BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
The Starke City Commission has refused to reimburse Commissioner Danny Nugent’s $300 legal bill after the abrupt end of a misconduct investigation.
In November, city and contract employees accused Nugent of verbally hostile and threatening behavior, which led to the city to appoint a committee to investigate the incident.
Hired to defend Nugent, attorney Dan Sikes convinced committee members Scott Roberts and Shannon Smith during their second meeting that the city had no rules regarding commissioner behavior and no process for disciplining them.
Their report back to the commission Jan. 4 made no recommendation for discipline. They instead recommended the city move forward with developing policies and procedures on commissioner behavior and discipline.
You can listen to the conversation above, including:
—Commissioner Wilbur Waters wanting to take the complaints to the Florida Commission on Ethics at 10:04.
—Nugent, Waters and other commissioners debate the complaints and the reason for the investigation 18:20. Waters tells Nugent he was the cause.
—Following the vote to pay the bills except for Nugent’s reimbursement, Mayor Janice Mortimer confronts Nugent about writing personal notes. Nugent admits Sikes has been listening in on the phone, and reads his note, which was, “Plan on suing the city.” This takes place at 28:54.
Note: Commissioner Shannon Smith could not vote because he was present by phone.
