Unanswered questions...

I just drove by City Hall and the electronic signs say that there is a Pool Grand Opening ceremony with remarks is scheduled for 11 p.m. this Saturday. It also says that fees for the pool will be waived all day Saturday and Sunday.

These are all good things. However, this needs to be a community-wide celebration. It also needs to be organized according to established procedures and laws. Below is a copy of my correspondence with Laura Hannah from this morning:

So, we know that there was a committee for this. Some questions:

• Was the committee made up of members of the Recreation Board?
• If not, was the committee duly appointed by action of the City Commission?
• If not, and instead appointed by the Mayor, can the Mayor make appointments and/or create committees without the approval of the Commission as a whole?
• What is the membership on this committee?
• When the appointed committee met, did they abide by the State of Florida Sunshine Laws?
• Is there City money allocated to this event? If so, how was that approved? If not, how is the event funded?
  
• Did the waiving of fees for the two days receive full City Commission approval?
• If one particular neighborhood association was chosen to work and/or sell items at the event, what process did they go through to get that approval?
  
• Were other neighborhood associations or community groups made aware of this opportunity?
• Is there any money being made at the event and, if so, what organization will be benefiting?
• Were city regulations and codes followed in terms of holding a special event at a public park/facility?
  
• Were invitations sent to "dignitaries"? How was this funded? How were the "dignitaries" chosen?

I repeat, we need to celebrate the re-opening of our beautiful pool, but we need to do it right. Maybe these questions are completely off-base. Maybe not.

I hear that Mary Lindsey is involved. She is good at answering questions. Maybe she has the answers?

By the way, I hear that tacos are on the menu!

I have since found out that this is being funded through the Recreation Department.