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Chamber could clear air by producing its audit

On the surface, some Safety Harbor city commissioners and the executive board of the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce seem to be arguing about money. But the argument is actually about trust (or lack of it), accountability, and the ties of friendship and politics that complicate any small-town dustup.

Here's the background:

The city's Community Redevelopment Agency funnels public money to the chamber for promoting downtown events, among other tasks. Last month, city commissioners were preparing to approve their redevelopment agency's budget and came upon the line that would give $51,000 of CRA money to the chamber.

Two of the newest commissioners, Andy Steingold and Kara Bauer, wanted to know how the chamber typically spends the public dollars it receives from the city. So they asked to see the chamber's recent audit.

The next day City Manager Wayne Logan, who also happens to be on the board of directors of the chamber, sent a letter to chamber president and CEO Cyndi O'Donnell asking for a copy of the audit.

The chamber responded that the request wasn't specific enough.

Then Alan Zimmet, the attorney for the city government - the city happens to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce, too - wrote a very specific letter to the chamber, saying that because the city is a member of the chamber and the chamber is a corporation, the city is entitled to see the chamber's financial records under state law.

The chamber still won't turn over the audit.

City commissioners approved the $51,000 award to the chamber, but only on the condition the chamber turns over the audit and the audit shows nothing amiss.

However, commissioners aren't all singing the same tune about this issue. Bauer and Steingold wonder what's up at the chamber and are more determined than ever to get the audit. Commissioner Nadine Nickeson said she was satisfied hearing the chamber's verbal explanation of how it spends just the city's money. Commissioner Keith Zayac is scratching his head about the dispute, wondering why it even arose when there had been no public accusation of impropriety. And Mayor Pam Corbino, a friend of O'Donnell, disagreed with Steingold's and Bauer's position that the city should examine the chamber's finances.

Meanwhile, people are whispering about whether something might be wrong at the chamber. No Chamber of Commerce could want that.

There is nothing wrong with the city asking to see the audit of a organization to which it contributes substantial public dollars. Locals may recall that the city also asked for the audit of the Safety Harbor Museum when that facility wanted more city money. City commissioners are accountable for all expenditures of public money, and it should be part of their due diligence to examine the financial records of private groups to which they give tax dollars.

The chamber's board of directors should be concerned about the whisper campaign and should be especially eager to provide the city the information it wants, for two reasons. First, the $51,000 is a not-insignificant part of the chamber's annual budget; losing it would hurt the chamber. Second, O'Donnell has an old conviction for writing bad checks. Her energy and hard work as a chamber board member in recent years won her the paid position of chief executive of the chamber, but because of her history she should be eager to open the chamber's books and demonstrate that all is well.

The chamber board should give the city the audit.

[Last modified December 14, 2005, 00:14:15]