Cancellation of Beach BBQ and Bluegrass Festival – “Due to the lack of financial controls . . .”

City of Fernandina Beach Park & Rec
Press Release
Dale Martin, City Manager

May 26, 2016 8:34 a.m.

City-seal2Due to the lack of financial controls associated with the Beach BBQ and Bluegrass Festival, City Manager Dale L. Martin has cancelled the June 10-11 event in Fernandina Beach.

According to the event pamphlet, participants and vendors were instructed to “Make checks payable to Jay Robertson.” Since the event was described as a City event, Martin believed that checks made to a specific individual, rather than to the City of Fernandina Beach, created the perception of inappropriate accounting. “Mr. Robertson was aware of special event funding issues related to previous events and exhibited exceptionally poor judgement in soliciting checks made to him personally rather than to the City,” said Martin. “Proper accounting for all City Parks and Recreation special events needs to become more structured and professional. Those activities are subject to review by the City’s auditors and our recordkeeping has been poor. I have higher expectations for City staff.”

As of Wednesday morning, the Parks and Recreation Department reported that approximately $1,000 in fees had been received for the event: $450 from vendors, $120 for BBQ team entries, and a $500 sponsorship donation.

The City Commission had scheduled a workshop dedicated to Special Events on June 14, but with the likely absence on that date of Vice Mayor Robin Lentz, Martin has indicated that the workshop will be re-scheduled to allow for Lentz’ participation.

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Russ Allen
Russ Allen (@guest_47252)
7 years ago

So then the appropriate answer was to cancel the event and impact the hundreds of people that would have participated directly and the unknown amount of people that would benefit ancillary? Mr. Martin’s explanation does not pass the common sense test and has baloney written all in it. My suggestion for Fernandina is to invest in a new city manager- one that doesn’t make knee jerk reactions without fully understanding the impacts. Hey Mr. Martin: there is a low pressure system in the Caribbean with a possibility of strengthening into a weak depression…it may be time for you to recommend an evacuation of FB.

Kris Stadelman
Kris Stadelman (@guest_47274)
7 years ago
Reply to  Russ Allen

Gee Russ-
If you had someone working for a company you ran that was having the funds put in his personal account you would fire him. Same thing goes here. City officials using a city sponsored function to put money in their pockets should be fired. My tax dollars shouldn’t profit an individual working for the city.

Brian Coleman
Brian Coleman (@guest_47279)
7 years ago
Reply to  Kris Stadelman

When it relates to 81 teams paying $300-$400 each, $1,000 is a drop in the bucket and you’re speaking out of turn. Unless you know Jay, you’re making an assumption based on lack of facts.

The event would have easily netted the City $100,000 for 2 days and probably $50,000-$60,000 GP. Not to mention it would’ve likely ended up on Pit Wars or BBQ Pitmasters, exposing the City to the country.

Jay had 81 teams at somewhere around $350 per team already signed up and paid. If he had pocketed the entire $25k you’d have a valid argument. Teams were antsy to get in this event before it sold out, which it did. Jay didn’t pocket money, he basically took pre-orders.

Jay has promoted probably 15-20 events with no problem.

Kindly, fact check prior to questioning this fine man’s character.

Casandra Mason
Casandra Mason (@guest_47286)
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian Coleman

Amen Brian!

Ross Gass
Ross Gass (@guest_47289)
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian Coleman

Damn right!!!

Jim Haskett
Jim Haskett (@guest_47253)
7 years ago

The cancellation of this event has cost the COFB money, but it has also cost others money as well, money which cannot be recouped. I believe that the cancelation of the event was handled inappropriately without full awareness of the financial consequences.

I fully understand the “perception of inappropriate accounting”, however ones perception can be made invalid with an audit. Jay Robertson has continually run successful events in the past, with approval from the COFB, so there is a big difference in a sense of impropriety and actual impropriety and it appears that Mr. Robertson is not getting due process before blasting his name and saying he used “exceptionally poor judgment”, when his same judgment has met with the approval of the COFB in the past, which brought in a great deal of revenue to the COFB.

