From: Fldollfin@aol.com [mailto:Fldollfin@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 11:18 AM
To: spbcd3@yahoo.com
Cc: citymanager@stpetebeach.org
Subject: Thank you is not enough
Dear Commissioner Ruttencutter, Mayor, City Manager, City Attorney, and members of the St. Pete Beach Commission,
Commissioner Ruttencutter, to say Thank You is not enough to express our gratitude for your actions at the Feb. 13, 2007 Commission Meeting. You certainly did your homework! The others must not have as they seemed to think it was a joke on the people they represent with their jeering and laughing at your comments. Totally unprofessional but consider the source.
Yes, we agree, the audience comments are very important and they were effective as you proved, no matter if the time they took was one minute or longer. The Mayor's comments about your examples were Rude and Intimidating and the childish uncontrolled laughter and jeering from Commissioner Nicklaus and Commissioner Markoe was even more so. Commissioner Markoe said something to the effect that nonfactual information and mistruths are spoken by the audience at the beginning of the meeting and they are not allowed to respond. Commissioner Ruttencutter respectively reminded the Commission that the Mayor IS able to respond after the 20 minute time limit is up. With that, the Mayor quickly ended the discussion as it was taking to long. Excuse me? Why is it that every time someone says something the mayor does not agree with, you end the discussion but when someone says something you do agree with, you let them go on and on? I ask, is this still America?
The City Attorney said something to the effect that "other towns" do not take as long as our town for public comments. Maybe that is because they are not as angry as our residents evidently are. I believe it was the City Manager who said something to the effect that audience comments should be streamlined. Might we suggest he should start with himself as well as Commissioner Markoe, Nicklaus and the Mayor? After stating that, he went on and on and on and on to promote Corey Circle and Pennies For Pinellas which went on and on and on and then advertised early voting. Etc. and at 10:30 PM he is still going on and on and on and on!
The Mayor said something to the effect of wanting less time for comments and quality, not quantity. Well, that is what the residents want too but you have shown you do NOT care what they want and vote in favor of the developers. If your plans had been what the residents and voters wanted, these meetings would have all been short and sweet. The reason they go on and on and on is that you are trying to shove what we do not want down our throats!
The Mayor made a snide comment and went on about how many people watch the Commission meetings on TV and said he can't believe how many people watch. Really Ward? Are you that out of touch? This is what makes people get out of their chairs and come down to City Hall to voice their opinion, only to be shot down or shut down by you! You should be totally ashamed!
Hats off to you Commissioner Ruttencutter! You have what it takes and you have what the other's don't have and that is Respect, Manners and Class! The others don't have a clue.
Carol G.
Resident in Dist. 3 for 10 yrs. |
