Provided below are news brief from the June 8, 2022 Tallahassee City Commission meeting.
–The City Commissioners heard a report on the city’s annual audit report for the 2021 fiscal year. The audit was completed by MSL, P.A., an external auditor. The audit’s result was an “Unmodified Opinion,” the highest opinion that auditors can express regarding an organization’s financial statements.
–The city reappointed Agustin Corbella to the Downtown Improvement Authority. The primary function of the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority is to preserve property values and prevent deterioration in the downtown area through a system of self-help.
–David Reid was appointed by the city commission to fill a vacant seat on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee serves in the advisory capacity to the City Commission and the Auditing Department on issues presented to the committee relating to the oversight or audit activities of the City of Tallahassee.
–The city approved the appointment of Zachariah White to the Joint City/County Bicycling Workgroup. The Workgroup functions as an ad hoc focus group that provides collective input to staff regarding proposed cycling-related projects, improvements, events, and ordinances of community interest and for the betterment of the Tallahassee- Leon County community.
–Elected officials heard a presentation on the status of the nomination of Jake Gaither Golf Course for the National Register of Historic Places. The Florida National Register Review Board approved the golf course, and now the nomination proposal will be transmitted to Washington, D.C, for national-level review.
–The city commission unanimously approved the adoption of the Community Human Services Funding Policy. Under the proposed policy, funding requests from human service providers would no longer be accepted outside of the formal CHSP and Bridge-to-CHSP processes.
–In a 5-0 vote, the commissioners approved the recommendations by city staff for the Lobbyist Registration Ordinance Amendments, however, excluding a $25 lobbyist registration fee.
Commission Jack Porter then motioned for an agenda item to come back before the commission to discuss what other cities are charging lobbyists for registration fees. Her concern was that a high cost might discourage lobbyists from registering.
–Lastly, during the “sharing of Ideas” portion of the meeting, Porter accused the city manager of cronyism while criticizing the recent hiring of Thomas Whitley, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, as the Director of Strategic Innovation. She went on to say that the position oversees the execution of the city’s strategic plan, and it is a critical position.
Porter condemned the city manager for hiring someone who has “no formal experience and no formal training.” “This reeks of cronyism,” Porter said, “it’s a slap in the face to the city employees who have worked for decades to achieve this kind of raise and promotion.”
Tallahassee City Commission Meeting Briefs: June 8, 2022 added by Lynsey Kirk on
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@ Hope = I was thinking the same thing about Matlow being in a Tee Shirt in that Photo. It is as if he wasn’t told about the Meeting until the very last minute and he had to drop what he was doing and rushed over.
You don’t need a Suite & Tie to get the Job Done and you don’t wear a Suite and Tie to plow a Garden unless it’s just a Photo Op.
Pot knows the Kettle real well. Porter knows cronyism:
– breaks city already slack HR rules to hire her friend as an aide;
– the aide passes her security badge around to their other friends they calls “interns”;
– hires a new friend with no work experience.
This was a budget “Workshop” meeting that took place in a public facility on Pasco Street I believe. This meeting was not in City Hall and this workshop meeting was more informal.
All of our city officials dress very professionally and nice. The most recent City Commission meeting that is playing on WCOT is a meeting in May that is in City Hall where Jeremy Matlow is in a full suit and tie.
Again, all of our city officials when at a public meeting are dressed impeccably and in good taste.
Commonsense’s words of wisdom and kindness are words I will never forget as they go far beyond common sense. A treasure to read.
Does anyone know where the above picture was taken? It doesn’t appear to be in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall?
Is this the actual picture from the June 8th meeting or from a workshop at another off site location?
A person’s physical appearance is not as important as what they contribute to the effort, organization or, in this case, help to improve the quality of life in Tallahassee.
Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, often appears dressed as if he didn’t have a dime. Albert Einstein often looked like he just got out of bed but made life-changing contributions to mankind. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, usually appeared in a tee-shirt.
In contrast to Matlow, Mayor Dailey attends the meetings in his tie and jacket and rambles on without really saying anything that makes a positive contribution to the meetings.
The old adage applies here: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
I agree somewhat with Snidely. You dress appropriately for every situation. Wearing a t-shirt is not a fitting shirt for a City Commissioner at a meeting.
As for Hope’s comments on this matter, I do not care where he came from. He knew he had the meeting. He should have been better prepared. If I go to work in a t-shirt that is not the dress code, I will be punished.
Could it be that Commissioner Jeremy Matlow was working at his business; a place that he privately owns that he pays taxes, contributes to the revenues, pays insurance?
Could it be Commissioner Matlow was at a prior outing with one of his children or a family situation?
Could it be that Commissioner Matlow was volunteering somewhere prior to this meeting?