I’ve attended many events and even have been a competitor in past BBQ and Chili competitions, when Mr. Robertson was the organizer, he has always come across as a very humble and honest gentleman, but it seems he obviously did not follow policies. However, he did follow precedence, so in the absence of a failed audit, the COFB should have allowed this event to occur and ensure that all future events are held in the proper manner.

Now that the rash decision to cancel the event has been made, the damage has been done. The COFB is not alone in the realization of a financial loss, but a loss would not have occurred if the event would have been allowed to continue on as planned. Instead, the decision costs the COFB, the vendors and competitors are as well, because most of them have already incurred irretrievable costs in preparation of making the event successful. The loss of revenue to the local community will also be felt through the poor decision to cancel this event.

Way to go COFB!

Klynt Farmer
Klynt Farmer (@guest_47254)
7 years ago

I personally had two different friends that have been planning to compete and had paid their money when it first was announced. Wouldn’t it had made more sense to audit the organizers paperwork and transfer the funds into the city’s account with the proper documentation than to cost eighty three teams money? There were teams that had airfare paid for that won’t be able to get their money back not to mention the loss of revenue to the city….I think this could have been handled differently unless there’s more to the story….. Just my opinion….

Felicia Mosley
Felicia Mosley (@guest_47255)
7 years ago

Jay has been such a wonderful event organizer. This was an overreaction to the tenth degree. What about the teams who have purchased hundreds in competition meats and supplies already, paid for hotels, and travel expenses? To cancel this event was a knee jerk reaction. I can’t believe the city is questioning his integrity after how much blood, sweat, and tears he has poured into that city. We have been competing in his events for almost 5 years now, and not once has he ever given the impression he isn’t honest. It may have been a poor judgement call but if the money adds up, and I would bet my smoker that it will, then he should have been privately reprimanded accordingly by being written up or something. To go this far was uncalled for. He has done so much for the bbq world in northeast Florida, and I am so sad this has happened. I know I am just one of many in the bbq family that stands behind Jay.

John Goshco
John Goshco (@guest_47256)
7 years ago

So – collect the money from Mr. Robertson, count “heads” at the event and require all future checks to be made out to COFB. I’m sure the City’s accountant and auditors are capable of following the high finance involved. Mr. Martin is correct in his expectation of high standards, but why cancel the event at this late date?

Now that he’s let the cat out of the bag, please explain what previous “special event funding issues” was Mr. Martin referring to and why haven’t they been corrected yet? All I can remember was the City’s $5000 expenditure for the marina dredging study for which only a handful of receipts were produced. No evidence of any wrongdoing, just a failure to ask for a proper accounting.

Suanne Thamm
Editor
Suanne Thamm(@suanne-thamm)
7 years ago
Reply to  John Goshco
John Goshco
John Goshco (@guest_47262)
7 years ago
Reply to  Suanne Thamm

Thanks for the info Suanne. I remembered the poor planning and communication for this event. I just didn’t remember any accounting problems.

Steven Crounse
Steven Crounse (@guest_47258)
7 years ago

Well, Mr. Martin, Looks like you just stepped in your first Cow Paddy, since coming to work for the Folks of Fernandina Beach. Mr. Robertson has an incredible track record, with these events, and to publicly call him out for this, perceived impropriety and cancel the event at this late date. Just not great Managerial Skills. That whole conversation should have happened in your office, Between you and Mr. Robertson. I’m sure he will account for every cent of the fees payed to him for the event. I think, the proper move, would be to rescind your cancel order, contact all fee payed participants, and go on with the show. Follow standard operating procedure next time. Man Up Mr. Martin.

ed taylor
ed taylor (@guest_47259)
7 years ago

inconceivable to me that the ONLY solution City Manager Martin could find was to cancel the event. Was there no other possible workaround? Perhaps, immediate audit/cross-reference of all incoming fees (they’d only collected $1,000 so far), an immediate amending of the web site/social media re-directing funds to the City coffers. Seems from the outside-looking-in there could have been a doable solution redirecting incoming $$$ to the City, thus keeping the event on track. Me thinks the “powers that be” didn’t like the event, or the organizer in question, or both.

