Fernandina Beach City proclamations: too much of a good thing?

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter – News Analyst

At the end of the March 18, 2014 regular meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC), Mayor Ed Boner initiated a discussion on city proclamations in an attempt to determine how commissioners preferred to handle such forms of recognition.  He raised the past practice of “Mayoral Proclamations” and added that he wanted all commissioners to have input into identifying individuals or organizations that deserve public recognition.  He suggested that each commissioner forward names of projects, people or organizations that they would like to recognize.  Boner had announced at the previous FBCC meeting that he wanted to issue two proclamations:  one to the Friends of the Library in appreciation for their efforts to date, hoping that it would help them raise additional funds to improve the library; the second to Scott and Dawna Moore for promoting local tourism through photography workshops and photo tours.  Not all commissioners supported his proposed actions.

Boner’s suggestion set off considerable discussion among the commissioners.  Commissioner Pat Gass said that she could provide a list as long as her arm of volunteers who deserve recognition.  She said that Boner was opening a Pandora’s box.  She also expressed concern that if everyone receives a proclamation, the proclamation loses its meaning.  Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican weighed in saying that she thought that if commissioners were involved in writing proclamations to honor volunteers, they would be accused of cronyism.  She suggested that instead the city find another way, like designating a hometown hero to be singled out at every meeting.  Commissioner Johnny Miller suggested presenting keys to the city, but Pelican demurred, stating that such an honor is normally reserved for visiting dignitaries.

Boner explained that he wanted to recognize the Friends of the Library now, both to help them with fundraising and in realization that some of the commissioners might no longer be in office when the project is completed.  He supported additional recognition for all parties involved in the library expansion at the official ribbon cutting.  Commissioner Johnny Miller supported a proclamation at this time, and Commissioner Charlie Corbett said he had no problems with it.

Commissioner Gass emphasized that she appreciated both the work of the Friends of the Library and the Moores, even though she did not support recognition via proclamations.

Both Gass and Corbett rejected Mayoral Proclamations, saying that proclamations should be given on behalf of the entire commission.  Corbett said to Boner, “Maybe now that you’re mayor you decide you can do anything you want, but that’s not how it works.”  Gass added, “You get to run the meetings, shake hands and kiss the babies.”  These comments generated some laughter among commissioners and the mayor.

In response to a question from Commissioner Miller as to how proclamations have been handled in the past, Pelican said that requests generally come from the public to the Clerk when organizations or others believe that an individual’s contributions are worthy of recognition.  The Clerk does not solicit proclamations, but helps get them into proper form when they are suggested.  Pelican said, “That removes any hint of impropriety or cronyism by commissioners.”

Boner was adamant in his belief that the city commission should promote recognition of volunteer efforts via proclamations.  He asked how commissioners felt about the two specific proclamations in question.  Both Pelican and Gass said they felt the recognition of the Friends of the Library should be deferred until the project is completed.

City Attorney Tammi Bach suggested that perhaps she and City Clerk Caroline Best could meet and review the FBCC rules of procedure to see if somehow procedures and conditions for proclamations of recognition could be more fully developed in that document which would be given to the FBCC for review and approval.  Gerrity said that he was concerned that staff would get put in the middle of this problem.

Corbett said that Boner should proceed with the two proclamations that he wanted to deliver and that the process will be better defined for future proclamations.  Mayor Boner said that he would like to have unanimous support for both proclamations at the next meeting.

Following the meeting when asked why the proclamations in question were not on the March 18 agenda, since he had raised the matter at the previous meeting, Boner replied that he had been told they would be on the agenda.  When he received his meeting agenda and saw that they were not, he inquired as to why they had been removed.  He was told that “some commissioners” had problems with the proclamations and that he should discuss the matter with them at the meeting.

Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.

March 19, 2014 8:10 p.m.