COMMENTARY
“If the proposed contract changes, as outlined by Wright Monday, are the OUC’s best and final offer, then regardless of persistent and determined efforts by Stradley, Moss, Pilar Turner and other to derail a golden opportunity to lower electric rates, the City Council should move forward. Failure to do so would be a disservice to the customers of Vero Electric.”
MARK SCHUMANN
In a grueling, 4.5 hour joint meeting of the Utilites and Finance Commission meeting today, Scott Stradley and Laura Moss dragged their fellow commissioners into the thick of thin things.
Stradley and Moss repeatedly raise tangential objections to moving ahead with revisions to the City’s wholesale power agreement with the Orlando Utilities Commission. Stradley and Moss have both forgotten the importance of keeping the main thing the main thing.
Rather than working to lower rates for the customers of Vero Electric, they seem determined to keep rates high. And what is their objective? To revive public discontent in hopes of resurrecting the now dead sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light.
With an impressive measure of patience, utility counsel, Schef Wright, gracefully fielded every pointless point raised by Stradley and Moss today.
The Utilities Commission, it should be remembered, is an advisory body only. None of the members of the Commission were elected by the public, and none of them have been empowered to direct the City’s negotiations with the Orlando Utilities Commission. None the less, Wright will be taking Moss’ and Stradley’s additional suggestions and questions to the OUC this week. The Utilities and Finance Commissions will meet in joint session again Friday to receive a follow up report from Wright.
If the proposed contract changes, as outlined by Wright Monday, are the OUC’s best and final offer, then regardless of persistent and determined efforts by Stradley, Moss, Pilar Turner and others to derail a golden opportunity to lower electric rates, the City Council should move forward. Failure to do so would be a disservice to the customers of Vero Electric.
Indian River Guardian 
Laura Moss, following the Charlie Wilson script to a tee. She was literally reading his questions to Mr. Wright. The puppet strings were tight today.
This sounds to me like the Stradley – Moss collaboration probably came from a round tree discussion that likely took place at the Elks Club. Though I no longer live in the area I remember witnessing many of these Charlie Wilson led discussions over drinks at the Elks Club.
Bea, If Stradely and Moss collaborated in any way, either directly or through intermediaries, that would constitute a violation of the Sunshine Law. I don’t know about Moss, but I’ve got to believe Stradley is experienced enough to know better.
Mark, you give Stradely much too much credit than what he deserves on the issue of Sunshine laws. And, if push came to shove, he would deny any violation. Even if he were seen conferring with Wilson and Moss he would say they were talking about the weather.
Stradley and Moss can easily deny conversations they may have had. However, if they refuse to provide email or other written correspondence that may be responsive to a public records request made yesterday, they, like Indian River Shores Brian Barefoot and Councilman Richard Haverland, may be making a visit to Judge Morgan’s courtroom. Judge Morgan was not unnecessarily harsh on Barefoot and Haverland, but, clearly, he also has no patience for those who would violate the Sunshine Law. There may not have been violation of the Sunshine Law on the part of Moss and Stradley. Time will tell.
Moss is in over her head on the utilities commission. Stradley’s actions run counter to the well being of the city. This is nothing new. With people like Stradley and Wilson,we can see why people are turned off on government. Stradley is so obvious to most, he convinces no one. BTW ,we are still waiting for Howle to present a path to the electric sale,besides “I’m for the sale>”
John, Harry Howle has set forth his strategy for reviving the sale of Vero Electric. Howle’s plan is simply to count on State Rep. Debbie Mayfield, Florida Power & Light lobbyists, and generous FPL campaign contributions, to persuade members of the Florida Legislature to force the sale. If Howle actually believes what he is saying, that is frightening indeed. Howle epitomizes the saying that the most dangerous person in the room is the one who doesn’t even know what he doesn’t know. That so many people have been duped into contributing to Howle’s campaign is almost incomprehensible.
I believe the contributions to the Howle campaign are more about building out and building up (more than three stories) than are for the FPL sale. In fact, I believe the FPL sale is a camouflage for the building industry for his campaign. Especially when it comes to building on the Riverfront where the Power Plant now resides. They (the building industry) are salivating for that opportunity to build there and money will flow into the hands of any candidate who can stealth their way to a seat on this Council.
Bea, For those pushing hardest for the proposed sale of Vero Electric, their motivation has NEVER been about achieving lower electric rates. It has ALWAYS been about the waterfront land and its potential for commercial development.
More broadly, the attempt to force Vero Beach to give up its utilities is an effort to drive the City into disincorporation, so that the regulation of development can be turned over to a County Commission that has historically proven more amenable to the demands of developer. Those demands, of course, follow from generous political contributions.
See: http://insidevero.com/2013/05/28/news-article-makes-clear-marina-resort-may-well-be-in-vero-beachs-future/