Gina Martin
Gina Martin (@guest_47260)
7 years ago

What an idiot… waiting two weeks before the event to cancel an event. Looks like someone doesn’t give a care about the money lost by the vendors for their time and expenses spent in preparation. Way to go and way to take care of your business owners and patrons. Shame on you Martin.

Tim Wysocki
Tim Wysocki (@guest_47261)
7 years ago

The only mishandling seems to have come after the issue was identified. Why not contact the BBQ Teams that wrote these checks, which includes me, and ask if we could send a new one in? This knee-jerk response to cancel the event and publicly name the person in a condescending press release is ridiculous and unprofessional. Think it through Mr. Martin – we bring a LOT of money to your community and you appear to be very quick to dismiss us; Mr Robertson would never do that, which is exactly why we would never think twice about writing a check payable to him. He’s an upstanding member of the community and has done nothing but bring good times to the BBQ community and to the City of Fernandina Beach.

My Team will be watching how or if Mr. Martin handles this situation from here on out and will re-evaluate whether or not we intend to spend any more of our hard-earned money in Fernandina Beach based on his actions.

Robert Prager
Robert Prager (@guest_47264)
7 years ago

Thank you Mr. Martin for being the designated grown-up and thank you Ms. Thamm for providing the link to the story about the cancelled Fort Clinch concert where Mr. Robertson was the event coordinator. I support Mr. Martin because it is a sign of good leadership to make the hard decision rather than the popular one. Life experience teaches us that it is not a good idea to let something happen and then sort it out later. I doubt that this was a spur of the moment decision by Mr. Martin based on how he has performed to date. I am glad he is the City Manager. I want the City run in a professional manner by professionals. Mr. Martin keep up the go work.

Robert Prager
Robert Prager (@guest_47265)
7 years ago
Reply to  Robert Prager

good work.

Russ Allen
Russ Allen (@guest_47270)
7 years ago
Reply to  Robert Prager

I think that Fernandina Beach needs to do some soul searching and decide what kind of city it wants to be. Does it want to be a city that invites visitors and appreciates the revenue that those visits generates, or does it want to be a city that wants to shut the gates and avoid the aggravation associated with having “outsiders” coming there? From the tenor of your comments, Robert, you apparently are in the latter group. Common sense would tell you that the decision was indeed “spur of the moment.” But, take solace Robert, you will get your wish, the visitors to your beautiful city is about to decrease. Sadly, a lot of the people that won’t be visiting have lost a considerable amount of their own money in the process.

Peggy Bulger
Peggy Bulger(@peggy-bulger1949gmail-com)
7 years ago
Reply to  Russ Allen

Russ, this is not an argument about inviting tourism or not. This is clearly about following legal governmental procedure and not putting the City of Fernandina Beach in a role of responsibility and accounting where there has been no communication and no approval. I have worked for government agencies at the local, state and federal level and this type of ad hoc procedure would NEVER pass muster. I am sure that Jay Robertson didn’t intend to bypass authority or put the City in a bind, he’s a talented and good guy . . . BUT, we need to give Mr. Martin his due . . . he’s MANAGING!!

Robert Prager
Robert Prager (@guest_47283)
7 years ago
Reply to  Russ Allen

It is always dangerous to make assumptions. I am not in the later group but I am a proponent of good governance which includes not not putting City funds in your personal account for any reason. I agree with Peggy Bulger’s comments. More importantly I don’t see this as an issue of revenue to the City. It is about the ethics of government. Common sense does not tell me that this was spur of the moment. As I stated above, I doubt that this was a spur of the moment decision by Mr. Martin based on how he has performed to date. Thank you Ms. Bulger.

