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Lealman cityhood backers squabble
By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer LEALMAN -- A spat over bylaws during a Lealman Community Association board meeting has some wondering if the real goal was to unseat Ray Neri as the group's president. If a coup was intended, it apparently failed after most of the association's officers resigned their nonvoting positions on the spot so they could take voting seats on the board of directors and support Neri. Marcie Lauster, the board member who had called the meeting and who until August was a vice president under Neri, denied that she had any ulterior motive. Her goals, she said, were to amend the bylaws, a long overdue job, and to set up nominations for board membership so the association could vote on them at a future meeting. But one board member wasn't so sure. "The more thought I give to (Tuesday's) meeting, the more I feel that Marcie had her eye on becoming president of the Lealman Association and the meeting last night was her idea on the way to move into that position," Joyce Saugstad wrote in an e-mail to Neri. Lauster told association officers and other nonboard members that Tuesday's meeting was closed to them -- a first since Neri has been president. Two officers -- John Frank and Tony Clark, both Neri supporters -- immediately scribbled written resignations. They then took vacant openings on the board of directors so they could stay and vote. Frank accused Lauster of running a dog and pony show with ulterior motives. The board and officers have met together for at least two years and both bodies have voted on all activities, despite what the bylaws might say, Frank pointed out. "I want to know where it's going to be beneficial for this community to change the way it has operated for two years now," Frank said. Lauster also attempted to evict a reporter, who refused to leave. During the meeting, members snapped, shouted and accused each other of being underhanded. Neri, who never raised his voice during the fracas, tried to reason with Lauster: "We've laughed at the cities around us" for acting like this. "We wanted to be better than this." He pointed out the contradictions in e-mails she had sent to people announcing the meeting. In some e-mails, she had said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss bylaw revisions. In another, Lauster said the purpose was to discuss the possibility of uniting east and west Lealman as one city. The meeting's flashpoint came when Ron Kimball suggested that the rule about officers' not serving on the board be changed. The Community Association's board chooses the officers, including the president. Officers cannot serve on the board or cast votes concerning board actions. "I don't want it changed," Lauster answered. Kimball persisted that the bylaw be revised to allow officers to both sit on the board and vote at meetings. He made a motion to change the rule. Three board members seconded his motion. Lauster slammed shut her notes and said, "I'm adjourning this meeting." She then referred to the "hostile environment in here" and added, "I'm sorry you two felt you had to resign your positions to jump (onto the board)." The argument raged for several minutes until people began leaving. Some clustered in groups of two and three to discuss what had happened. Lauster told Neri and others that there were no hard feelings. Families fight all the time, she said, but go on about their business. The hostilities ultimately left Neri apologetic and appalled. "I want to apologize for any embarrassment caused you," Neri wrote Thursday in an e-mail to David Ridenour, whom Lauster had invited to the meeting and then asked to leave. "We have never had closed meetings and this was as much a surprise to me as it was to the rest of the board members." It's unclear what effect Neri's ouster might have had on the Community Association's relations with Pinellas County. Neri has forged personal bonds with elected and appointed officials that have garnered Lealman a good deal of support. Last summer, the Pinellas County Commission moved annexation boundary lines to protect the Lealman area from land grabs by Pinellas Park, Seminole and St. Petersburg. The commission also authorized a feasibility study to determine if Lealman was fiscally sound enough to become a city. County officials are creating a playground at the Lealman Park and considering the purchase of undeveloped land to create a much larger park. Said Gordon Beardslee, a general planning administrator who has worked with the Community Association on revitalization efforts: "Ray's had high visibility in the county," which has helped keep Lealman issues on the front burner. Without speculating on the effect of a change in the Community Association's leadership, Beardslee said the county's commitment to the community "wouldn't be impacted."
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From the Times South Pinellas desks Letters |
