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Businessman claims city altered official record
By BRADY DENNIS © St. Petersburg Times, published March 28, 2001 ZEPHYRHILLS -- Local movie theatre owner Larry Rutan accused city officials Monday of altering public records, a charge they say is ridiculous and unfounded. At issue is an argument between Rutan and police Chief Robert Howell that took place in front of the council on Dec. 13, 1999. All council meetings are recorded on audio tapes. On Monday, Rutan claimed that the tape from the December 1999 meeting had been altered to change the tone of the argument. "What happened in that meeting and what's on that audio tape are separate things," Rutan, who demanded an investigation, told the council. "Anybody who was here can tell it wasn't the same meeting. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out how to change an audio tape." In a letter to council, Rutan stated that Howell originally had responded to criticism that night by "calling me enough names and expletives to fill this page," and "with enough volume to be heard in Dade City." He said the recorded version is altogether different. "Instead of uncontrollable name-calling at deafening levels," Rutan wrote, "the meeting sounds like a normal meeting with two intelligent people with a difference of opinions." City officials were quick to shoot down such an accusation. "I disagree with you. I think our records are accurate," said council president Clyde Bracknell. "Besides, I don't think we have dishonest people." City Clerk Linda Boan, who records and keeps the tapes, certainly was offended by the charge. "His accusations are very threatening to me," she wrote in a reply to Rutan's letter. "I have never altered a public record and furthermore, I do not even know how to alter a tape, nor would I ever think of doing so." On the disputed tape, Rutan criticizes the Zephyrhills Police Department for its lack of patrol on weekend nights behind his Zephyrhills Cinema 6, at 6848 Gall Blvd. Howell then accuses Rutan of making his complaints personal. "Your point here is to embarrass me and criticize the Police Department," he says at one point. The two men heatedly exchange words for several moments, then council member Elizabeth Geiger pounds a gavel on the table and brings the argument to an end. Both men apologize. After being questioned by city attorney Tom McAlvanah, Rutan admitted Monday he had not filed any formal complaints or taken any legal action in the months since the incident. So why now? City Manager Steve Spina thinks it is an election-time ploy to make him and his staff look bad. "I question his motives, complaining two weeks before municipal elections," Spina said. "It was just a shot at us, a way to erode trust in the administration. "I can assure you that nothing like that goes on here. It's just a bunch of garbage."
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