Steven Crounse
Steven Crounse (@guest_47266)
7 years ago

Robert, I think this is the first time, we’ve not been on the same page, over an issue. There differently is an Issue here, as Ms. Thamm points out in the article about the Concert at Ft. Clinch. Mr. Robertson seems to make decisions above his pay grade. That needs to be rectified, and is an internal issue of our City Government. But someone should be taking into consideration the Vendors and Performers who have purchased Plane Fares, Hotel reservations, Equipment. ect. Needed for this event. Who compensates them? Do they just claim it next years Taxes? Will they ever come back to an event? I know what my answer would be. We (Fernandina Beach) can’t treat people like that. Can We? Reminds me of the movie “Mr Roberts’ James Cagney, Played Capt. Morton Obsessed with a few Strawberries stolen. Just saying it should have been handled internally. Robert you are right Mr. Martin, is the best thing to happen to our City Government in a very long time. Just saying he’s human.
,

david merrill
david merrill (@guest_47267)
7 years ago

Of course we want to Parks and Rec Dept to follow the rules. That said, I can’t believe that we’ve hired a knee-jerker. We’re a small friendly town, so if it looks inappropriate don’t cash the cks, tear them up, and ask the vendors to replace. Otherwise you’ve ruined the event and please tell me who would want to put out all that time and effort and money for this two bit town that’ll rip out the carpet from people rather than have a steadied calm and well thought out approach? Bad policy to make someone an example like that- handle these things internally. Mr. Robertson works hard and has creative ideas. We are glad to have him.

Michael Vigeant
Michael Vigeant (@guest_47268)
7 years ago

Just letting you know how far the money goes. I was planning on visiting during this event from Tennessee, I guess Mr. Whatshisname does not want any of my money in your lovely town.

Casandra Mason
Casandra Mason (@guest_47271)
7 years ago

Following is the “Mission Statement” written on the City of Fernandina Beach City Manager’s Page:

The City of Fernandina Beach is dedicated to the provision of high-quality municipal services for its residents, businesses, and visitors. In order to fulfill this mission, the City Manager provides organizational leadership that:

•Fosters teamwork
•Builds the City’s capacity to provide quality service
•Encourages a city-wide focus on customer satisfaction

The City Manager’s primary responsibility is the overall supervision of administrative and operating departments in order to provide the level of service and programs approved by The City Commission.

In addition, the City Manager is instrumental in preparing for the City’s future through strategic planning and sound financial management, and works to ensure that those directly affected by our decision have an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.

Let’s take one of the first statements here: “Fosters Teamwork”; Publicly handling this matter instead of doing it internally really Fosters Teamwork.
Second: Provides Quality Service; as one of the members of a cook team that has participated in just about every BBQ event your City has hosted I feel I have the right to say that the cancellation of this event shows very POOR SERVICE on your City’s behalf.

Third: Encourages a city-wide focus on customer satisfaction; I would say NOTHING about the cancellation of this event nor the public display of internal issues ENCOURAGES anyone! Matter of fact the Customer Satisfaction of this cancellation is beyond UNSATISFACTORY!

Now lets move on to this statement:
“works to ensure that those directly affected by our decision have an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.”

So Mr. Martin I ask you this; Did you allow these 83 cook teams; Vendors; Bands; Citizens of Fernandina the opportunity to have input in the “decision-making process” when YOU decided to cancel the event that we have looked forward to for over a year? NO you DID NOT!

In my opinion and you know what they say about those, you have not met one point of your “Mission Statement”!

We have known and participated in many of Mr. Jay Robertson’s events; we cancel other plans just to be at one of his events! Jay has more honesty and integrity in his pinky finger than most people I know! He is an outstanding asset to your City and to the Citizens of Fernandina! We attended the Shrimp Drop and it was a phenomenal event! Brisket’s & Butts another Awesome event! Everything he does he pours his heart & soul into; he gives up time with his family to put these events on!

Apparently Mr. Martin you have no concept of what the Battle of the Beach could have been for your City! Mr. Robertson managed to do what many organizers would LOVE to do! He had 83 of the BEST cook teams both Professional and Backyard attending. Jay had several cook teams that have appeared on BBQ PitMasters. One of the teams happened to be the GRAND CHAMPION of BBQ PitMasters! This event wasn’t something you throw together overnight and it isn’t something that we teams take lightly! We appreciate and love all the hard work that Jay Robertson puts into his events!

