tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40381224539031862882024-02-18T23:35:21.603-08:00Pensacola NewsletterMary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-43510553530218174602018-10-25T19:52:00.000-07:002018-10-25T19:52:06.770-07:00Chapter 21<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the afternoon of April 5, 2000, I received a letter from Ms. Ustick, dated March 29, 2000, notifying me that my paperwork had been forwarded to the Escambia County Contractor’s Competency Board for them to handle this matter. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">She notified me that, “According to Ms. Judy Hardy, your case has been referred for review by the County Competency Board, which is scheduled for April 5, 2000 at 9:00am.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even though the letter was dated March 29, 2000, the envelope was postmarked April 4, 2000.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This meant that I could not have received the letter before the afternoon of April 5, 2000, which prevented me from attending the meeting.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">A copy of the letter and envelope from Ms. Ustick follows:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The person who scheduled this matter to be reviewed, Ms. Hardy, did not contact me about the meeting. I had not been informed of this meeting by either City Officials or County Officials in time to attend. This is similar to Mr. Wilkinson’s secret hearing where I was also not informed so that I could attend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The review was to discuss Mr. Wilkinson’s findings (he found nothing wrong) and Mr. DeStefano’s findings (he found nothing wrong). The County Competency Board also found nothing wrong during this review and reported the investigation to Florida State authorities as finished and that they had found nothing wrong. I wrote Mr. Mayo on April 5, 2000, notifying him that the letter telling me of this meeting came too late for me to attend. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote Ms. Ustick, on April 5, 2000, the afternoon I received her letter notifying me of this meeting, and told her that the notice came too late for me to attend. I also notified Ms. Ustick that “there appears to be a large construction theft ring operating in Pensacola.” No steps were taken by Mr. Bonfield or Ms. Ustick to investigate the “theft ring,” stop the stealing or locate and return stolen property which in our case consisted of historic artifacts, building materials and money spent on false requirements.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote a letter to the Assistant City Manager, Ms. Ustick, dated May 11, 2000, where I told her I had received no answer to my letter to her of April 5, 2000, in which I asked her to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Find out why I did not receive notification (by her letter) of the hearing on April 5, 2000, until after the hearing was over (the second time this had happened).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Find out what happened to my stolen historic artifacts discussed between Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. DeStefano, Mr. Miller, and Mr. McFatter at their secret hearing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. DeStefano’s official report stated that my property (historic artifacts, building materials, etc.) was being held by Mr. Miller as Mr. Miller stated that I owed him money. This was not true and I had submitted all invoices, all paid in full, from Mr. Miller. Even if I owed him money, which I did not, grand theft if not authorized and was a felony. A mechanic’s lien was the proper action if a contractor believed he was owed money. All parties in this illegal hearing have refused to divulge what happened to my stolen property, most of it irreplaceable historic artifacts, 120 years old, most made of heart pine (which is now extinct) and/or mahogany. Neither of the public officials at this meeting, Mr. Wilkinson or Mr. DeStefano or their supervisors reported this apparent grand theft to the authorities which is required by Florida Law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I also addressed other problems caused by City Officials that I had brought to the attention of the City Manager, Mr. Bonfield, and the Assistant City Manager, Ms. Ustick, many times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In response, I received a letter from Ms. Ustick, dated May 23, 2000, where she stated,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Thank you for your letter, dated May 11, 2000, describing your concerns with the policies and procedures of the Inspections Department. I am in the process of looking into your allegations and will be providing a written report once my review of Inspections Department policies is complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for your patience and congratulations on winning the North Hill award for the restoration of your historic property.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I received a letter from DBPR, dated May 11, 2000, requesting that I complete and return the complaint forms they sent. Remember, I have diligently reported the apparent illegal/criminal actions against us by “professionals” to DBPR on several occasions, sent them extensive documentation, and yet they have previously stated that they could see nothing wrong. I completed and returned the forms they had sent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I attended the Pensacola City Council Meeting on May 25, 2000, and, again, raised the problems I had previously raised at City Council Meetings. The minutes of this meeting can be located at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.ci.pensacola.fl/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">www.ci.pensacola.fl</a></span> under council minutes for May 25, 2000. I also discussed City Officials not mailing, until April 4, 2000, the letter of notification that a hearing would be held on April 5, 2000, at the Escambia County Competency Board concerning my case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I had sent a copy of the letter, from Ms. Ustick, dated March 29, 2000, (which notified me of the hearing on April 5, 2000, and a copy of the envelope postmarked April 4, 2000 so that we received the notice to attend after the meeting was over) to Mayor Fogg, the City Manager, Mr. Bonfield, and all City Council Members. Only Councilwoman Jones and Councilwoman Thompson appeared to be concerned about the continued failure by City Staff to notify me of pertinent hearings that I should attend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As you can see from the minutes, pages 37-43, Mr. Bonfield refused to admit that the City Staff was responsible for not notifying me of the hearing in a timely manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even though I have frequently furnished all City Council Members with documentation clearly presenting many actions on the part of City Staff which were in violation of City Ordinances and Florida State Statutes, Councilman Wiggins stated, on page 40 of the minutes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“We may have disputes, we may have disagreements, but I think when someone stands up and says, “Your staff is breaking the law,” that’s a pretty tough accusation to make, and I quite frankly don’t believe it. Our staff is good.