Thursday, November 5, 2009

The ethically challenged have been put on notice. Jim Scholl and Dennis Ward are the (relatively) new sheriffs in town, and favoritism and public corruption are receiving more attention than they have in years.

We've all seen Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward's efforts to root out corruption in the public sector, but now we are seeing the emergence of his municipal counterpart, Key West City Manager Jim Scholl, who is showing no tolerance for special favors or privileges in city government.

Earlier in October, we learned that several former city commissioners and city employees apparently felt entitled to free parking for life -- for themselves and their families and friends -- and that fixing parking tickets seemed to more routine than the exception. Scholl immediately changed this by reducing the number of people who can forgive parking tickets to himself and one policeman. And he issued new redesigned parking permits, rendering all outstanding permits expired. Way to go, Mr. Manager.

Later in the same month, Transportation Director Myra Wittenberg was demoted to transportation manager -- though her job duties remain the same -- and her salary was reduced from $88,569 to $77,850. (As you may recall, Wittenberg was one of the two "special" employees who received an eleventh-hour $10,000 increase from former City Manager Julio Avael prior to Scholl taking over in 2007.)

At Wittenberg's request, city Public Works staff dropped their work on the Flagler Avenue improvement project to repair a low spot in the right of way in front of her ex-husband's house "because her grandchildren could not get in and out of the car without getting wet." A neighbor's complaint to City Commissioner Barry Gibson brought the issue to the attention of Assistant City Manager David Fernandez, and the improper work was revealed.

Wittenberg is appealing Scholl's decision to reduce her salary and change her job title. She is claiming that Fernandez holds a gender bias, and she should not have been handled so harshly.

We don't buy it. Inappropriate use of city resources is just that, and the disciplinary action against Wittenberg should stand.

If there are similar abuses by employees of any gender, then they, too, should be dealt with. If Scholl's record so far is any indication, we're confident they will.

-- The Citizen