This is your city’s loss as the Battle of the Beach could have turned into the East Coast Version of the American Royal!

Chad Ward
Chad Ward (@guest_47276)
7 years ago

I can personally say that myself, my teammate and 3 family members that would have been traveling with me to the contest would have easily dropped $1,000 into your local economy over a 3 day weekend with hotels, meals, groceries for the contest, etc. Now multiple that number by 81 teams!

I have cooked close to 100 contests across 23 different states and the main reason. I was cooking this contest was due to the high regard that my other competitors have for Jay. He has such a strong reputation in the BBQ community for being an amazing organizer.

It is a shame to see this event cancelled and a good man’s name tarnished due to a city manager trying to prove a point.

Eric Smith
Eric Smith (@guest_47277)
7 years ago

Well I guess it’s like the good book says: “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee, and then go around and cut off everybody else’s hand too just to show everybody you mean business.” Amen. Or, you know, maybe just pull that hand aside and set expectations for future accounting protocol. Jeez.

Since this move doesn’t make any sense at all given the information presented in this article, all I can guess is that there’s something we’re not being told, something more to this. I’ll certainly allow for that, but what could it be? Why would anyone do this? How does leaving all of those participants in the lurch, and all the rest of us planning to attend, somehow retroactively make things right?

I agree that the check situation looks bad, but the cure is drastically worse than the disease here, and the dose appears to have been mistargeted. If the appearance of impropriety is the disease, take your licks, do whatever kind of training and structuring is needed behind the scenes, and don’t hold another event until you have your propriety bolted down. And if this disease is actually just a small part of a much larger rot, then deal with that rot as needed, but don’t cut away healthy flesh.

If Mr. Martin is the new sheriff in town, here to get everybody to straighten up and fly right, then that’s a great thing. But I don’t think the comment here that he’s being the designated adult is the appropriate characterization of this action because the reaction to the issue is a non sequitur. Is there credible intel that suggests a terrorist attack on the bbq festival? Cancel it. Is it forecast to be 110 degrees that day? Cancel it. The money is there but wasn’t collected properly, and happy barbecuers are already making their practice runs? Don’t cancel it – take practical steps to account for the money, make sure the event can go on since everybody’s already committed and on the hook, and take what rehabilitative and constructive steps are necessary to prevent it happening again. Even make a public statement if needed to reassure anyone concerned about the setup that the city takes stewardship of the public dime and the public trust seriously. But cancel the event? It does not follow.

I don’t know Jay Robertson, but I remember a number of years ago thinking, “Man, somebody at the city is doing something right,” because you can’t swing a dead cat around here without hitting a barbecue competition or other fun things like that which somebody had to work hard to put together. It really enhances this community, bringing people out, making all the difference, and I’m guessing Jay Robertson is the workhorse behind that, or one of them. If, as this public emasculation and Ms. Thamm’s note about the Fort Clinch concert scenario suggest, his methods could use some rigor, let’s get constructive and address that. Or if the thing they’re not telling us is that this problem is much bigger and worse, then deal with it at City Hall. But the baby has just been thrown out with the barbecue sauce.

I suppose it would be futile to ask if we could trade in this axe for a scalpel at this point. So if the event is definitely off, I invite Mr. Martin to make a followup statement that gives us the missing information that makes this make sense or otherwise explains how the damage done by the cancellation somehow addresses or remediates the back-end problems.