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">What about the illegal Certificate of Occupancy requirement on change of tenant which was against construction law? What about my stolen artifacts, stolen building materials and abandoned prepaid projects? What about the Pensacola Police Department refusing to arrest Mr. Miller, even though he admitted he took my property? What about the Pensacola Police Department refusing to secure my stolen property. These are only a few examples where City Staff appeared to be breaking the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote a letter to Ms. Ustick, dated June 23, 2000. In response,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I received a letter from Ms. Ustick, dated June 26, 2000, where she stated:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“This will acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 23, 2000. Your complaints about City staff and City procedures regarding renovation of your building at 520 North Spring Street are still being reviewed. Because of the nature and volume of your complaints, it is taking an extended period of time to review and prepare an appropriate response. It is anticipated that our written report to the City Council will be finalized sometime prior to the August 17, 2000, City Council meeting and you will be provided with a copy of this report.”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Mayo fired Mr. DeStefano as the Investigator for the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board and assigned Mr. Lynn Adams to that position. Unfortunately, Mr. Adams was an electrical inspector one day and the Investigator for the Board the next day. It appears that, except for limited knowledge in his own field, he had no knowledge of and/or background in the Standard Building Code, Florida State Statutes, or Escambia County Ordinances defining contractor misconduct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Adams called me, informed me that he was the new investigator, and asked that I resubmit all information I had previously submitted to Mr. DeStefano and that I meet with him at the property. I did. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote a letter to Mr. Adams, dated July 7, 2000, thanked him for meeting with me and forwarded another package containing extensive documentation about the case.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I again wrote Ms. Ustick on June 23, 2000.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 12525 Meadson Road<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Pensacola, Fl 32506 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> June 23, 2000</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ms. Maryann Ustick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assistant City Manager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">P. O. Box 12910<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pensacola, Fl 32521-0053<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Ms. Ustick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have received no response to the issues raised in my letters dated April 5, 2000 and May 11, 2000. Your letter of May 23, 2000, a month ago, stated that you were looking into the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">allegations, but it seems that you are still ignoring my concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I explained that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">1) Mr. Wilkinson knows of 120-year-old artifacts and building materials stolen from me by<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Miller. I want an inventory of the stolen property.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">2) Pensacola has a large construction theft ring aided by questionable Building Inspection Department policies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">3) Mr. Wilkinson illegally dismisses valid complaints against contractors and does not inform property owners of available avenues, declaring every situation a civil matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">4) The Pensacola Building Inspection Department and some local contractors seem to be involved in permit selling. Qualified contractors pulling permits for contractors not qualified is a common practice here, overlooked by the Building Inspection Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ms. Ustick, you really need to correct this situation. Mr. Delmus Wilkinson, the head of the Building Inspection Department, the former Mrs. Delmus Wilkinson, his assistant head and some of the building inspectors need to be dismissed for incompetence, breaking the law and perhaps even aiding and abetting contractors who commit grand theft.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As always, I will be happy to answer any questions. I can be reached at 850-492-1962 or faxed at 850-491-1205.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mary M. Mead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cc: Mr. Bonfield, Chief Potts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Council Members<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">On July 9, 2000, I wrote a letter to the Pensacola City Council and City Staff bringing them up to date.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I attended the Pensacola City Council Meeting on July 13, 2000, and spoke, pages 44-48. On page 44 of the minutes, I asked that the Pensacola City Council investigate actions on the part of City Staff which appeared to be illegal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Councilman Nobles cautioned me that my statements “are also libelous terms and I would caution you about using those statements unless you’ve got proof and you’re willing to stand up in front of a court of law and prove this.” I told him that I was. Councilman Nobles should have said “slanderous” terms as libel refers to written statements and slander refers to verbal statements. Councilman Nobles should have known I had proof as I had sent him extensive documentation to support my statements. His attitude appeared to be mainly to try to publicly intimidate me to stop requesting that City Officials stop breaking the law, return my stolen property and charge those who are breaking the law as defined in Florida State Statutes; and also to verbally intimidate me to serve as a lesson to others about what they faced if they spoke up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assistant City Attorney Fleming tried very hard on pages 45 and 46 to charge me with stating that the State Attorney’s Office had recommended that a grand jury be convened concerning this matter. I did not state that but I did state that an individual in the State Attorney’s Office told me that there were many options that