Is truth as subjective as Wilson makes it out to be?

COMMENTARY

MARK SCHUMANN

Penny Chandler, President of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, went before the Vero Beach City Council April 1 urging the Council to “endorse without delay” a proposal by Florida Power & Light to assess a surcharge of up to $26 million on the customers of Vero Electric to help cover FPL’s the cost of buying the system. In a carefully worded statement, Chandler put it a little differently, describing the net result of a surcharge as “an immediate discount.”

The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce took no position, though, on who should pay other costs yet to be calculated, such as the price of covering Vero Beach’s contingent liabilities. Chandler’s statement also did not address other hurdles the sale faces, such as negotiations over the date when Vero Beach will be able to withdraw from the All Requirement’s Project. In urging the Council to “approve without delay” FPL’s latest proposal, Chandler also made no mention of the fact that FPL Vice President of External Affairs, Amy Brunjes, is a member of the Chamber’s board of directors.

Charlie Wilson, founding chairman of the new Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce, soon followed Chandler at the podium. Wilson quickly threw a jab at his counterpart. “I am even more pleased that they have finally joined us after all these years of being silent, to urge the City Council to work towards the sale of Vero Electric,” Wilson said.

Contrary to Wilson’s criticism, the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce board of directors has consistently and publicly supported the sale. In fact, the Chamber has weighed in on the power sale on at least two earlier occasions, urging passage of the September 2011 and the March 2013 referendums.

Wilson then went on to offer a new definition of success. Having missed by 24 percent his goal of recruiting 100 members by March 31 for his new Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce, Wilson told the Council he was stepping aside as the organizational president, “after a successful launch.”

Wilson also announced that his new chamber of commerce had managed to recruit a executive director, “which we will introduce at our next meeting,” he said. Press Journal columnist, Russ Lemmon, reported Sunday that the new executive director of Wilson’s chamber of commerce, Susan Haller, resigned on her third day on the job.

It will be interesting to see if Wilson’s new chamber will make public its membership roster. Will Wilson exercise the same level of transparency he urges of government officials, or does he plan on running his new chamber of commerce more like a secret society?

Wilson went on to accuse the Indian River Neighborhood Association of opposing the sale. The IRNA has never taken a position against the sale. IRNA member Herb Whittall came forward to correct Wilson.

One comment

Yesterday my husband and I watched a tape of an April meeting of the COVB, One citizen who went to the podium was Mrs. Moulton who correctly told the elected officials that they should not allow the antics of Charlie Wilson to become the norm. She said something to the effect that it served noi useful purpose for the residents of our community to have Charlie Wilson storm out of a meeting just because someone did not agree with his position on any issue.

In what could be best described as a “plea” she asked all of the COVB leadership to work to restore civility to any discussion of the iossues. My husband and I were cheering by the end of Mrs. Moulton’s time at the podium. No resident of Indian River County should have to witness the childish behavior of any citizen whether they are elected officials or not. COVB meetings should not be just another forum for Charlie Wilson’s performance art. The issues are far too important to have one citizen waste the time of so many people in the community.

One side effect of not addressing the inappropriate behavior of Charlie Wilson is that it makes it more difficult for other citizens with talents to give to the community more reluctant to be a participant in improving Indian River County.