MARK SCHUMANN
More than a few sparks flew during last night’s City Council meeting, when civic activist, Charlie Wilson, accused Mayor Richard Winger of unilaterally pulling an item from the agenda, and for asking retired bond attorney, George Christopher, to join Winger, City Manager Jim O’Connor and City Attorney Wayne Coment for a meeting April 2 with representatives of the Florida Municipal Power Agency.
According to Winger, Christopher, a new appointee to the Utilities Commission and a retired attorney, has, as a private citizen, advised him on legal issues regarding the sale of the electric system. Though Wilson accused Winger of “secretly” inviting Christopher to participate in the April 2 meeting to be held in Orlando, it was clear from an exchange between Winger and Florida Power & Light External Affairs Manger Amy Brunjes that Brunjes was aware Christopher would be participating in the discussions.
With a red face and a raised voice, Wilson said, “The point is that you did secretly invite him. You took it off the agenda, and you secretly invited a private citizen who has no business being there, to go with you. And you’re trying to tell me that you all are not trying to kill this sale. How dare you!”
In accusing Winger of withholding from the agenda consideration of the proposed $26 million surcharge, Wilson said, “I want to be very careful, because I want to do this respectfully, and I want to do this non-belligerently, but the question I asked before about the changes in the agenda, the answer that you gave me is absolutely, positively inaccurate…I don’t think Mrs. Vock did this on her own. She was ordered to do this by somebody. The fact is what you just told all the people in this audience and all the people watching on that television is absolutely, positively false.”
Email correspondence (presented below) between City Clerk Tammy Vock and Brunjes confirms that Brunjes did, in fact, ask that the motion to endorse the proposed $26 million surcharge, which was tabled at the March 4 meeting, not be placed on the agenda for the March 18 Council meeting.
Civic activist, Charlie Wilson, addressed the City Council March 18, accusing Mayor Richard Winger of “overstepping his bounds” and of trying to “kill the sale” of Vero Electric.
Indian River Guardian 
Sounds like someone needs to calm down a little. If the “sell no matter what it costs” crowd would let things happen in a sensible order, this sale might actually become a reality. It may also bring with it higher property taxes, those pesky franchise fees and a $26 million (interest free) loan from FPL we’ll have to pay off…..and who knows what else further down the road? What, me worry? But don’t anyone serve up anymore of this garbage we’ve gotten for the past several years. Save your breath. We’re watching…..studying….waiting…..and speaking out when needed.
If this encounter had been by Brian Heady instead of Charlie Wilson, and if Tracy Carroll had been on the dais at this time…..Well, we would have witnessed the police carting off the red faced, belligerent Wilson. Mayor Winger would have been within his rights to have shut down this horrible behavior by Mr. Wilson and in fact that is what he should have done.
It is a shame Charlie Wilson acted the way he did at last nights council meeting.. He lost his composure and was definately “out of order” with his tyranical behavior. I guess he can not accept the fact that he no longer controls our city council. Mayor Winger showed his patience and tolerance in the face of Mr Wilson’s tirade. Above all he is a gentleman ,a far cry from Mr Wilson”s behavior.