the Pensacola City Council could use to investigate and correct what appeared to be crimes (mostly felonies) being committed by City Staff and that convening a grand jury was just one of those options he listed. I had sent a letter to City Staff and members of the City Council, dated July 9, 2000, prior to this meeting spelling this out in detail so I didn’t understand the supposed confusion at the City Council Meeting. The Pensacola Police Chief was in attendance, apparently ready to swoop down and arrest me, on the spot, if I could be trapped into misquoting the State Attorney’s Office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The State Attorney had so far refused to do anything to stop the apparent illegal/criminal actions against us so I was very careful not to misquote his office staff as they appeared to be hostile to me when I asked them to do the job they were assigned and paid to do. But they appeared to be friendly to City Officials who appeared to be breaking the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-12070599026640973702018-10-25T11:59:00.001-07:002018-10-25T11:59:29.076-07:00Chapter 24Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-905401188103031762018-10-25T11:59:00.000-07:002018-10-25T11:59:18.507-07:00Chapter 23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-30607318565715853412018-10-25T11:58:00.000-07:002018-10-25T11:58:56.958-07:00Chapter 22<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
of July, 2000, I was still waiting for the results of the police investigation
which began March 17, 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Police Chief
Potts had stated that Investigator Stone was the best they had when he assigned
him to the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
the investigation started, Inspector Stone was hard to reach, seemed upset when
I gave him documentation or tried to talk to him and reluctantly and randomly
returned some of my phone calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
seemed to be otherwise engaged as he was the father of toddler triplets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps he should have been given family
leave and not have been assigned to this case as he was too busy and too
frequently not at work to do a good job even if he were so inclined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The initial
interview, on March 27, 2000, with Investigator Stone had been confusing as his
questions were disorganized and not sequenced by chronology or order of
importance but the correspondence, invoices, payment records, City Ordinances,
State Statutes and Federal Regulations I had submitted should have been more
than enough for him to see the illegal acts committed against us and should have
been more than enough to substantiate my testimony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
explained to him that the biggest problem and the apparent basis for all other
problems we encountered while simply improving the maintenance of the house
downtown and making small repairs, as noted in the Professional Property
Inspector Report, was the apparent refusal of City Officials, mainly Mr.
Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson, to obey the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigator
Stone took 5 months to complete his investigation which I received on August
18, 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pensacola Police
Department Investigation, performed by Investigator Stone, appeared to be a
cover-up of illegal activities on the part of City Officials and the building
contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not a serious
investigation to determine the level of law breaking, who was doing it and a
determination of charges to be made to prevent this from happening again as the
results were that great harm was done to hundreds of law-abiding people in
Pensacola, including us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
decided to prepare a response to this investigation to point out the fatal
flaws, the evidence which I had supplied to Investigator Stone which was
ignored, Investigator Stone quoting rumors and gossip which had no foundation
or documentation, etc., in an effort to stop the apparent criminal/illegal
actions freely committed by public officials – since the Pensacola Police
Department refused to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
requested, under the Public Information Act, the documentation that
Investigator Stone had used in his investigation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was given the run around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
wrote a letter, dated August 25, 2000, to the City Manager, Mr. Bonfield,
stating:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In my letter of August 20, 2000, I stated
“I would like a copy of the interview tape and a copy of all interview reports
and other evidence collected as I will pursue this on my own.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Ms. Brown, by phone, that Detective
Stone told me that I could just stop by and pick this material up from the
Records Section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the Police
Department Records Section and these items were not on file there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only reports on police calls and arrest
records are kept there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They referred me
to the Property Management section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
went there and they said that Detective Stone still retained the material I had
asked for, that they had not received it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I asked to see Detective Stone but when he was phoned from the front
desk, he said he was too busy to see me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I am again requesting these items under the public records law.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was eventually given the materials I had requested, went over them carefully
and prepared a response to Investigator Stone’s false report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
investigation report has raised serious doubts, in most people I have shown the
report, about other investigations done by the Pensacola Police
Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
received a copy of a Committee Memorandum from the City Manager, Mr. Bonfield,
to the Economic and Community Development Committee, dated August 14, 2000,
Subj:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>520 North Spring Street –
Responses to Ms. Mary Mead’s Complaints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This memorandum stated the results of the investigation on the part of
Pensacola City Officials and the Pensacola Police Department (Investigator
Stone).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
memo and the Official Police Investigation can be viewed at ci.pensacola.fl.us
under council files for the date 08/14/2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
document contained statements from various City Officials (pages 1-23)