Ilysse Floden
Ilysse Floden (@guest_47282)
7 years ago

This was a ridiculous decision that could have long reaching consequences. If people invest in events in FB and cannot rely upon them actually taking place many may choose not to participate in the future. This could cost our town a great deal of money not just today but in the future in terms of tourist dollars as well as local money spent at these events. Shame on the city manager for handling this like a toddler having a temper tantrum. Like many have already stated, there were other ways to handle it without unfairly harming innocent participants and supporters of our local economy. While I don’t know him, it seems clear to me from reading the responses here, that the organizer of this event who is being criticized by the city manager, has a loyal following. This demonstrates to me that he has done a good job in the past of organizing the events and keeping those who are paying, happy. I hope he finds an alternate local venue at which to host the event, such as Littleberry Farm or some place similar, so that all these teams haven’t prepared and gone to effort and expense in vain. Then the only loser in the deal, will be the city itself. If Jay does find such a venue, please have him add me to the mailing list. I’d love to attend and support his event!

Casandra Mason
Casandra Mason (@guest_47287)
7 years ago

I am sure the City of Fitzgerald, Georgia will be sending you a BIG thank you note Mr. Martin! Our team is only one of the MANY that will now be attending the Fitzgerald Pig Pickin’ Event! Our funds will now boost an economy that knows the meaning of true Southern Hospitality and appreciates what we bring to their community; unlike you Mr. Martin. It seems you could care less about your employees; your citizens and definitely not your visitors.
I would like to personally invite the kind; caring citizens of Fernandina Beach to Fitzgerald, GA. No it is not held at a beautiful beach location like your city has to offer; it is located in a field outside of a small town that has a small pond and a cute little building for the judges. Nothing fancy just a simple BBQ Comp with BBQ Family.

Mrs. D. Hunter
Mrs. D. Hunter (@guest_47288)
7 years ago

Dale Martin, I hope you’re reading here. I give you my full support, not least because your action quickly removed the liability that Jay Robertson [unknowingly] took upon himself by hosting-in-name this event. You knew that “follow the money” put Mr. Robertson front and center for bearing any/all liability in the face of festival mishap/mishandling/misconduct, large and small. Lost revenue plus a handful of disgruntled residents, out of town visitors, festival vendors and ancillary participants is nothing compared to what could have been.

This was a tough management call. You’re getting flack, you’re being called names, but in my book your call to instantly terminate was the right thing to do. Thank you.

Eric Smith
Eric Smith (@guest_47292)
7 years ago
Reply to  Mrs. D. Hunter

See this is the kind of info I’m after. I feel like we have A and C but are missing B. I understand that people on the inside of any given thing can see more than any armchair quarterback can, and often have to make decisions that are hard to appreciate unless one wears those moccasins. So what I’m after from Mr. Martin is an explanation of the specific nature of the liability the city would have incurred had the event gone forward. Because if it’s big enough or otherwise understandable enough, then the cancellation would make sense irrespective of barbecue-flavored sorrow. Absent that, it’s tough to appreciate. Or maybe it’s obvious to the legal scholars in this thread, but somebody throw a bone to those of us who rake leaves for a living.

Your comment, Mrs. Hunter, is the closest thing I’ve seen so far to a plausible explanation, or at least one that could potentially fit into this hole. But here’s where I think Mr. Martin could do himself and the rest of us a favor by confirming and expanding on your suggested rationale if it’s in the right neighborhood, or otherwise clear it up with some other explanation. Because so far it seems the only rationale that has been offered is that he wanted to quash “the perception of inappropriate accounting” in the context of a broader tightening of ongoing parks department procedures.

That sounds like a different animal than what you’re suggesting here, which, if I’m interpreting it correctly, is that Mr. Martin was rescuing Mr. Robertson from potential liability that might have arisen from things that could potentially have gone wrong at the event. I have no idea if that holds water, but if that truly was the reason, let’s hear it. And if cancellation truly was the only way out of it, let’s hear it. Let’s see a figurative flowchart of the pathways of logic and options and trace how cancellation became the only safe option and how that stopped us from going over a cliff of whatever kind. Because it seems like there would have been other ways to address the perception of inappropriate accounting than cancelling the event. I’m ready to be schooled on that if I’m wrong.

