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Dunedin residents show support for interim manager

Questions about Maureen Freaney's relationship with a city employee are unfair, residents say at City Hall.

By TERRI BRYCE REEVES
Published February 4, 2006

DUNEDIN - It was standing room only at Dunedin City Hall on Thursday night as residents voiced their support for Interim City Manager Maureen Freaney.

Dr. William Hale, a retired physician for whom the Hale Senior Center is named, read from a prepared speech, saying he represented citizens "who believe in fairness, inclusiveness and due process."

"Last week we sensed our community becoming embroiled in unnecessary conflict and unfair controversy," Hale said.

He went on to criticize the St. Petersburg Times, which reported Jan. 26 that Freaney and city division director Peg Cummings own a home together, where the two have lived for 10 years. The article quoted experts in workplace management who said such arrangements between managers and subordinates should be avoided because they raise issues of favoritism and can lead to questions from co-workers about fairness. The story was followed by an editorial concluding that the arrangement was a potential problem.

Without giving any examples, Hale said the article and editorial "contained factual errors and unjustified conclusions."

Hale implored the commission, when selecting the next city manager, to "deliberate with an open mind and with the city's best interest at heart."

"Those who attempt to subvert this process through underhanded, scurrilous attacks should be ashamed," he said.

He called Freaney a "key leader" and predicted "she will rise head and shoulders above the other applicants." About 50 people have applied for the city manager's job.

When Hale finished, audience members rose in a standing ovation. Then, clapping their hands in unison, about 40 exited the building.

Outside, Joyce Smith said "the community has grown into something everyone can be proud of."

"We'd like to keep it that way," she said.

Freaney has said that if she becomes city manager - something that will be decided by a new commission after the March 14 city election - she and Cummings will do whatever is best for the city. That could include Cummings leaving her job with the city, they have said.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Vice Mayor Julie Scales, Commissioner Deborah Kynes and Mayor John Doglione shared their feelings about the tumult.

Scales said she appreciated Hale's comments and said she hoped she wouldn't see "any more resorting to dirty tricks and smear campaigns."

When asked afterward what she was referring to, she said it was a "perceived effort to undermine, if not destroy, Miss Freaney's candidacy for city manager position."

Kynes said at the meeting she has lived in the city for 27 years and has never seen anything "this mean-spirited."

Doglione said the controversy "struck a bad chord with a lot of folks."

"I hope we don't see that type of nonsense again," he said. "This is just not called for. It doesn't fall into the line of being civil."

Commissioner Bob Hackworth, who is running for mayor, said Friday that the audience members were "welcome to demonstrate," but he did not think they represented everyone in the community.

"They were a vocal minority," he said.

He said he considered the article "a very legitimate inquiry, respectfully and appropriately done."

"I do think the city's nepotism policy needs to be updated," he added.

Freaney said she really "appreciated the caring comments of Dr. Hale."

"I do think it's important to get back to the business of our community because we have a lot of work to do," she said.

[Last modified February 4, 2006, 00:41:02]