reporting their investigative results and Investigator Stone’s official report
(pages 24-32) which was approved by his supervisors all the way up to the
Police Chief, Chief Potts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On pages
33-34 was a memo from Mr. Wilkinson, subj:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Contractor Licensing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
seriously flawed report was now in official records and also online, but the
written response I made to this investigation was not printed online for people
to see the problems with Investigator Stone’s investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wrote
the Police Department, the City Manager and each Council Member a response to
Investigator Stone’s official report, pointing out the numerous false
statements, erroneous legal facts and apparent hostility directed at me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I again reported our concerns about a grand
theft ring, especially against historic properties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
appeared that Investigator Stone refused to properly investigate the apparent
illegal/criminal actions against us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
did not compare statements made by those he interviewed with the documentation
I submitted to him as proof of wrongdoing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He freely accepted and then repeated false statements in his report from
the individuals he interviewed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
statements appeared to sidestep the matter in question, and appeared to be
false statements, gossip and rumors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had expected a professional investigation and not a cover-up of City Officials
apparently committing illegal/criminal actions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chief
Potts accepted Investigator Stone’s report and sent it to his boss, the
Pensacola City Manager, Mr. Bonfield, who accepted the report and included it
in his report to the Pensacola City Council and published it online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigator
Stone’s Investigation Report consisted of a telephone log, diary, rumors,
unfounded gossip and false statements and assumptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigator Stone quoted, without verifying,
Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Aaron, a felon, Mr. Miller, a career criminal who has an
extensive record of bad checks and unpaid judgments, etc. and Mr. McFatter who
enabled Mr. Miller and Mr. Aaron to continue to cheat their creditors by
receiving money for them so it could not be garnished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
his report, Investigator Stone presented what he incorrectly supposed or
assumed what I “thought and felt” instead of reporting the City correspondence,
Florida Statutes, City Ordinances, invoices, paid receipts and documented facts
that I had given him as evidence to support my statements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not break the law and have no criminal
record.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
diligently studied Investigator Stone’s official report which was supposed to
be a professional investigation of the apparent illegal/criminal actions I had
reported to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are the violations
of the law that I reported to Investigator Stone and his investigation relating
to the situation I had reported to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">INVESTIGATOR
STONE’S OFFICIAL POLICE REPORT <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Violation of the law I reported:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials illegally required a new
Certificate of Occupancy on each change of tenant which was against The
Standard Building Code (SBC), the official law for construction in
Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chapter 3401.2.2 Change of
occupancy states “It is not applicable for change of tenant within the same
occupancy classification.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
officially exempt from this requirement as the classification of the house was
commercial and remained commercial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">City
Officials appeared to use this illegal requirement, which appeared to be a
scam, to illegally and criminally separate property owners from their money,
building materials and artifacts and to deny property owners the legal use of
their property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To enforce the illegal
requirement, City Officials pushed through a change to the Land Development
Code, the zoning ordinance, (not the SBC) hidden under the description of
“minor changes” and demanded that property owners comply with this illegal
ordinance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
violated Pensacola City Ordinances, Florida State Statutes, and the United
States Constitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
submitted, to Investigator Stone, a copy of the legal Standard Building Code
regulation, a copy of the illegal City Ordinance, issued February 11, 1999,
copious amounts of correspondence recording the City Officials’ illegal demands
and proof of our purchase of the property (our deed) in June, 1998, showing
that we had no change of tenant after the effective date of the ordinance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only reference in Investigator Stone’s
Official Report to this major apparent illegal/criminal action on the part of
City Officials, the illegal demand for a Certificate of Occupancy on change of
tenant, is part of paragraph 2, on page 4 of 9, where Investigator Stone
stated, “Wilkinson said, in reference to the issue concerning Mead’s claim of
unlawful charges for Certificate of Occupancy permits that his office was going
by the City Ordinance which had been in place for some time….”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
documentation I had given Investigator Stone clearly showed that this was a
false statement as the ordinance, which Mr. Wilkinson stated, “had been in
place for some time” was secretly pushed through by City Officials, hidden
under “minor changes”, in 1999, to change the Land Development Code (LDC) and
did not change the Standard Building Code, the Pensacola construction law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials apparently did this to
continue their apparent illegal/criminal activities against property
owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
though it appeared the only reason for City Officials to pretend that they had
changed the SBC was to have a basis to keep alive or justify the illegal
procedure, Investigator Stone did not expose that City Officials appeared to
commit illegal/criminal acts but chose, instead, to repeat the false
statements, unfounded gossip and rumors supplied by Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is no copy of any City Ordinance in Investigator Stone’s records other than the
one I supplied dated February, 1999, which did not change the Standard Building
