Politics

Commissioner's letter makes waves

A Dade City commissioner stands by her letter to the governor seeking an investigation of the mayor.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD AND HELEN ANNE TRAVIS
Published July 25, 2007

DADE CITY - There was the controversial retirement of the police chief.

There was the selection of the new city manager.

There was the contract with the old city manager.

But above all, there was the letter to the governor.

Tuesday's City Commission meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd and stretched over two tense hours as the normally dry proceeding became embroiled in personal attacks, accusations and awkward attempts at peacemaking.

City Commissioner Camille Hernandez lit a fire at City Hall last week when she wrote to the governor seeking an investigation of Mayor Hutch Brock and former City Manager Harold Sample, alleging corrupt practices and conflicts of interest.

Brock put the letter on Tuesday's agenda and opened discussion of it by handing out inch-thick packets of commission minutes and other documents to defend himself.

He "categorically denied" Hernandez's charges, including:

• Sample's new job at the Dade City Business Center creates a conflict of interest and he should not have been retained on contract with the city during budget preparation. Likewise, Brock, as attorney for the Business Center, has a conflict of interest.
   
  
• Brock, in order to benefit his business partner, deceived the commission about the possible purchase of a downtown building for use as City Hall. The commission backed away from the purchase of the Eighth Street building in November 2006 for cost reasons. This spring, a group of investors including Brock's partner purchased the building for a newly forming bank.
   
  
• Brock coerced the commission into silence over a landfill proposed east of the city.
   
  
• Sample and Brock have been part of an ongoing violation of environmental laws regarding testing in the city's water system, which Hernandez says is a threat to public safety.

Brock said nothing in the public records supports Hernandez's claims.

"I would like to put this matter to bed, and I'd like to get back to work," he said to applause.

Hernandez then got an earful from the other commissioners.

Steve Van Gorden said her letter was in poor taste and she owed the city and commission an apology.

Eunice Penix said they could disagree but still work together.

Scott Black, the longest serving commissioner, said he had lost faith in Hernandez and doubted she had the city's best interests at heart. He urged her to work to regain people's trust.

"I understand that some that were supportive of you are no longer," Black said.

The meeting began cordially enough, with several presentations and two standing ovations for police Chief Phillip Thompson, who is retiring after 20 years in the job.

But that matter also stirred controversy after Thompson revealed earlier this month that he was asked to step down because he has Parkinson's disease.

Since then, city officials, Thompson and his attorney met and negotiated a retirement package, which commissioners approved Tuesday.

Before the vote, Hernandez said she wanted to ask the chief if he would consider staying should the commission vote to keep him. Thompson's attorney asked for a recess, then returned and said the chief was satisfied with the terms of the settlement but would consider staying on as interim chief.

No one moved on that offer, though, and the vote approving the settlement was unanimous.

Sample, whose last day was June 29, terminated his contract with the city after Hernandez wrote to Gov. Charlie Crist.

Tuesday, she reiterated that was for the best.

"I believe that our city is better off without Mr. Sample," she said.

And while she remained silent during the other commissioners' comments, she spoke up at the end of the meeting.

"Mayor Brock, this is not 'Brockville,' " Hernandez said, adding that while most in the audience disagreed with her, plenty in the community support her.

Helen Anne Travis can be reached at (352) 521-6518 or htravis@sptimes.com. 

[Last modified July 25, 2007, 08:14:07]