Does the governor of the fourth largest state in the nation have time for such pettiness?

COMMENTARY

“O’Bryan’s letter is yet another example of just how determined the County Commission is to solicit help from Tallahassee in its effort to force Vero Beach to hand its electric utility over to Florida Power & Light.”

“Given Heran’s close association with FPL and with County Commissioner Bob Solari, it is difficult, if not impossible, to believe FPL does not have a hand in encouraging the County Commissions’ actions.”

MARK SCHUMANN

Acting on a complaint from Commissioner Tim Zorc, Indian River County Commission Chairman Peter O’Bryan wrote Florida Municipal Power Agency General Manager Nicholas Guarriello a scolding letter.  Essentially, O’Bryan accused the FMPA of circumventing and frustrating the Sunshine Law.  O’Bryan went so far as to suggest the FMPA board could be subject to “appropriate legal action.” O’Bryan copied Gov. Rick Scott on his July 15 letter to Guarriello.

Zorc leveled his complaint during a County Commission meeting, after accompanying Vero Beach City Councilwoman Pilar Turner to a number of FMPA board meetings. Zorc told his fellow commissioners that by discussing at its board meetings subjects not listed on the agenda, the FMPA is failing to comply with the letter and the spirit of the Florida Sunshine Law. (Ironically, Zorc participated in forming a private group, Save The Indian River Lagoon Estuary Now, precisely so the group could work unencumbered by the Sunshine Law.)

Before O’Bryan’s letter was written and sent, FMPA Assistant General Manager Mark McCain explained the subject of the proposed Florida Power & Light/Vero Beach transaction usually comes up in FMPA board meetings under “General Manager’s Matters,” or “Member Matters.” McCain said that if and when the FMPA board ever considers the FPL/Vero Beach sale as an item requiring board action, the matter will appear separately on the agenda.

In response to O’Bryan’s letter, Guarriello wrote, “I am satisfied, having discussed this matter with FMPA’s General Counsel and relying on the research memorandum from the office of the FMPA’s General Counsel, that FMPA has in all respects complied with the Sunshine Law for the meetings of the Board of Directors and Executive COmmittee that you referenced.”

O’Bryan’s letter is yet another example of just how determined the County Commission is to solicit help from Tallahassee in its effort to force Vero Beach to hand its electric utility over to Florida Power & Light.

Last year, the Commission approved spending $100,000 to hire a Tallahassee lobbying firm that also works for FPL. E-mail correspondence, now public record, confirm the Ballard Partners was vetted and recommended to the Commission by utility activist, Glenn Heran.  Heran has headed up two FPL-funded campaigns, one to push for voter approval of an asset purchase and sale agreement and a second to secure Tracy Carroll’s re-election to the Vero Beach City Council.  Given Heran’s close association with FPL and with County Commissioner Bob Solari, it is difficult, if not impossible, to believe FPL does not have a hand in encouraging the County Commissions’ actions.