Code but modified the Land Development Code which was not legal to use for
construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Violation of the law I reported:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials illegally required that we
meet the requirements of the Florida Accessibility Law when we were clearly
exempted as it applied only to buildings constructed after 1997 and our
building was constructed in 1883.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition, a special paragraph exempted buildings officially identified and
recorded as historic structures, which ours was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigator Stone did not address this issue
at all although City Officials’ actions in this matter violated Florida State
Statutes since the Florida Legislature had set a beginning date, 1997, where
buildings constructed before this date were exempted and they also exempted
historic buildings, which ours was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">City
Officials used this illegal requirement to continue to keep our business closed
down thereby preventing us from earning income from our business property.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
violated Florida State Statutes, and the United States Constitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">3. Violation
of the law I reported:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials
appeared to have committed extortion against us and the people of Pensacola in
two ways:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1) required illegal fees; (2)forced
us to do construction and hire people against our will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1) Florida State Statute “839.11
Extortion by officers of the state. – Any officer of this state who willfully
charges, receives, or collects any greater fees or services than the officer is
entitled to charge, receive, or collect by law.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">City
officials appeared to have committed extortion by illegally demanding a
Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant, to include a Temporary Electrical
Service fee I paid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigator Stone did not address this issue
at all although City Officials’ actions in this matter violated Florida State
Statutes regarding extortion on the part of public officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I had stated to Investigation Stone, the
fees charged for the illegal Certificate of Occupancy, to include Temporary
Electrical Service which we paid, appeared to fall into this category.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="0836.05">(2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Florida State Statute </a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: "0836\.05";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">836.05</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Threats; extortion.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--Whoever, either verbally or by a written or printed
communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of any crime or offense,
or by such communication maliciously threatens an injury to the person,
property or reputation of another, or maliciously threatens to expose another
to disgrace, or to expose any secret affecting another, or to impute any
deformity or lack of chastity to another, with intent thereby to extort money
or any pecuniary advantage whatsoever, or with intent to compel the person so
threatened, or any other person, to do any act or refrain from doing any act
against his or her will, shall be guilty of a felony of the second degree,
punishable as provided in s. <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0775/Sec082.htm#0775.082"><span style="color: blue;">775.082</span></a></span></u>, s. <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0775/Sec083.htm#0775.083"><span style="color: blue;">775.083</span></a></span></u>, or s. <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0775/Sec084.htm#0775.084"><span style="color: blue;">775.084</span></a></span></u>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">History.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--s. 42, sub-ch. 3, ch. 1637, 1868; RS 2420; GS 3261; RGS
5092; CGL 7194; s. 1, ch. 57-254; s. 991, ch. 71-136; s. 1307, ch. 97-102.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Both
Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson repeatedly and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">maliciously
threatened to accuse us breaking the law if we used our property without doing
unneeded, destructive construction work, against our will, or if we refused to
hire the contractor, Mr. Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
appeared to constitute extortion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Official correspondence in the package I
submitted to Investigator Stone showed that Mr. Wilkinson had refused building
permits to me (I was authorized under Florida State Statutes and under Escambia
County Ordinances to be my own contractor as I fell within the authorized
parameters) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and had refused building
permits to qualified building contractors I had selected and insisted that we
hire Mr. Miller or we would not get a building permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson stated that a commercial
contractor was required – that a building contractor would not do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
also stated that Mr. Miller had restored many historic properties and was an
excellent contractor with no complaints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Wilkinson made many false statements in order to force me to hire
Mr. Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After research, I found that
there was no category of “Commercial Contractor” and that Mr. Miller was a
Building Contractor just like the Building Contractors Mr. Wilkinson had
refused building permits to as he said they were not qualified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller was forced on us under threats and
false pretenses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Page 7 of 9, paragraph 5, Investigator Stone stated, “they could not do the
work because it required someone with a commercial contractor’s license to pull
the permits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They referred McFatter to
Doug Miller.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This appeared to verify my
statement that Mr. Wilkinson refused to issue building permits to building
contractors as he said someone with a commercial contractor’s license must be
hired and that Mr. Miller was the best commercial contractor in the area and
should be hired – that he would issue him a building permit so we could
complete the construction on our house required by Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson issued a building permit to Mr.
Miller even though there was no such category as commercial contractor - Mr.
