State Attorney Clears Lightsey’s Pension Calculation, Reveals New Twist with Deferred Compensation

State Attorney Clears Lightsey’s Pension Calculation, Reveals New Twist with Deferred Compensation

State Attorney Willie Meggs, after an investigation, concluded that the City of Tallahassee did not violate any law or ordinance related to pension calculations implemented after the 2005 controversial vote on deferred compensation. In a letter to local businessman Erwin Jackson, who asked for the review, a State Attorney investigator wrote: the City Commission’s decision […]

State Attorney Meggs Investigating Lightsey Pension Calculation

State Attorney Meggs Investigating Lightsey Pension Calculation

TR has learned that State Attorney Willie Meggs is investigating the pension payment calculation of former City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey. TR reported about the issue in March. Since then the City’s Independent Ethic’s Board took up a complaint but decided not to move forward because the complaint failed “to state a violation of the City’s Ethic […]

Lightsey Complaint Dismissed, Investigation Continues

Lightsey Complaint Dismissed, Investigation Continues

In a convoluted decision that is sure to keep the controversy surrounding the pension payments of former City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey alive, the City’s Independent Ethics Board dismissed a complaint filed by local businessman Erwin Jackson, but called for further investigation. The Ethics Officer, Julie Meadows-Keefe, recommended the compliant be dismissed “without investigation because it […]

City Ethics Board Investigates Lightsey Pension Payment

City Ethics Board Investigates Lightsey Pension Payment

TR has learned that the City of Tallahassee’s Independent Ethics Board has begun an investigation into the pension payments being made to former City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey. The Executive Director of the Ethics Board, Julie Meadows-Keefe, provides a status of complaints and investigations each month. This months report, which is part of the agenda to […]

City’s Ethics Advisory Panel Hears from Sandy D’Alemberte and Former City Commissioner Lightsey

City’s Ethics Advisory Panel Hears from Sandy D’Alemberte and Former City Commissioner Lightsey

During its ninth meeting, the City’s Ethics Panel heard testimony from Sandy D’Alemberte and Former City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey. The City’s Ethics Advisory Panel was created to review ethical standards at city hall. If the testimony of D’Alemberte and Lightsey carry any weight with the panel, current and future city commissioners should be prepared to […]

Corruption in Tallahassee? FBI to Decide.

Corruption in Tallahassee? FBI to Decide.

On September 15, 2010, Commissioners Ziffer, Lightsey, and Gillum joined forces with Mayor John Marks to approve the city’s participation in a $1.6 million federal grant with partners that included the Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE) and The Go Beyond Foundation.

After talking to sources, it has been determined that several documents have been turned over to the FBI because of concern about the relationship between Mayor John Marks and the vendors included in the grant application.

Did City Commissioners Violate City Charter With Compensation Vote?

The investigation and research into the April 13, 2005 vote by the City Commission, which resulted in an approximate increase of  $22,000 in City Commissioner compensation, continues to reveal new details and raise troubling questions. Tallahassee Reports has learned that the elected City Commissioners are the only city employees who receive employer paid deferred compensation. The benefit afforded […]

Data Request Provides More Info on City Benefits

A data request submitted by Tallahassee Reports, and quick turn-around from city officials, have led to detailed information on how the City Commissioners obtained an employer paid deferred compensation benefit on the order of $20,000 a year. This is what we know: The benefit was passed on April 13, 2005 by a 4-1 one vote. Those […]

City Commissioner Benefits Are More Than You Think!

A tip from a frequent reader of this site, followed by a public data request, has revealed interesting information about the benefits that Tallahassee City Commissioners receive for their public service. The salary of City Commissioners has been discussed in public for many years. Since the installation of the full-time Mayor position, the salary of the […]