Commission Convenes Kangaroo Court in Shakedown of Chamber in Winter Park

  Pleading with elected officials to end in-person meetings, Winter Park Commissioner Todd Weaver opined in a Facebook post February 7 that they "...are not necessary for good legislative activities and should not be prescribed during this worldwide pandemic." Hoisting the royal standard of hypocrisy aloft, Commissioner Todd Weaver seemed unaware of the threats posed by the health crisis when he later reversed course and attended a special meeting on February 11.

   Risking life and limb, Weaver convened with fellow commissioners to investigate the urgent matter of Phil Anderson's sexist attack and near battering of a female moderator. Actually, we're just kidding! Weaver called for the 'Special' meeting to vent about a question he found offensive at the recent Winter Park Mayoral debate. Yes, a single question—originally posed by a private citizen—at an event hosted by a private organization, deserves the attention of the entire Winter Park Commission during a worldwide pandemic.

   Instead of addressing the closing shops on the Avenue or Winter Park's againg infrastructure, the commission decided to go down a rabbit hole of demagoguery and theater by throwing a public carnival. In an effort to exact retribution on their opponents, the commission deliberately forfeited the people's business for their own political agenda.

   The exact langauge that sparked the hubbub fixated on two words: "blatantly colluded," insinuating, Weaver claimed, that the commission violated Sunshine Law.

   Responding to these concerns, Derek Bruce, speaking on behalf of the organization, posited the intent of the question comes down to interpretation: "I did hear the definition earlier. ‘Collusion’ is defined as a secret agreement. … And then there is the modifier that I heard talked about earlier. ‘Blatant.’ And the definition of that is brazenly obvious. When you put those two words together, they are almost diametrically opposed. In some ways, they counter each other, cancel each other out."

   Out of frustration with the commission's antics, Mayor Steve Leary did not take part in the meeting, stating in a Facebook post: "...at least one member of the City Commission that called for the 'Special' meeting to discuss punitive action against the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, was one of three members of the Commission responsible for canceling the regularly scheduled meeting of the Commission set for the day before, citing concern and fear over gathering in public."

He continued: "Canceling a regular meeting during which the business of the citizens and city are addressed, then calling a “Special” meeting to air hurt feelings and possible action against the “offending” entity the next day, was political posturing. It sent a message to our community that if you host a forum wherein you or another question or criticize the City Commission, you will be called on the carpet and possibly face punitive action."

   Regardless of the reason, voters need to ask themselves why the city commission acted so viscerally to a simple question. Ultimately they will be the deciders in the March 9 election and determine whether or not Anderson's actions were worthy of a public servant.