Miller had a building contractor’s license, just like the contractors I hired
but to whom Mr. Wilkinson would not issue a building permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller should have never received a
contractor’s license in the first place as he had an extensive record
concerning illegal activities in the contracting business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigator
Stone blindly repeated the above statements and did not ascertain that my
written statement was correct – that there was no contractor category called
commercial contractor-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and that this was
another ruse, on the part of Mr. Wilkinson, to deny me and building contractors
I hired a building permit but continued to insist on Mr. Miller being hired or
a building permit would not be issued and, once again, threatened that our
house would sit until it rotted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigator
Stone ignored the scope of the crimes committed against us and other property
owners, by <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials who repeatedly
stated, verbally and in writing, that we would be charged with an offense for
actions which did not constitute an offense in order to force us into actions
against our will:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certificate of Occupancy
fraud:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be charged with an
offense if</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> we</span> o<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">beyed the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">construction law and opened
without submitting to the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> illegal </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">demands of City Officials</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">who required a new CO on
change of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> tenant with </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">the purpose of keeping us illegally closed </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">apparently in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> order </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">to
facilitate </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">committing grand theft against us of building</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> materials, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">money and historic</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> artifacts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Illegal refusal of building
permits to legitimate recipients:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
were</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> denied </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">building permits for </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">ourselves and qualified
building contractors</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> in order to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">force us to hire Mr. Miller apparently </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">to facilitate stealing our</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> building </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">materials,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> money and historic artifacts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>False Florida Accessibility Requirement:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be charged with an </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> offense </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">if we
obeyed </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">the construction law, complied
with the SBC, and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Florida </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Accessibility Code as we</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">fell under their definition
of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> exempted </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">categories.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">City </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Officials
forced us to submit to the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Florida</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Accessibility </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Code even
though we </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">did not meet the criteria for using the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Florida </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Accessibility Code apparently with</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the purpose of keeping us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> illegally </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">closed in order to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">facilitate robbing us of </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">building materials,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> money and</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> historic artifacts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Violation of the law I reported:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I submitted to Investigator Stone specific
incidences of Mr. Miller, Mr. McFatter, Mr. Aaron and other contractors/
subcontractors committing apparent criminal acts against us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Page 2 of 9, paragraph 4, Investigator Stone stated, “Miller states in the
record he has some material of Meads (sic) he is holding because Mead owes him
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mead said this is not true but
there has not been anything provided to substantiate this claim.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Investigation:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Investigator Stone did not require anything
from Mr. Miller to make this accusation of not being paid but I had given
Investigator Stone a copy of invoices from Mr. Miller on completed projects
annotated, by Mr. Miller, paid in full and paid far in advance on unfinished
projects.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I gave Investigator Stone
another copy of the invoices indicating that I did not owe Mr. Miller any money
but that he was paid in full on completed projects and paid far ahead on
projects he had subsequently abandoned.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Investigator Stone was supplied material to substantiate my claim on
several occasions but this fact was never reflected in his official report.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
had given Investigator Stone a copy of the Escambia County Contractor
Competency Board Investigation report which covered a secret hearing held by
Mr. Wilkinson, which Mr. DeStefano attended, and included in his official
report that Mr. Miller confessed to having property belonging to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This report prepared by the investigator for
the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board, was the “in the record”
referred to by Investigator Stone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
repeatedly asked Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Bonfield, the City Manager, Ms. Ustick, the
Assistant City Manager, and Investigator Stone for a list of the materials (historic
artifacts, building supplies, etc.) stolen by Mr. Miller and Mr. McFatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigator Stone did not address this
secret hearing on March 6, 1999, where I was deliberately excluded, and did not
obtain a list of the stolen items which I had requested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigator
Stone did not attempt to locate the stolen artifacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he interviewed Mr. Wilkinson,
Investigator Stone did not show him a copy of Mr. DeStefano’s official report
