Flagler Estates Concerned Citizens, Inc.

By Bob Henderson
Staff Writer
GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The simmering pot of dissatisfaction with Green Cove
Springs City Manager Don Bowles on the part of two City Council members
boiled over Tuesday, Oct. 7.
In a tag team attack that went on for more than an hour, Council member John
Buchanan and Mayor Mike Kelter created a scenario that could end only in an
investigation of Bowles or his resignation.
The City Council meeting opened uneventfully enough with, among others, a
Cub Scout pack from Fleming Island leading the Pledge of Allegiance, bond
counsel Robert Freeman discussing financing of infrastructure improvements
for water and sewer utility and electric utility improvements and leasing of
City property on U. S. 17 for a condominium developer's use for a mobile
sales office.
At that point, Buchanan asked that an agenda item be taken out of order
because, "...It will take a little time and I don't want people to get tired
and go home." Buchanan apologized and said that, though he did not have
prepared notes, it should take no more than five minutes. It took more than
an hour.
Buchanan began by saying he had expenditure issues with Spring Park
improvements. He harked back to city manager contract discussion two weeks
earlier and spoke of "auditor's deficiencies" regarding other projects. "I
just want to make sure the City is duly protected," Buchanan said.
Buchanan complained that it took two years to build a bathroom that should
have been a three-month project. He complained that Bowles had spent
$200,000 that he had not been authorized to spend. He complained that Bowles
had not filed timely reports to the state regarding grant expenditures.
"The city manager just doesn't care what we (the Council) vote on," Buchanan
said.
At that point, Kelter spoke up. "This echoes my comments regarding
Walgreens," he said. "The City Manager can't spend a dime the Council
doesn't appropriate."
Bowles rose to his own defense. "There is no intention on my part to spend
city money for personal gain," he said. He pointed to the many improvements
in Spring Park, Vera Francis Hall Park and the Hogans Gym. "I have used
funds that were legal to use to do what the City Council has instructed me
to do," he said.
Council member Debbie Ricks intervened, "How can anyone do a project like
this if he has to go back and get authorization for every $15,000?"
"At no time did Don say there would be an overrun," Buchanan said.
Responding to a charge made by Buchanan that Bowles' actions were
jeopardizing the City's ability to attract grants, Council member Bob Page
retorted, "We're not being penalized for anything the City Manager has done.
We're beating him over the head with an auditor's report."
"If we want to proceed in this matter, Page said, "Council members should
write out a list of complaints and we'll proceed from there."
"I took an oath to obey the law," Kelter said. He noted that the bathroom
project had cost 56 percent more than had been authorized and said, "Don,
you don't spend money unless the City Council authorizes it. I'm not in
favor of spending $201 per square foot to build a damn outhouse. I'm beside
myself what to do with you."
"I can't handle this," Vice Mayor Felecia Hampshire said, "I move that the
city manager and City Attorney (Jim Arnold) get attorneys to select an
outside attorney for an investigation." Buchanan quickly seconded the
motion.
The question was called and passed 4-1 with Ricks voting no.
After the vote, Buchanan told Bowles, "We've had 16 audit comments regarding
purchasing procedures. We disagree with your management style of handling
money; I do, Mr. Kelter does and the auditors do." Buchanan moved that the
city attorney be instructed to secure project books and purchase order books
that evening and retain them for the independent counsel. He also moved that
the independent counsel be authorized to interview City employees without
the Manager present.
Bowles told the Council, "There have been a lot of false accusations made
tonight by Mr. Kelter and Mr. Buchanan; I hope you can defend your
statements. This has been very serious tonight."
Later, when discussion had turned to other matters and the Council was
preparing to let the city manager use his own judgment as to whether or not
to get an environmental audit on a proposed purchase of land, Arnold told
them, "In light of tonight's discussion, you really ought to give the
manager specific instructions."
bhenderson@jcpgroup.com
Mike Kelter
October 10th 2008 - 5:23AM
Good article, Bob. You provided balanced coverage. Allow me to provide one
clarification: The City Manager was given authorization to spend $150,000 on
the project. By his own e-mail to the Council (four months after the fact)
he spent $226,308.86, which is $76,308.86 more than the amounts authorized
by City Council. When you have a budget using taxpayer money, you stick with that budget. Frankly, I am not sure where the City is going to get
$76,308.86 to make up the difference. Tuesday night was not a good night for
the City's reputation. However, sometimes good things arise from the ashes
of a bad situation. Yesterday, the City's finance director issued a
memorandum outlining very stringent purchasing guideline that might help to
prevent re-occurrence of this sort of misappropriation.