Acting mayor faces inquiry

The ex-building official's letter of resignation alleges meddling by Bob Leggiere.

By MATTHEW WAITE

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2000

PORT RICHEY -- Police Chief William Downs is investigating an accusation that acting Mayor Bob Leggiere interfered with a building official's duties, causing the official to resign last month.

Downs would not reveal to the Times any information about the investigation other than to say that it was continuing and that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement had been contacted.

"We are conducting an investigation into the matter as to why the building official has resigned," Downs said Monday. He refused to comment who the target of the investigation was, or if it was a criminal matter.

In his resignation letter, former Building Official Greg Schneider had written that he resigned two weeks into his job because of inadequate staffing and support, as well as "direct contact from Vice-Mayor Robert Leggiere who interfered and undermined my authority and ability to perform the duties and functions as Building Official within the Building Division."

Attempts to reach Leggiere failed Monday. Messages left at his home were not returned, the phone at his business was not answered, and his cellular phone was turned off.

Schneider came in among some fanfare in the city, because he was hired with two others to fill a nearly empty building department. City Manager Vince Lupo introduced Schneider, Plans Inspector Anthony Mastracchio and Code Enforcement Officer Lou Barber at the May 23 council meeting to applause.

Mastracchio handed in his resignation on June 15, saying he took a job with Pasco County. A day later, Schneider was gone.

Schneider on Monday told the Times he "had no further comment other than what is in my resignation letter." He said last week that speculation on his leaving for a higher paying job was wrong: He took a lower paying job with Pinellas Park than he had had in Port Richey.

Schneider's exit interview and resignation letter were given to Downs, who was acting city manager at the time because Lupo was on vacation. Schneider's resignation letter was placed in his personnel file.

FDLE officials in Brooksville said Monday that Downs had called them about Schneider's resignation.

"We don't have an open investigation," said Ray Velboom, the special agent supervisor for the Brooksville office.

Leggiere is the only candidate who has announced his desire to become Port Richey's next mayor. Former Mayor Eileen Ferdinand resigned two weeks ago to run for Pasco County Commission. Leggiere is finishing his second term in office.

Vince Lupo, the city manager, said he was unaware of an investigation but said "it's the chief's call" as to whether there should be one.

When Schneider came on, Lupo said, he gave his standard speech about the functions of the city manager and the council. He said he tells employees that if council members ask questions, they are to answer, but if they ask them to do things, they are to call Lupo.

When Schneider was there, Lupo said, he heard no complaints from his new building official. He also said that under the city charter, Leggiere couldn't affect how the building official does his job.

"That's not possible for someone to do that," Lupo said. "It does not occur. It cannot occur."

But this is not the first problem Port Richey has had with building officials.

Before Schneider, Rune Lero was on the job for three months. Lero was hired in January and quietly resigned in March.

Lero had replaced Ralph Zanello, now with the Hernando County Building Department. Zanello's seven-year stay in Port Richey was dotted with controversy.

In 1999, Zanello resigned to take the Hernando job shortly after City Council members had questioned his hiring relatives as city employees.

Zanello was criticized, but not disciplined, in 1994, when evidence linked him to an incorrect billing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for $1,740 worth of aquatic plants. In 1995, he was put on probation for 90 days after it was found he had violated his duty to be neutral by supporting a request from his friend, Joe Licari. The request was to rezone a residential lot on the bank of the Pithlachascotee River for commercial development that he lobbied city officials to approve.

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