(which I had given him) of the meeting between Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. DeStefano,
Mr. Miller and Mr. McFatter where Mr. Miller admitted to taking and “holding”
property belonging to the Meads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did
not ask Mr. Wilkinson to identify and put in writing the property Mr. Miller
admitted to stealing from the Meads as evidence for future charges as I had
specifically asked that he do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Investigator Stone did not interview Mr. DeStefano to obtain an
inventory of the historic artifacts Mr. Miller boasted of “holding.”<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
violation of Florida State Statutes, the property illegally held by Mr. Miller,
historic artifacts and building materials, was never returned to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holding another’s property and denying them
the use of it is theft and since the value of this stolen property was in the
tens of thousands, maybe even more based on the value of the stolen historic
overmantels, it constituted grand theft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investigator
Stone refused to arrest Mr. Miller and retrieve our property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if we owed Mr. Miller, which we didn’t,
he is not allowed self-help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
mechanic’s lien is the legal avenue he should have taken instead of grand
theft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-17737905927080296682018-10-25T11:36:00.001-07:002018-10-25T11:36:25.504-07:00Chapter 20<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I discovered that Mr. Miller had an extensive criminal
background and apparently was known as a career criminal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson had stated that Mr. Miller was
honest, hard-working, and experienced in restoring historic properties when he
forced Mr. Miller on us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Escambia
County Contractors<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Competency Board
stated that there were no complaints against Mr. Miller even though I later
found out that there had been complaints made to the Escambia County Contractor
Competency Board regarding grand theft, fraud, and abandonment of projects in a
construction situation against Mr. Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Escambia County Contractors Competency Board should not have renewed
Mr. Miller’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>contractor’s license after
these complaints which occurred before we were forced to hire him for our
projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Florida Statutes prohibited
individuals with construction related crimes to obtain or renew a contactor’s
license.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition, Mr. Miller’s building permit record showed that
he had never completed a project in Escambia County or in Pensacola even though
he had drawn permits in both and had not closed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had never worked on an historic property
contrary to what Mr. Wilkinson stated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Wilkinson had to be aware of the abandoned permits in the City as
they were drawn from his office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thankfully, Mr. Miller’s criminal record did not appear to include
assault, pedophilia, or rape which would have put my grandchildren and me in
great danger as we were frequently at the house while Mr. Miller was
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">During one of the Pensacola City Council Committee meetings, usually
held on a Monday before the regular Pensacola City Council Meeting itself,
usually held on a Thursday, I brought it to the attention of the Pensacola City
Council Members and the audience that the Pensacola City Police Department had
refused my reports of grand theft three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFRzeONi1FGFX5ISthi0OFBiaMbxbfEEJlwJGt6goKaa-nvZGV32uE9v9ZV-Tt2Y78FdKpnEZ4FJ7ZciFQdxkDrqNTqlbWvWQCCncqehaWq5hsllYNiyt1lmTtMquLIkxdHuZxpkMF5E/s1600/ltr+to+police+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1588" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFRzeONi1FGFX5ISthi0OFBiaMbxbfEEJlwJGt6goKaa-nvZGV32uE9v9ZV-Tt2Y78FdKpnEZ4FJ7ZciFQdxkDrqNTqlbWvWQCCncqehaWq5hsllYNiyt1lmTtMquLIkxdHuZxpkMF5E/s640/ltr+to+police+001.jpg" width="634" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After this meeting, Pensacola Police Chief Potts came over to
me, took out his pocket notepad and began asking me questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked whom I had spoken with at the Police
Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him the first two
were men, described them, and said that the third was a young woman with a K-9
emblem on her shirt sleeve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrote all
of this down and said that he would handle it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The on-lookers appeared pleased at his interest in resolving the
repeated grand thefts and fraud committed against us as we were restoring a
beautiful historic property. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote a
letter to Police Chief Potts, dated March 4, 2000, and again described the
incidents of grand theft and fraud committed against us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Police Chief Potts wrote me a letter, dated March 9, 2000, (printed
below) refusing to investigate the incidents of grand theft, in our case
felonies, which I had repeatedly reported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It appeared that his interest after the meeting was just a big show in
front of the Pensacola City Council members and other participants but was followed
later by a private letter refusing to do anything about the incidents of grand
theft and fraud, which had been the Pensacola Police Department’s stance all
along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In his letter, Chief Potts reiterated that grand theft was a
civil matter which the Pensacola Police Department refused to address even
though Florida State Statutes specifically defined grand theft as a crime and
the Pensacola Police Department was a law enforcement agency being paid to
protect the People of Pensacola against crime, especially felonies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1600" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pqhuODro4WXqHDLpt3jVDZ0SDM1BPhJil59psQYvEJ-nINxWYmI4GD_qSwegy2reLH7T_ZmukzcwftGHeD20hF0RnfeGht9Zce4wmYNTcEi135CKmYCFRaZ1d1KZJSSCuYfygW0SNJ0/s640/ltr+from+chief+potts+001.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Shortly after Police Chief Potts’ letter of March 9, 2000, he
had Investigator Stone contact me by phone.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Investigator Stone said that he had been authorized to investigate the
matters laid out in my letter of March 4, 2000.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the City Council Meeting on March 9, 2000, (<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.ci.pensacola.fl/">www.ci.pensacola.fl</a></span></span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> , council minutes for March 9, 2000), </span>I,
again, discussed the apparent illegal/criminal actions of City Officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Bonfield stated that he disagreed with me
but gave no details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the
statements I made were true and well documented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
received an informational letter from Ms. Ustick, Pensacola Assistant Manager,
dated March 13, 2000, which contained a chronological listing of some of the
events regarding our property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">wasn’t
very helpful and left out the illegal hearing held by Mr. Wilkinson and the
confession, at </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">this hearing, by </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr.
