Setting the Record Straight by Commissioner Betsy Webb

Letter to the Editor: Re: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

On Tuesday. July 21, 2020, Bob and Linda Kelly published a document in the Inglis/Yankeetown Word of Mouth website and later in the Citrus Chronicle and The Newscaster regarding a special town commission meeting on Monday the 20th. Regrettably, the Kelly's response contained some erroneous information. This document will serve to present the true facts of the resignation of Bill Monteverde.
At a regular commission meeting on July 7, 2020, Mr. Monteverde presented an agenda item to return $75,000 which the commission had moved from the water department to roads and bridges to repair the Mastedon Bridge if a grant was not approved. After much discussion, the request was denied on a three to two vote. At that point, Mr. Monteverde stated. “I've got to make a statement here; as of tonight I will turn in my resignation tonight. I cannot properly do my job while you guys micromanage me so as of tonight consider myself no longer a commissioner. I am backing out of this meeting. I will send you a formal notification tomorrow. Good night.” According to Florida Statute and the Florida Constitution, vacancies can be created by oral resignation to the body that is to replace the public officer. Mr. Monteverde sent a letter rescinding his resignation; however, once a vacancy is created, the only manner in which if can be filled must be prescribed by law, i.e. the Inglis Charter, specifically Article II. - OFFICERS; QUALIFICATIONS, TERMS, ETC. The vacancy was declared at a special meeting on July 20, 2020, by a three to one vote with Commissioner Schwing voting nay. Once the vacancy was declared, Commissioner Schwing made a motion to reinstate Mr. Monteverde; that motion failed due to lack of a second. Commissioner Ann Morin then made a motion to appoint James Williams to this vacancy; a second was made by Commissioner Webb. Following discussion by the commission and the citizens on the call, this motion passed on a vote three to one with Commissioner Schwing opposing. The Kelly's state that Mr. Monteverde can be abrasive at times, which is true. During his tenure, Mr. Monteverde made numerous false statements and berated staff and fellow commissioners. However, he was not replaced because of his behavior; he resigned.

Regarding “Mayor Merrit and her little band of puppets have been getting their way without keeping the town informed for too long.” Town Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00. Contact information for commissioners can be obtained there or on the town website, (www.townofinglis.org). You can also go to town hall and request to look at or pay for copies of documents about which you are concerned.

The comment about the mayor having a very good job in Gainesville before retiring has no bearing on this issue AND is mostly false. She worked full time for a company that was based out of Inverness before deciding to retire; she did work in Gainesville but not right before retiring. Commissioner Morin worked in Gainesville for DMV when she was elected, but could not hold public office while in that job. She decided to keep her full time job and resigned from the commission. She waited until she left that job and another election cycle came around before placing her name on the ballot.

“A town that is hurting for money could, however, afford to buy the mayor a car . . .” The commission voted to purchase a small, economical car for the town, not the mayor. It is for the use of the mayor, commissioners and town employees to travel to and from meetings, classes, etc. The previous vehicle that was being used was in need of many repairs and was not deemed dependable for out of town travel. The mayor has a town budgeted line item that pays for fuel, food purchased on trips to county and state meetings, seminars, etc.

According to the Kellys, mayors and commissioners have resigned and had their rescinsion accepted. A search of meeting minutes shows that no mayor resigned during a meeting. Two commissioners resigned during meetings (Owensby and McKee) and three (Kiger, Loman, Michaels) submitted letters. None rescinded their resignation or requested to be reinstated. They were replaced as prescribed by law.

In response to the Kelly's letter, Mr Bill Lake stated that the commission is in error by not allowing Mr. Monteverde to rescind his resignation and return to his seat, as Mr. Lake says he was allowed to do when he was in office. An examination of meeting minutes, during his tenure as commissioner and mayor revealed that at no time did he resign and then rescind his resignation.

Betsy Webb, Inglis Commissioner