanted the lawyer to explain why he was paid $14,000.00 for services for March and April, and that I wanted to review these invoices at the next meeting. I assume Commissioner Brennan signed the checks for these charges without question?
   2.   I questioned why he charged the Town of Inglis to read a brief letter that I wrote in conjunction with Emergency Management Director, Mr, John MacDonald, Wayne Moore and myself about How the Water Dept would function during Covid-19. Lawyer Blake Fugate charged the Town for an hour of billing time for a letter that he had no issues with, no calls, no email, nothing.
   3.   I asked Lawyer Blake Fugate why I still have not received his invoices for May and June, and today is July 13, 2020, still nothing. In my opinion, he does not want US to Know!!
   4.   I challenged the Lawyer on why over the past 10 plus years his firm and others have approved a rental lease for the Lamberts located at the ballpark. My discovery stated at the last meeting that the lease provided to the Lamberts was not valid in my opinion, since, there is no dwelling listed for this property which is owned by Levy County. The Town of Inglis has been keeping the rental money that really belongs to Levy County while no property taxes have been paid by the Lamberts, ever!!!  This dwelling was never recorded or attached to the Parcel, plus we supply them free water. No other Inglis taxpayer is offered this sweetheart deal!!
   5.   Last month, we voted on the Mastadon bridge project. Our vote depended on an RFP, Request for Proposal, that Mr. Fugate was paid $ 858.00 to produce a document for contractor bidding with Commission voting. When the quotations were received not one of the contractors provided the necessary elements for the Commission to vote. I sent the Town Clerk and the Lawer, Blake Fugate, a matrix chart with the required elements at zero and suggested he instruct the Commission to seek further information and delay the vote. I received no response from Blake Fugate, and at the meeting, he instructed the Commission to vote on the award even though it was not complete. I argued, that two key requirements, project timeline and Credit report from Dunn and Bradstreet were not provided. He countered with, it's in the contract, but we paid Blake Fugate $858.00 to give us a valid RFP which is how you choose a vendor first. When the RFP is poor, you never get to a contract stage. Paid in full without question by Commissioner Brennan and Town Clerk.

I was busy last week after the Tuesday meeting with Beachump and Edwards (Accountant) discussing my issue that $500,000.00, five hundred thousand dollars of Sewer money is listed in Assets in the Water Dept. This figure, I stated, is improper because it inflates the Water Asset value for funds controlled by the Mayor. Unless removed, this additional money distorts the Current Ration between Assets and Liabilities. Mr. Beachump concluded that he would show our Town Clerk how to set up a Capital Asset Fund for the Sewer. Commissioner Brennan and the Town Clerk should have fixed this years ago.

Also, Mr. Beachump (Accountant) and I discussed the $64,000.00 listed as Water Dept. bad debts, and I wanted his perspective on how to fix this. With his suggestions, I called our Town Clerk to set up a meeting for us to get aggressive on collections. This high figure should have been under a spotlight by Commissioner Brennan for years.
This phone meeting with Mr. Beachump demonstrates the lack of leadership that is required to maximize the Town's financial resources.

Analyze the attachments from the Lawyer, Blake Fugate, look at his research and conclusions and they only have one slanted bias outcome. The Lawyer is really the one that should be fired.

Examine the financial implications overlooked or ignored and question if Commissioner Tom Brennan is qualified to be in his current assignment.

In conclusion, I want to help, but only the residents of The Town of Inglis, that's "You," must control the narrative of the meeting.

Please log in to the meeting, speak out in a deliberate respectful manner.

The outcome may change, but, whatever happens, I will always be your advocate.

Sincerely,

William A. Monteverde