Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Politics

Ethics panel ruling 'lifts weight' from ex-official

madeira beach A board says she didn't misuse her power.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA, Times Correspondent
Published September 19, 2007

Former City Commissioner Martha Boos has been cleared of all charges that she misused her position to interfere with law enforcement officers during an altercation last November at the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater.

"I am absolutely thrilled," Boos said on learning of the recent ruling by the Florida Commission on Ethics. "I feel like a weight has been lifted off me. I didn't think I had done anything wrong, but you never really know what they are going to do."

The action followed a months-long investigation that concluded that there was "no probable cause" to believe that Boos had violated Florida law.

Two separate complaints were filed against Boos last November. Randall and Rosemary Fedon and later Denise Adis alleged that Boos attempted to use "undue influence" during a legal dispute over a neighbor's boat lift.

At issue was a boat lift constructed by Donald and Jane Colson that the Fedons said improperly intruded into a setback prescribed under city zoning and building codes.

Last year, the commission, including Boos, authorized the city's attorney to file a civil complaint against the Colsons in county court.

The court subsequently ruled in favor of the Colsons, stating that the city had not proved its contention that the boat lift building permit was issued erroneously.

The Fedons and Adis say that Boos openly sat with the Colsons during the court hearing and afterward verbally confronted the attorney representing the city.

"She got very loud and was practically screaming at us. We were very upset," Rosemary Fedon said after she filed an ethics complaint against Boos. Fedon said she believed Boos acted in clear "contradiction" to the City Commission's decision to pursue the Colsons in court.

"She needs to be fined or disciplined in case she decides to run again for the commission,"Fedon said.

Boos said she "yelled" at the Fedons and Adis "because they were yelling at me".

According to the ethics report compiled by investigator H.B. Jackson, there was "no evidence" that Boos had gained any "special privilege" by attending the court hearing. He concluded "it does not appear that (Boos) acted corruptly or inconsistently" in relation to her formal duties as a commissioner.

He also said the sheriff's deputy at the scene "strongly opined" that when Boos identified herself as a Madeira Beach commissioner to him, she was not attempting to use her position to influence him.

"I recommend that the (ethics) commission find no probable cause to believe that (Boos) violated (Florida law) by using her position in an attempt to forestall law enforcement officers from taking action when she allegedly became wild and combative in a public place," Jennifer Erlinger, advocate for the ethics commission, said in a letter tothe commission.

When asked whether she would ever consider running again for a seat on the commission, Boos said "I doubt it - especially with how contentious it is now. It seems all the commission does is fight and accuse each other of things. I liked being a commissioner but doesn't seem worth it."

[Last modified September 18, 2007, 22:57:18]