By Mike Lednovich
Mayor Bradley Bean last Tuesday night silenced a sitting city commissioner who had a differing opinion.
At issue was an agenda item that asked commissioners to consider taking legal action against AT&T and Florida Public Utilities for having placed a utility pole and communications line on airport property that blocked the driveway access of the city’s $5 million new fire station.
Bean was armed with a wooden gavel – which he pounded three times to silence Commissioner Chip Ross, who was in mid-sentence. Ross was armed only with facts and a well-researched argument.
“You know, I won’t hear any more comment on this,” Bean pronounced.
Bean not only shut down Ross, but he circumvented a question that Commissioner James Antun had just asked Ross to explain.
Bean was exercising his mayoral discretion by removing the proposed resolution from the agenda.
“I’m going to completely remove it from the agenda unless there are two commissioners who want to put it on (the agenda),” Bean said.
Antun asked Ross why he wanted to keep the resolution on the agenda, indicating that if Ross’ answer was in line with his thinking, he might consider joining Ross in keeping the proposed resolution alive.
“Why? Because these people (AT&T) are taking money from us they shouldn’t be taking,” Ross said.
Before Ross could continue his answer, Bean slammed his gavel.
“I find it disappointing that we are having to have a discussion about two different groups that have been great community partners for a great long time and we don’t need to do that,” Bean ruled.
So Antun never got a full explanation from Ross because Mayor Bean didn’t want to hear it.
AT&T’s communications line would be discussed later when the commission eventually voted 4-1 to pay the company $30,000 to relocate the line.
Why should any of this matter to you?
Because Commissioner Ross is an elected official representing the citizens of Fernandina Beach. He has the right to speak when recognized for as long as he wants to make his point as long as he stays on topic.
Mayor Bean’s gavel is more a symbol of order than authority. Mayors past and present have used it to keep commission meetings on track and to ensure that commissioners and the public have a chance to be heard. However, when a mayor uses the gavel to silence an opposing viewpoint, that is an abuse of the office.
By strong-arming Commissioner Ross, Bean undermined the democratic process. In our democracy, everyone has the right to express an opinion, even if it is different from the majority. When Mayor Bean silences an opposing view, he is essentially saying that his opinion is more important than the opinion of the other four commissioners. What some citizens don’t understand — but the mayor surely does — is that the city’s mayor is not the city’s boss. The mayor is just one of five commissioners, but also has the honor of keeping commission meetings moving along smoothly.
This silencing of opposing views creates a climate of intimidation. When Bean’s gavel struck, Antun did not re-engage with Ross about the resolution.
The city’s charter does not give the mayor the authority to silence another commissioners’ speech. Quashing another commissioner’s freedom to speak broke a bond not just with the commission — but with the city.
This commission and the two top clowns are abusing their power. Sturges is bringing in items to vote on that could very well be a bid he wins! These two have to go. I for one didn’t vote for either and I hope when it comes time they are voted out. What a disgrace.
Power has a corrupting influence. Mayor Bean acting like a bully is not appropriate.
i guessed I missed the coronation of HRH Bean…when did that happen??
So is he trying to emulate Ronnie or Donnie?
Both
It is stated that the mayor has the power to remove an item from the agenda … his “discretion”. Then it says Ross has the right to jabber on as long as he wants as long as he stays on topic. So if the “topic” has been removed from the agenda … We have a lot of history between individuals here including the writer of the article. I suspect there is a lot more to the story than his version of events.
Just watch from 18:08 of the meeting video. The facts speak for themselves.
The same issue was on the agenda for two separate reasons. It was discussed on the item that remained.
Obviously you voted for the two top fools
Where in the video does this occur? I watched the discussion on 7.13 to approve paying AT&T and, while annoyed at Ross’ comments, I never saw the gavel pounding from Bean described here. 7.14 (the litigation) never shows up on the video after that.
At the start of the meeting at 18:08 of the video when Bean wants to removed the agenda item.
Perhaps a bit quick and abrupt but Ross was given a moment to explain his position and no other commissioner spoke up to oppose removing the agenda item. All much ado about nothing.
Antun tried but was gaveled down.
Mike L….ok, I just saw it. First and foremost, where is it written that 2 commissioners are required for an agenda item? I don’t see it in the Charter, per se.
Ross does get his licks in later on the 7.13 discussion, so all his points get made and 7.14 was probably never going to pass anyway (especially after Ms. Bach gave the usual “cheaper to just pay them” speech during that discussion). So, in the end, other than bashing Bean, I’m not sure anything would have been “democratically” different…..3 gavel raps or not.
I’m just looking at this realistically…….but I am also profoundly disappointed that if AT&T were such “good neighbors” they would charge us 30K to move the wires and allow the fire station to proceed.
It’s not the outcome at issue here. It’s the democratic process and steamrolling over a discussion of two city commissioners because you don’t like what you’re hearing.
Mike L…..I’ve been heavily involved in union politics and sat on a 12 member board in the past. If the 2 commissioners got “steamrolled” it’s because they allowed it to happen. They could have objected and Bean does say if 2 want the agenda item to remain then it will stay on. After a brief pause, no one speaks up.
The FBCC is a little loose on parliamentary procedures and errs on Robert’s Rules at times (misunderstanding a motion to table, for example), but with a group of 5 (vs.12) that is not totally unacceptable. Still rules can be pushed…..or you can roll over.
Again, where does it say 2 commissioners are required for an agenda item to remain on the agenda and where does the mayor have discretion to remove an agenda item. You banged that gavel…..can you point me in the right direction of research?
ATT and FPU are both contributors to Big Bean and Baby Bean’s campaigns. Surely our Mayor does not want to alienate his donors who will be funding his run for State House in 2024.
Exactly!
In silencing Dr. Ross, the mayor was silencing the citizens of Fernandina Beach. The commissioners are there to represent us, the city taxpayers. Unless of course you do not agree with the mayor, in which case, all bets are off. Unconscionable!
And Ross seems to be the only one listening to us
That’s the way it usually goes..Dr. Ross has always stood up for what was best for the people and for Fernandina…not for personal gains or enrichments.
Commission members should have their say, unless time becomes a serious factor, they are totally out of order, or truly slanderous, but not when they merely disagree with the Mayor. They do not report to the Mayor- they report to the People.