Editor: My first trip to a Port Richey City Council meeting on March 23 was one of the most surreal experiences that I have ever had. I simply went to find out why the city's sewer and water lines stopped 125 feet from my property line and why so much mystery revolved around this matter.
There was a mystery man demanding that I pay to extend the city's subpar sewer and water work, a mystery video tape that was ordered by a mystery person that had to be reviewed by some other person not identifiable by the city, mystery measurement when the 125 feet suddenly transformed into 220 feet when a bill was sent to me and mystery management not only in the utility department but also in the city manager's office. I was committed to solving these mysteries and debunking the myths that this city has been perpetuating for some time at significant expense to me.
As I stood at the podium, I glanced to the left and was shocked beyond belief to see city Utility Director Gary Deremer blatantly sporting an embroidered U.S. Water shirt at an official meeting. I was so stunned that I verbalized this dismay out loud.
I privately thought, Could this person work for U.S. Water? What is the connection between the city utility director and this company, the same company that was at my home a few days before with a city employee and the same company that stretched the 125 feet to 220 feet? Incidentally, 220 feet from the manhole goes well beyond the furthest limits of my property line. What is the connection between Deremer and the company that presented me with a bill to pay almost $6,000 to get under the city's street and run sewer and water pipes? The next day, I learned that our utility director is the owner of U.S. Water, a company that for some time has done, and continues to do, a significant amount of work for this city at taxpayer expense.
Article II, section 8 of the Florida Constitution states, "a public office (or position) is a public trust." As stewards of the public trust, all city employees must use the powers and resources of the city, entrusted to them by the public, to further the public interest and not for any personal gain or financial benefit." Furthermore, the city of Port Richey ordinances state that "city employees shall not engage in outside employment or financial transactions of any kind with any person, entity, firm, or corporation doing business with the city when such transactions constitute a conflict of interest" and that they should seek guidance, for their own protection, by submitting the details of questionable situations, in writing, to the city manager before engaging in such questionable activity.
Did Deremer seek this guidance from City Manager Vincent Lupo? What guidance did he give? Is the city's use of the utility director/consultant a lame way to avoid the appearance of impropriety and mislead the public? Job titles mean nothing. Deremer performs the role of the utility director and he signs his name as such.
This reasonable observer believes that there is a conflict of interest and that it should be ended immediately. Additionally, why has Lupo allowed this to exist?
I am concerned. So concerned that I have contacted the Florida Commission on Ethics and I encourage everyone else to do the same if they suspect impropriety and misuse of public office.
I am someone who thought I wanted to live in Port Richey after spending over $200,000 to build a home and now am being harassed and forced to pay for city work.
-- Alene Burke, Lutz
Building Safety Week a time for awareness
Editor: During the week of April 4-10, building departments across America and around the world will celebrate Building Safety Week to raise public awareness of building safety and to promote the use, enforcement and understanding of the importance of building safety and fire prevention codes. "You can be a part of Building Safety Week" is this year's theme.
Building code enforcement is the job of professionals who work right here in the city of Port Richey. We are an active member of the International Code Council, an association that develops building codes to safeguard the public in the buildings where we live, work, play and learn.
Building Safety Week, which was first observed in 1980, and is sponsored by the International Code Council Foundation, is an opportunity to educate our communities. It is a perfect time to increase public awareness of the role building safety and fire prevention officials, local and state building departments, and federal agencies play in the first line of defense to protect the public. The city of Port Richey Building Deparment encourages the public to consider projects to improve building safety at home and in the community.
The department takes appropriate steps to ensure that the places where the people in our communities live, work, play and learn are safe by reviewing building plans, issuing building permits, and inspecting buildings during and after construction. Last year the city of Port Richey issued 640 permits and did over 2,000 inspections.
Permits can be obtained from the city of Port Richey, 6333 Ridge Road, Port Richey. We can also be reached at (727) 816-1900, ext. 153.
Local activities for Building Safety Week in City Hall, 6333 Ridge Road, include: an open house at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 5; Safety is for kids, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 3 to 4:30 p.m. and seminars on preparing for flood water, mold, flood clean up, safety, benefits of permits and building codes 3 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. April 7.
Safety tips sheets and other information is available at the building department at City Hall.
-- Bette Farmerie, Building Official,
City of Port Richey
Pasco branch of GOP is well rid of Meyer
Re: Change in leaders will put county and nation on track, March 30 letter. Editor: Anyone who reads Zoltan Meyer's letter can see why the Republican Party of Pasco booted him out as chairman 87-3.
Since he was allowed to vote, we know where one of the three probably came from. The only question is where the other two votes came from.
-- Ken Casey, Hudson
States need stricter RV driver requirements
Editor: Chase Squires' column regarding the lack of special license requirements for RV operators couldn't be more on point. I've been driving a Class A motor home (16-tons of diesel-powered steel) for five years now and am frequently stunned, or frightened, by what I witness on the road. Many of the operators of these rigs would have difficulty operating a small Honda, let alone a full-size motor home.
It's not a unique Florida problem either. Few, if any, states require operators of these huge machines - or drivers towing 30-foot trailers (and sometimes an additional vehicle as well) behind their big pickups - to demonstrate proficiency in their ability to drive these rigs.
There are serious risks on the road because our political leaders are too timid to require those who use our roads to prove that they have the capability of doing so safely. That applies to elderly drivers of small automobiles as well as large RVs. I would readily support legislation to require drivers to demonstrate their ability to operate these rigs safely. The same goes for any driver over age 70.
-- Paul W. Goldberg, Green Cove Springs
Richard Paey should be spared more pain
Editor: Some time ago, I served on a jury in a case similar to Richard Paey's. The young man involved had a prescription from the doctor for a limited amount of a drug which was also like the Paey case. He had severe pain - ongoing - and had to go to the doctor's office to have the prescription refilled. Because of circumstances (transportation, etc.) he had difficulty managing getting to the doctor's office where he had to wait his turn to see the doctor.
He had a prescription, but when he went to the drugstore, the amount had been increased. The druggist called the police and when he went to pick up his prescription, the police picked him up and arrested him. Our jury felt the whole thing could have been resolved at the drugstore. He was not selling the drug but was only concerned with his pain. We found him not guilty of trafficking the drug.
I would sincerely hope that Mr. Paey not be subjected to further pain.
-- Rosemary Douglas, New Port Richey
[Last modified March 31, 2004, 01:50:29]
