PNJ round-up, 01.15.09
Tags: David Morgan / ECSO / Gene Valentino / Jamie Page / Joe Scarborough / PNJ
A few things I wanted to highlight today:
Pensacola News Journal:
“County officials get catty”
Read Jamie Page’s entertaining story of Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino acting like a clown.
Among other things, it seems that Commissioner Valentino thought that the Commission’s beach retreat would be closed to the media. Apparently, the commissioner is not familiar with Florida Sunshine laws, which mandate that all meetings of elected boards be open to the public, including the media. Valentino’s ignorance is disconcerting.
Pensacola News Journal:
“Sheriff’s chopper could be grounded”
Sheriff David Morgan is considering grounding the ECSO chopper, which cost nearly $800,000 to operate in FY2008. “It’s a wonderful law enforcement tool,” Morgan told the PNJ. “That is not in question. It’s a question of whether or not I can afford it.” Morgan has approached other agencies about chipping in to pay for the helicopter’s operation.
I don’t think anyone wants to see the helicopter grounded, but I applaud Sheriff Morgan for putting everything on the table and coming on serious about fixing the ECSO budget.
Joe Scarborough:
“History will treat Bush kindly”
In his column for the News Journal yesterday, Scarborough defends our outgoing President, posturing that, “like Ronald Reagan, history will prove to be on the side of George W. Bush.”
I had gained some respect for Scarborough over the past few weeks after his bold condemnations of Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom and his questionable behaviour – but it looks like Scarborough is back hitting the GOP Kool-Aid.
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From the article “Valentino had been expecting to make his complaints in private, with only his fellow commissioners and county staff present.”
Not sure but to call a staff meeting with the employees to discuss employee policy might not be a sunshine law policy. As long as the commissioners do not discuss something that might later get voted on amongst the commissioners present.
What is your opinion of McLaughlin’s refusal to print the flyers that was the boiling point for Valentino?
Jeeperman: Maaaaaybe. Basically, it is covered by Sunshine Laws if there are two or more members of a public commission/board/etc present and they will be discussing any issue that could ever conceivably come before the commission/board/etc.
So, if they wanted to hold a meeting with staff, just to give them feedback, no public business of any sort would be transacted or discussed at all, then by my reading of statutes, they could do that. I think. I’m no lawyer.