Ross Gass
Ross Gass (@guest_47290)
7 years ago

I believe the above cited FO article from some months back doesn’t mean what you think it means. The plug was pulled, so to speak, on the Fort Clinch concert by the Fort’s manager who had final say-so on all matters pertaining to the event. He didn’t like the way it was all coming together, so he backed out. He had specified that right from the outset in the agreements regarding the concert.
In our current situation, bad accounting practices came to light and the entire event (an all weekend EVENT, not a 4 hour concert) was summarily cancelled.
As others have pointed out, Mr. Robertson has overseen NUMEROUS events that have gone swimmingly for all involved.

One cancelled concert does not a trend make.

Cancelling an entire event over the appearance of impropriety ill advised. Publicly tarnishing the good name of a hard working city employee and native son is simply wrong.
First and foremost, why wouldn’t you deal with this behind closed doors? Why wouldn’t you put the accounting together and then redirect any additional payments to The City of FB (all which could have been executed in a professional office environment)? Why use a press release to publicly shame someone with a long (albeit not perfect) public service record? Mr. Robertson’s performance was below standards and gave the appearance of impropriety. Fine. why, then, are the vendors, competitors, attendees and the City at large being punished?
Yet another “public” move to create skepticism.

John Goshco
John Goshco (@guest_47293)
7 years ago

Ok – so there is the appearance of impropriety. Does Fernandina Beach actually have any rules or standard procedures in place that cover special events, or has the City been flying by the seat of their pants all these years? Has the City communicated these standard procedures to appropriate staff?

Is there a list of responsibilities designating which departments and/or personnel may collect money and under what circumstances? If the fire department decides to stand on a busy corner collecting CASH in a boot, is that permitted? Is it safe?

If the City has the financial, legal and public safety controls in place, great. Send out a memo and remind employees to abide by the rules. If the “rules” exist solely in the mind of the City Manager, it would be appropriate if he communicated them, in writing, to the City Commissioners for discussion and ratification.

Robert Warner
Robert Warner (@guest_47294)
7 years ago
Reply to  John Goshco

Ross, et al. A second incident from Parks and Rec of the tail wagging the dog. Putting the city on the line without proper vetting could end up costing a fortune – for you, me, the City, and Robertson (personally). It’s called getting a special permit. There are rules and written procedures.

Ross Gass
Ross Gass (@guest_47297)
7 years ago
Reply to  Robert Warner

This event and its cancellations have nothing to do with permitting.
And, it IS costing us a fortune. Lost revenue from ticket sales and entry fees, lost revenue from participants and attendees coming from out of town, tarnished reputation for COFB as an venue for events…
I expect improvement from Jay.
I expected better of our new City Manager. He’s supposed to be the pro, here.

Robert Warner
Robert Warner (@guest_47300)
7 years ago
Reply to  Ross Gass

Ross – Permitting sets out official conditions and requirements for sponsors of the activity. Approval represents official city authorization to proceed. This event and it’s cancellation have everything to do with permitting and lack of official authorization. Our new City Manager is being a pro here.

John P. Megna
John P. Megna (@guest_47295)
7 years ago

I only wish this process had followed a better solution. It was not something that either party will be not affected. So knowing Jay, I have to agreed that he has worked very hard and has accomplished many good things for the City. Hopefully, both will look at this and understand the problem it has created for not only these two individuals but all the vendors, visitors, and citizens of Fernandina. A lesson for all.

TJ Powell
TJ Powell (@guest_47302)
7 years ago

As an .eager competitor, I am really disappointed but as a physician for 30+ years I am aghast at how this was handled. It’s not whether or not you have problems, there are problems everyday. True character is displayed by how you handle the peoblems that arise. The degree of ‘inappropriateness’ in organizing the event did not seem to warrant full on cancelation. Let’s not lop of the foot because you stubbed your toe. Unless, of course, there’s more to this story than we are being told.
Mr. Martin put the city of FB in a bad light, disappointed literally hundreds of potential visitors and showed convincingly that he can’t resolve conflict without alienating tourists.
Small town mentality. Not ready for prime time. Total lack of class.

Casandra Mason
Casandra Mason (@guest_47303)
7 years ago
Reply to  TJ Powell

I agree