A comfortable t-shirt, it’s probably better than a tie tied so tightly that it cuts off circulation to the brain where you mis-spend taxpayers money in the millions of dollars which is becoming quite a pattern.
Loosen your tie, Snidely.
@Snidely, you are absolutely right. Google “Andrew Yang no tie” and see the stir Andrew Yang caused when he did not wear a tie to the Democrat debate for the nomination he did not receive.
Wait a minute, hold the phone, stop the press. Lets get past the fluff and cast our eyes upon what everybody is sleeping on.
Scroll up way up to the top of the page. OK now you are looking right at it but you dont know yet what your eyes are seeing.
Let me preach on it:
Matlow – Jeremy Matlow – unprofessional T – Shirt Boy. Dont think it makes a difference? You are just wrong. #ell yeah it makes a difference. From what little you can see of the audience which I am assuming are the good citizens of Tallahassee – they are all professionally dressed.
Yes I dont care what anybody says it matters.
Look again: What you are looking at is a grown man worth around $2 Million who choose to disrespect the entire City by showing up to discuss THE PEOPLE OF TALLAHASSEE’s BUSINESS dressed as a petulant little boy. Whether you know or dont know, agree or not, care or dont care YOU have been disrespected by this man child. Son you were raised better – your disrespect is like throwing manure on your own Mom and Dad.
Nope…
The press release from the city is not reporting.
When you address the following that would be considered reporting…
… would be interesting for staff to report the day the job was posted BY HR at the city, the date the position closed for applications, how many applied, the names of the people who applied, and the qualifications of each of the applicants such as their educational backgrounds.
There has been no reporting on the lawsuit that Commissioner Jeremy Matlow has filed for more Blueprint transparency.
There has been no reporting on the controversial push-polls by Bellamy and Dailey.
There has been no reporting on the Scott Maddox prison location move…
Staff,
I looked on the article for April 25th and I did not see where TR reported the City of Tallahassee posted that position.
It would be interesting for staff to report the day the job was posted at the city, the date the position closed for applications, how many applied, the names of the people who applied, and the qualifications of each of the applicants such as their educational backgrounds.
There has been no reporting on the lawsuit that Commissioner Jeremy Matlow has filed for more Blueprint transparency.
There has been no reporting on the controversial push-polls by Bellamy and Dailey.
I don’t remember seeing any TR reporting on Dailey has the City of Tallahassee budget in a deficit situation for 2023.
From the story:
Thomas Whitley, who was the Chief of Staff to Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey, has taken a new job with the City of Tallahassee.
Whitely recently accepted a position as the Director of Strategic Innovation. The position became vacant during the recent city reorganization.
Christian Doolin, who joined the City in 2016, was the city’s first Director of Strategic Innovation. He is now the Assistant City Manager responsible for the areas of Financial Services, Grants and Enterprise Resources, Procurement, Resource Management, Strategic Innovation and Technology and Innovation. His salary increased from $137,773 to $199,500.
Whitley’s starting salary in the new position is approximately $130,000. He was making $94,000 as Mayor Dailey’s Chief of Staff.
The job was posted on April 25, 2022.
Let me be the first to tell you that it is only a matter of time before your property taxes increase due to high fuel prices. Some Georgia counties have already done this.
Frank,
I can read whatever I want wherever I want and by whomever I want if you don’t like it go take a flying flip.
TR is equivocating on the reporting regarding the City and John Dailey and that is a fact.
Hope, As I have said before,TR reports facts…not opinion. If you want opinion, go read an editorial page.
Barb,
Thank you for that information.
TR did not report in the article that they posted this week that the job was advertised.
From the article: “The job was posted on April 25, 2022.”
OK, SO, The commissioners approved the recommendations by city staff for the Lobbyist Registration Ordinance Amendments, however, EXCLUDING a $25 lobbyist registration fee, BECAUSE, your concern was that a high cost might discourage lobbyists from registering? They can’t AFFORD $25? I would charge them a fee of $500 and punish the hell out them if they didn’t Register. If they can’t afford the $500 Fee then, they shouldn’t be a Lobbyist.
“The job was posted on April 25, 2022.”
TR article June 8, 2022
TR’s reporting of the Thomas Whitley promotion was fluff, in my opinion.
TR did not report on who the other candidates were and their backgrounds. No reporting on was this position advertised? It is obvious that Mr Whitley’s background does not coincide with the qualifications needed for this job.
TR did not report that the city has a deficit in their budget; it was reported in the Tallahassee Democrat that the city has a deficit in their budget.
To add insult to injury when reading this fluff piece we had to endure the PR photo of Mayor Dailey advertising for his re-election campaign. His slogan “leadership you can trust.”
Where is TR editorial on the lack of accountability and unwillingness by the city manager and mayor to be held accountable for this obvious display of cronyism?