County reworking gift rules

Florida Keys News

Thursday, March 18, 2010

County reworking gift rules

Commissioners ask legal staff to work on new exemptions

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

The Monroe County Commission told its legal staff Wednesday to tweak county personnel policies to allow the county attorney and county administrator to accept lunches, dinners, admission to community events or other goods or services worth less than $100 each.

Currently, state law allows county commissioners and other elected officials to accept gifts and meals up to $100...

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Very disappointing...

Submitted on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 3:59pm by Nickname

... that the BOCC voted to RELAX ethics rules. The excuse is that they wanted to make the rules for the county administrator and county attorney consistent with rules for the commissioners. How about no free meals for ANY of them? On their salaries (yes, including the commissioners), I believe they could afford to pay for meals.

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These commissioners wanted the job so they should be paying

Submitted on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 4:10pm by *.*

for their meals, etc. just like anyone else. They knew this was part of the job when they ran for the positions. There are people (luckily the one I have in mind wasn't elected) who can be easily swayed if you throw food his way.

Ward, we support you on this!

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Listening to the pro gift commissioners at the last meeting

Submitted on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 2:38pm by tee hee hee

I think they missed the boat. They are arguing that if they go to a gathering and eat a hamburger then they would be in violation. Whereas Dennis Ward is just trying to peal away the sleazy gift giving special interests developers and rich ocean reef hacks from seducing George, Mario, and Sylvia with white castles into voting their way. Ones side is worried about their stomachs and Ward is worried about our wallets! Go figure! The new gang of three has arisen.

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Seems the ones

Submitted on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 7:41am by Fairvalues

you voted for are not only enjoying the free meals, but want to legalize them so they won't be seen as doing something wrong like the Commissioners they outed.

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Animal Farm

Submitted on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 9:47am by nickname

All animals are equal.....except, some animals are more equal than others....

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Dennis Ward

Submitted on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 9:46am by nickname

We support you 100% on this one. Signed, taxpayer and citizens not related or beholden in some way to politicians in power. TCNRBPP

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County Commissioners Meeting

Submitted on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 5:29am by just ask me

I watched part of the BOCC meeting Wednesday and notice 2 things I would like to comment on. Mario appears to have had a heart transplant as he is actually acting like a human being with feelings. Sylvia, on the other hand, must have a burr under her saddle as she tried to ram a "no parking" restriction thru on a 2 home deadend street. The other commissioners looked lose during the discussion and wanted to change it back, but Murphy with her high heeled spurs, said no, the table won until the county spends time and money to investigate after the Fire Chief said parking wasn't a problem. Maybe Mario traded hearts with Murphy.

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There is an election coming.

Submitted on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 4:12pm by Ed

There is an election coming. Mario has not changed at all. Remember his votes and records, not his new personality. Yes, to changing the rules for McPherson so he could miss most meetings, yes to the developers requests for Safe Harbor, yes for any and every development plan ever requested.