I've been working with reform St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District Commission Sandra Flowers, holding our Port District accountable to the Rule of Law and fiscal responsibility laws. On September 17, 2019, I became the first person in nineteen (19) years to attend a budget meeting and ask questions. The Board lacks a welcoming spirit and almost passed the budget before allowing public comment
Since July, I've learned that"
The St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District Commission's Vice Chair, Realtor THOMAS J. RIVERS (born December 1, 1942), acted illegally September 17, 2019 (Constitution Day) when he forbade me to speak in public comment on matters voted on by the Commission before they were voted on.
Though several Board members wanted to hear my comments, THOMAS J. RIVERS arrogantly violated Florida's Sunshine Law and thereby rendered illegal their purported vote to allow St. Johns County to work under the Port's existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.
RIVERS also refused to provide answers ton any budget questions in the budget meeting, saying that answers to questions were not on the agenda.
During a break, I told THOMAS J. RIVERS that his attorney had given him bad legal advice. When I went to shake his hand, we fist-bumped because he broke his "pinky" in a fall at a University of Florida football game last week. RIVERS appeared hungover during the meeting, dazed, confused and barking commands, even gaveling Commissioner Flowers as she tried to speak her mind.
THOMAS J. RIVERS might as well have had a sign in front of him saying, "I'd rather be sailing." (In a text message, RIVERS stated that his middle initial, J., does not stand for Jefferson.)
When I was finally allowed public comment, Port District attorney JAMES BEDSOLE yelled, "Time's up. Time's up." Twice. Twice. How rude, gauche and louche.
Illegally-serving Port District Secretary-Treasurer ELYSE KEMPER whined in exasperation during the 5:05 pm budget meeting that it was the first time in nineteen years that anyone had spoken in public comment at a Port District budget meeting. (Is there martyrdom involved?)
During a break between two meetings, illogical, ill-mannered illegally-serving Port District attorney JAMEES BEDSOLE called me an "ass," as did KEMPER.
In July, ELYSE KEMPER illegally demanded $50/hour in advance for watching me look at documents, an illegal demand in violation of a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling.
During that break, an angry, enraged insolent, vulgar attorney JAMES BEDSOLE insulted Port District Commissioner Sandra Flowers and me, falsely and irrelevantly claiming that we were not taxpayers or property owners, I've asked for his files on Ms. Flowers and me.
KEMPER has never apologized.
BEDSOLE has never apologized.
Does being the Port District mean never having to say you're sorry?
It's time for them to go.
As Harry S Truman said, "If you can't stand, the heat, get out of the kitchen."
BEDSOLE has never had a retainer agreement or engagement letter with the District. KEMPER is an "independent contractor," illegally writing checks for a government agency that has not voted to rehire her in years.
The nongovernmental employee putative independent contractor has been repeatedly gigged by annual audits for years for conflicts of interest.
Those concerns fell on uncaring ears for years, when JOHN CARL BLOW and the late JERRY DIXON ran the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District as their personal fiefdom, as if it were theirs.
During the regular meeting, I called out RIVERS for his Sunshine violations and for his sexist, misognist behavior at every meeting toward Commissioner Sandra Flowers, the first woman. to serve on the District Board.
(No sign of Port District Chair BARRY BENJAMIN, who was absent without explanation. I've written previously about BENJAMIN's misrepresenting himself as a yacht broker (license expired after customer complaints) and a St. Johns County Code Enforcement inspector (no documents support this claim produced by County Attorney).
During the budget meeting at 5:05, RIVERS could not resist trying to pass a tax increase without hearing public comment. RIVERS' colleagues prevailed, and public comment was heard.
RIVERS was so out of it that he called for adjournment before the budget business was completed. Color this Trump-loving dull Republican clueless, as well as unconstitutional. What a louche lugubrious goober.
RIVERS wants to cut off discussion of possible fraud, waste, abuse, misfeasance, malfeasance, noneasance, flummery, dupery, nincompoopery, no-bid contracts, expired contracts, ultra vires acts, legal malpractice and domination of the district's business by engineering and. construction contractors.
COME QUESTION SA PORT DISTRICT PRIORITIES AT BUDGET MEETING QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED; October 3, 5:05 pm meeting of St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District
Contributions to support my work are gracefully accepted. www.gofundme.com/edslavin
Since July, I've learned that"
- SA Port District illegally spends money on flubdubs outside its jurisdiction and legal authority, including $197,xxx for dumping concrete in the ocean off Flagler County, calling it an "offshore reef.
- Port District won't answer questions about why there's no Port tax money for pumpout boat, dinghy docks or boat ramps.
- Port District has no staff, relying exclusively on government contractors.
- Port District, claiming to "save money," may be violating tax, labor and government accountability laws by hiring an alleged "independent contractor," ELYSE KEMPER, as "Secretary-Treasurer,: with no timesheets.
- Port District "independent contractor" Secretary Treasurer, writes checks to other contractors. drawing annual audit exceptions about conflict of interest, with no interest in the Board hiring a staff.
- Port District lawyer JAMES BEDSOLE has never had a contract or retainer agreement, billing tens of thousands of dollars since 2009, including charging to write the Board's minutes.
- Port District has not voted to reappoint Secretary-Treasurer or lawyer in several years, meaning they are serving illegally,
- Port District engineer contract expired in 2018.
- Port District lawyer, JAMES BEDSOLE is insolent, insulting Commissioner Flowers, saying during a break between two meetings September 17, 2019, "you don't pay property taxes."
