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Lawyers aim to settle Redington Beach suit

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published February 12, 2006

REDINGTON BEACH - Town Clerk Beverly Brown is on paid leave while attorneys try to reach an "amicable settlement" that would quash her lawsuit against the town and resolve her employment status.

Whether Brown will remain as the town's clerk is an open question. Neither the commission, its attorney, Brown nor her attorney would comment on what the settlement might entail.

The action came Tuesday at the end of an hourslong, standing-room-only meeting that started with former commissioners, former mayors and residents protesting the commission's treatment of Brown.

Brown came under fire several weeks ago when Commissioner Sam Maniotes charged that she had "forged documents on behalf of other commissioners" and called for her firing.

The controversy over Brown's job performance and her subsequent lawsuit against the town arose after four members of the commission favored extending her probationary status until she could answer Maniotes' charges. Brown's lawsuit alleges that such an action would be in violation of town policies.

"I come here to speak about disappointment," said former Commissioner Nick Simons, who last served on the board in 1997, when he was appointed by then-Gov. Lawton Chiles to reconstitute a Town Commission decimated by a series of resignations after an unrelated political controversy.

Simons said he was disappointed in the actions of Maniotes and fellow Commissioners Leslie Peck-Epstein, Alberto Baraybar and Deborah Bradbeer.

"Your "power vote' comment was arrogant at best and at worst hints at collusion and possible Sunshine Law violations," Simons said to Peck-Epstein.

He was referring to a statement she made during an earlier meeting about being part of a group that planned to fix what it viewed as financial problems in the town.

Simons said Maniotes was "a deer in the headlights" when he was first appointed as the finance commissioner.

"For you to sit there and throw darts is a disgrace," Simons said.

He faulted Bradbeer and Baraybar for not working for the town's best interests and called on the entire commission to support Mayor Linda Wilson - the only commissioner supporting Brown.

"Linda did not ask to be mayor; she did not run for it. She is trying to do the best job she can. She needs your support," Simons said.

Wilson automatically moved up from her vice mayoral post when former Mayor Bob Fountaine resigned several months ago over what he called the town's "ugly politics."

"(Brown) is one of the most dedicated employees I have ever known. For her to go through this is really terrible," said Fountaine, who recruited Brown away from her city clerk post in Seminole, after the resignation last year of former Town Clerk Larry Bittner.

Former Commissioner Tim Gregson e-mailed a protest that was read by former Commissioner Paul Warren, who said he concurs with Gregson's statement.

"The people in town who elected you can remove you from office as well. This is the true power vote," Gregson wrote to the commission, urging Maniotes and Peck-Epstein to write an apology to Brown.

Several residents did not support Brown and praised the commission's actions.

Dorothy Conley called her rude, and Gladys Rock said Brown has shown "far from quality work" as clerk. Rock also complained about other town employees and said the town is "dysfunctional."

Maniotes had his own attorney, Anthony Ekonomides, at Tuesday's commission meeting. Ekonomides did not allow Maniotes to discuss his charges against Brown.

"This lawsuit is not about my client making allegations," Ekonomides said. "He offered to make the materials available, but none of the commission wanted them."

Both Maniotes and his attorney declined to say whether Maniotes would put his charges in writing, as the commission had asked him to do when he requested that Brown be fired.

"This commission took actions that resulted in this lawsuit based on allegations made in a public meeting by Commissioner Maniotes that have not been substantiated," Wilson said.

She filed a formal public records request for Maniotes' documents that show alleged misconduct by Brown, but Maniotes told her the items are not public.

Pending the lawsuit's outcome, the commission put Brown on paid administrative leave with full benefits at least until Feb. 21, when the town's attorney, Dominic Amadio, is scheduled to report whether he was able to reach a settlement with Brown's attorney.

Meanwhile, the commission hired Marie Hamilton as temporary town clerk in the absence of Brown and the former assistant clerk, RayaSue Hallman, who recently resigned over what were described as "unstable working conditions." Hamilton, who is a certified clerk, formerly was assistant clerk in Redington Shores.

[Last modified February 12, 2006, 00:26:20]