Monroe County State Lawyer Dennis Ward’s Workplace is constant to look into the occasions which led to former Islamorada Village Supervisor Rob Cole’s resignation and the village council’s subsequent approval of a severance package deal.
Particularly, the state legal professional is investigating whether or not a sunshine legislation violation occurred over the Cole matter. Subpoenas had been issued for telephone information and emails amongst council members and village officers. Sunshine legal guidelines require that officers conduct enterprise at scheduled conferences and never by session out of public view.
“I bought higher issues to do than take care of these elected officers,” Ward informed Keys Weekly. “You’d determine they’d know higher.”
Ward’s workplace started requesting communications and different information shortly after the Jan. 7 council assembly, when Cole tendered his resignation and council members permitted a severance package deal by way of 4-1 vote. The matter was initially on the consent agenda, that means the merchandise wasn’t going to see public dialogue or enable for public remark. Councilman Steve Friedman, who elected to drag the Cole matter off the consent agenda, tried to supply the general public some info.
Friedman stated he was initially referred to as by Village Lawyer John Fast on Dec. 18 relating to an worker’s criticism towards Cole. He additionally stated Fast was “conducting a ballot” of the council to see in the event that they supported a severance package deal in return for his resignation. Friedman stated Fast informed him that he was the final council member and that his vote towards severing ties with Cole was “within the minority.”
Fast appeared visibly upset as Friedman spoke, to the purpose the place he interrupted Friedman’s remarks by stating that he by no means polled any council members in relation to the matter.
“Council member Friedman, you particularly requested me to let you know what every of the opposite council members informed me, and I informed you I can not do this as a result of that may violate Sunshine,” Fast stated. “There isn’t a polling occurring. I have no idea what the aim of this assertion is.”
Friedman stated he was making an attempt to determine who on the council got here up with the concept for severance “out of the blue.” Different council members stated they both didn’t know or didn’t provide you with the association.
A piece of the separation settlement states the village, its elected officers and brokers can not publish, request or trigger one other to make or publish any assertion, verbal or in writing, that’s defamatory or disparaging of Cole. In addition they can’t intrude with him acquiring new employment. Cole additionally agreed he wouldn’t publish any assertion that defames or disparages the village, its workers and council members.
Ward stated no prices have been filed towards any official because the investigation continues.
“If we’re in a position to show it was a public conferences violation or a Sunshine legislation violation, we’ll see,” he stated.
Along with the investigation in Islamorada, Ward’s workplace has hung out investigating a matter in Key West. Final August, Ward’s workplace subpoenaed cellphone and e mail information for all six Key West metropolis commissioners and the mayor, in addition to for metropolis legal professional Ron Ramsingh and his brother, Raj Ramsingh, who’s the town’s chief constructing official. The subpoenas got here simply 5 days earlier than a particular metropolis fee assembly to mull the rehiring of fired metropolis supervisor Al Childress, who was ousted in late June by 4 commissioners. Ward’s subpoenas additionally adopted on the heels of a advisor report that questioned some actions of the chief constructing official in approving sure constructing permits.