Mayor, commissioner dispute critical letter

Frank DiDonato and Beverley Billiris say there is no truth to its allegations of an ''intimate relationship.''

By KATHERINE GAZELLA, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 28, 2002

TARPON SPRINGS -- A critical letter that has been circulated at City Hall, on the Sponge Docks and at the Greek Independence Day parade has prompted Commissioner Beverley Billiris and Mayor Frank DiDonato to respond to it at a public meeting.

The letter, written by city resident Claudia Duberstein, alleges an "intimate relationship" between DiDonato and Billiris. Because it had been circulated so widely, Billiris took the unusual step of pausing during Tuesday night's commission meeting to address it. Both she and DiDonato said there is no truth to the matter.

"As a city commissioner, I realize that we all sit in a fish bowl," said Billiris, who is married to sponge merchant George Billiris. "The remarks were slanderous and can be addressed in a court of law. . . . I have been married for over 21 years, and my marriage is stronger than ever."

"I wish people would think before they act," DiDonato said of the letter.

In a letter sent to DiDonato and Billiris last week, Duberstein asked both to resign to save the community "the necessity of a recall."

In an interview, Duberstein said her accusations were based on rumors she had heard.

Duberstein is a friend of James Warren, a local man who runs a charity called Care to Share. Warren has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Tarpon Springs Police Department, and he and Duberstein have been critical of the department.

Duberstein and Warren also have asked the City Commission for a definition of "good moral character," because of a sentence in the city code about peddlers. The code says someone who wants to solicit for charitable, educational or religious institutions can do so if he shows "proof of good moral character" to the police chief.

Warren has written numerous letters to and about the police department, some of them questioning police Chief Mark LeCouris' character. In her letter about Billiris and DiDonato, Duberstein made reference to their moral character, as well.

Her letter has been widely distributed throughout town. Billiris said business people at the Sponge Docks told her they received copies of the letter, and she said the letter was passed around at the Greek Independence Day parade Sunday.

In a letter to Billiris this week, Duberstein said she did not personally distribute the letter, and she said the city clerk has received "several requests for copies" of the letter. City Clerk Kathy Alesafis said the office has received no requests for copies.

-- Katherine Gazella can be reached at (727) 445-4182 or gazella@sptimes.com.

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