Caragiulo's proposal snubbed

Sarasota City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo’s proposal to place a charter amendment on the November ballot that would create an elected mayor form of government was snubbed by the majority of the commission Monday, July 18, at City Hall.

The 25 people in attendance who had signed up to speak and who sat through a meeting that dragged on past 10 p.m. didn’t even get time at the podium. Instead, by a 3-2 vote the commission approved Commissioner Terry Turner’s motion to table the item until the commission’s Aug. 20 meeting. Tabling the item effectively killed the public’s right to speak on the matter until then.

The motion dealt a major blow to Caragiulo’s proposal making the Nov. 6 ballot: Two readings and public hearings for the proposal need to be held in August to make that happen. But the commission only meets once in August. It’s likely the proposal could make the March ballot, if it’s approved at all.

Turner, who earlier in the night voiced support for a “strong city manager” charter amendment, which commissioners unanimously agreed to add to the November ballot, said he only had “a process and procedural problem” with Caragiulo’s proposal.

Turner has previously expressed concern with commissioners presenting items to City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini’s Office for commission meetings too late for commissioners to review them before the meeting.

Agenda items are expected to be given to the auditor and clerk’s office typically no later than Wednesday, with some additional items usually making the agenda Thursday or Friday for Monday’s meeting.

But Caragiulo’s proposal was added to the agenda Monday morning.

“I didn’t get this to review until 1 p.m. today,” Turner said Monday night. “I can’t make an informed decision on this. I need some time to read the document, and citizens need some time to read the document.”

Turner told the Sarasota Observer his motive was strictly a procedural one and it had nothing to do with blocking a competing charter amendment from making the November ballot.

“To present such a concept with a 36-page document four hours before the meeting is unacceptable,” Turner said.

In the same breath, though, Turner said he’s “unequivocally opposed to an elected mayor form of government and it’s the wrong solution for Sarasota.”

Vice Mayor Willie Shaw and Commissioner Shannon Snyder voted to support Turner’s motion, tabling the discussion until late August.

Both Shaw and Snyder told the Sarasota Observer their reason for doing so was because they didn’t have enough time to review Caragiulo’s proposal, as well.

Snyder, who earlier in the day voted in favor of a motion to add the strong city manager charter amendment to the ballot, even though he voiced strong displeasure with it, said there’s a reasoning behind his votes.

“The first charter amendment (city manager) is a terrible proposal, but I was required by the charter to place it on the ballot because the procedure was followed correctly and there were enough signatures to add it to the ballot,” Snyder said. “The second charter amendment (mayoral) may be a good proposal for us as commissioners to consider, but there’s no question it was rushed. This community likes to chew on everything for a bit, and you can’t rush something people need to sit and digest.”

Caragiulo’s amendment calls for a mayor to be elected citywide and become the chief executive of the city. The mayoral position, if approved, would be in charge of the city’s budget, would not be a member of the commission and would have no vote, except for veto power.

Caragiulo said Monday night a strong mayor form of government would “make our government more legitimate, provide for checks and balances and harvest a local candidate who’s truly an exceptional person for the job.”

On Tuesday, Caragiulo said his proposal “is not going to go away” and he plans on continuing to move it forward. “It’s in the best interest of this community to do so,” Caragiulo said.

Another thing that is not going to go away: discussion about the process that unfolded Monday night.
Three people who felt the public should have had the opportunity to speak Monday night instead addressed the commission Wednesday afternoon during the public comments of a special budget meeting.

Diana Hamilton, who ran last year for the commission, warned commissioners of “the harm that can be done when we place form over the substance of what needs to be spoken and what needs to be said.”

Ian Black said that he sat for four-and-a-half hours Monday night, hoping to speak about an issue that he has been passionate about for many years.

“It sent the message to me that this commission is closed and does not have an open mind,” he said.

Richard Dorfman, a candidate for one of two at-large seats currently held by Turner and Mayor Suzanne Atwell, had stinging words for the process by which Turner’s amendment made the ballot, describing it as “repugnant” and “shaming.”

“Something doesn’t feel right to me when an elected official can use his own money to affect the political process of this city,” he said.

“What makes it even worse is this from an elected official whose favorite strapline for the years has been, ‘I can’t tell you what my vote is going to be until I listen to the people,’” he said.

Commissioners did not discuss the amendments or Monday night’s meeting before the Wednesday meeting was adjourned.