- Port District lawyers JAMES BEDSOLE and Secretary-Treasurer ELYSE KEMPER have no records of any state open records or ethics or Sunshine training.
- Port District Chair and Vice Chair overrule Commissioner Flowers and citizens: they illegally forbids public comment on agenda items, cabining public comment to the end of the meeting, after decisions are made. This violates F.S. 119.0114(2).
- Port District has no plans for ocean level rise.
- Port District spent millions of dollars on Summer Haven River project without adequate oversight or inspections.
- Port District contractor, TURNBILL ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. under investigation by Florida Department of Environmental Protection for possible lawbreaking.
- Port District voted September 17, 2019 to allow St. Johns County to work "under" its U.S. Army Corps of Enginees permit, with no written resolution, no written request, and public comment forbidden, on a project to fill in an Atlantic Ocean breach that has happened three times before. St. Johns County Commissioners narrowly approved the work 3-2 (Commissioners Jeb Smith and James K. Johns dissenting).
- Our governments have spent millions of dollars, 2008-2019, mucking with the Summer Haven River, with no end in sight, and no environmental science peer review.
- Port District is steeped in a culture of secrecy and corruption, keeping the same engineering company for 29 years, without seeking bids.
- Port District charged $400 to Sandy Flowers to watch her read records, illegally, before she was elected Commissioner.
- Port District attempted to charge me $50/hour (in advance, by check) for illegally-serving Secretary
- Port District Chair Barry Benjamin has served as "liaison" to Guana-Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve since 2000 without annual appointments or reports to Commissioners on GTM-NERR work
- Port District Chair Barry Benjamin has served as "liaison" to Florida Inland Navigation District since 2000 without annual appointments or reports to Commissioners on FIND work.
The St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District Commission's Vice Chair, Realtor THOMAS J. RIVERS (born December 1, 1942), acted illegally September 17, 2019 (Constitution Day) when he forbade me to speak in public comment on matters voted on by the Commission before they were voted on.
Though several Board members wanted to hear my comments, THOMAS J. RIVERS arrogantly violated Florida's Sunshine Law and thereby rendered illegal their purported vote to allow St. Johns County to work under the Port's existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.
RIVERS also refused to provide answers ton any budget questions in the budget meeting, saying that answers to questions were not on the agenda.
During a break, I told THOMAS J. RIVERS that his attorney had given him bad legal advice. When I went to shake his hand, we fist-bumped because he broke his "pinky" in a fall at a University of Florida football game last week. RIVERS appeared hungover during the meeting, dazed, confused and barking commands, even gaveling Commissioner Flowers as she tried to speak her mind.
THOMAS J. RIVERS might as well have had a sign in front of him saying, "I'd rather be sailing." (In a text message, RIVERS stated that his middle initial, J., does not stand for Jefferson.)
When I was finally allowed public comment, Port District attorney JAMES BEDSOLE yelled, "Time's up. Time's up." Twice. Twice. How rude, gauche and louche.
Illegally-serving Port District Secretary-Treasurer ELYSE KEMPER whined in exasperation during the 5:05 pm budget meeting that it was the first time in nineteen years that anyone had spoken in public comment at a Port District budget meeting. (Is there martyrdom involved?)
During a break between two meetings, illogical, ill-mannered illegally-serving Port District attorney JAMEES BEDSOLE called me an "ass," as did KEMPER.
In July, ELYSE KEMPER illegally demanded $50/hour in advance for watching me look at documents, an illegal demand in violation of a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling.
During that break, an angry, enraged insolent, vulgar attorney JAMES BEDSOLE insulted Port District Commissioner Sandra Flowers and me, falsely and irrelevantly claiming that we were not taxpayers or property owners, I've asked for his files on Ms. Flowers and me.
KEMPER has never apologized.
BEDSOLE has never apologized.
Does being the Port District mean never having to say you're sorry?
It's time for them to go.
As Harry S Truman said, "If you can't stand, the heat, get out of the kitchen."
The nongovernmental employee putative independent contractor has been repeatedly gigged by annual audits for years for conflicts of interest.
Those concerns fell on uncaring ears for years, when JOHN CARL BLOW and the late JERRY DIXON ran the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District as their personal fiefdom, as if it were theirs.
During the regular meeting, I called out RIVERS for his Sunshine violations and for his sexist, misognist behavior at every meeting toward Commissioner Sandra Flowers, the first woman. to serve on the District Board.
(No sign of Port District Chair BARRY BENJAMIN, who was absent without explanation. I've written previously about BENJAMIN's misrepresenting himself as a yacht broker (license expired after customer complaints) and a St. Johns County Code Enforcement inspector (no documents support this claim produced by County Attorney).
During the budget meeting at 5:05, RIVERS could not resist trying to pass a tax increase without hearing public comment. RIVERS' colleagues prevailed, and public comment was heard.
RIVERS was so out of it that he called for adjournment before the budget business was completed. Color this Trump-loving dull Republican clueless, as well as unconstitutional. What a louche lugubrious goober.
RIVERS wants to cut off discussion of possible fraud, waste, abuse, misfeasance, malfeasance, noneasance, flummery, dupery, nincompoopery, no-bid contracts, expired contracts, ultra vires acts, legal malpractice and domination of the district's business by engineering and. construction contractors.
COME QUESTION SA PORT DISTRICT PRIORITIES AT BUDGET MEETING QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED; October 3, 5:05 pm meeting of St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District
Contributions to support my work are gracefully accepted. www.gofundme.com/edslavin