Douglas E. Miller of apparent grand theft and apparent boasting of the historic
artifacts and the building material items he had taken.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I received a letter from Ms. Hardy, acting supervisor of the
Escambia County Contractor Competency Board, where she stated:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The City of Pensacola has forwarded the complaint you filed
with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to the Escambia
County Contractor Competency Board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
complaint has been reviewed and no probable cause has been established to
process the complaint against the contractor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">These findings will be submitted to the Competency Board for
their review.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson reviewed the complaint and found no probable
cause so his finding was submitted, by Ms. Hardy, to the Escambia County
Contractor Competency Board as if it were a valid investigation with accurate
findings instead of what it really was:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a secret meeting where grand theft of our personal property was
discussed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Word
came from City Officials, by way of a phone call, that they were abandoning the
illegal, unnecessary construction demands that the Building Inspection
Department had made on our property, under the so-called authority of the
requirement for a “new” Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant - that
they had refused to put in writing (removing the roof, replacing rafters, etc.)
- and that we could apply to the various Departments to open for business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
met with the Director of the Pensacola Planning Department, Mr. Doidge, at the
beginning of May regarding the continued operation of our business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson had said that we had to open as
a business office building, since he said that description was in his records,
and that we could not open as an art gallery/antique shop holding
functions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We lost the discussion with
Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had added an expensive
phone system, internet hookups, additional electrical outlets and all other
accessories needed for use as an office building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr.
Doidge said that his records indicated that the building had previously been
used as an art gallery/antique shop holding functions and that we had to open
with that use. What a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Doidge
showed me the planning records and he was right, as we had been right, and Mr.
Wilkinson had been wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The official
records indicated that it had not been recorded as an office building after
all, as we had repeatedly stated to Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
called my husband, Gene, and told him that Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson had created another big
mess which will cost us more money and delay as we now had to switch from an
office building to an art gallery/antique shop holding functions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both agreed that was what we had wanted all
along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I informed Mr. Doidge that we
agreed to that use as that is why we had initially purchased the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I filled out the paperwork and went to each
affected Department for approval and in a few days we were authorized to open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had been selected as one of the historic homes to be featured in the North Hill
tour of Historic Homes, held at the end of May, 2000, which is when we were
allowed to open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called to accept
their invitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were one of the few
buildings which met the special requirements set up for the tour in 2000, the
millennium year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each building had to be
at least 100 years old, ours was 120 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The building had to be restored to the original time frame, ours was,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had decorated the house with accessories appropriate to 1883 and had picked
flowers for display from the yards of our residence and the house
downtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the tour days, my husband
rented an outfit appropriate to the time period, tails, and even sported a fake
mustache which our grandson (6 years old) proudly pointed out to visitors was
fake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Visitors
to our property were thrilled and amazed at the beauty of the house and the
authenticity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been hard to
accomplish this as so many of our original artifacts had been stolen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had paid a great deal of money to have the
spindles recreated but had left blank the places on the wall where the stolen
architectural features (overmantels, sconces, etc.) had been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We replaced the original stolen crystal
doorknobs with acrylic reproductions and had replaced the stolen original white
porcelain doorknobs painted with little pink roses with brass doorknobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These severe losses were the direct result of
the illegal demands of Mr. Bonfield and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Mr. Wilkinson</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">the refusal of the Pensacola
Police Department to stop the grand theft and the refusal of the Pensacola
Police Department to locate and return our stolen property to us.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
received a letter from Pensacola Police Chief Potts, dated March 21, 2000,
asking that I submit a new complaint listing all problems with the City
Officials and not just those contained in my letter of March 4, 2000, which he
had previously refused to investigate by letter, dated March 9, 2000, but finally
agreed to investigate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
prepared a package containing all areas of apparent illegal/criminal actions
matched with the ordinance/statute/federal law they violated, all invoices from
Mr. Miller (all marked paid in full), all permits, relevant Standard Building
Code documents, letters from City Officials violating the Standard Building
Code, Florida State Statute regarding Monies paid to contractors (defining the
instances where this constituted grand theft – Mr. Miller’s did) information on
the fake Land Development Code Ordinance modification misrepresenting
Certificate of Occupancy requirements, the in-house emails naming me
specifically as the target of the Ordinance modification, and many other documents,
and I personally delivered these to Investigator Stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
March 26, 2000, I wrote a letter to Ms. Ustick in response to her letter of
March 13, 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked her for her
letter and, again, brought to her attention problem areas in the City which
needed to be corrected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
March 26, 2000, I wrote a letter to Mr. Mayo, the Building Official for
Escambia County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reported to Mr. Mayo
that Mr. DeStefano, the official investigator for the Escambia County
Contractor Competency Board had participated in a secret hearing conducted by
Mr. Wilkinson, the Pensacola City Building Inspection Department, regarding the
report I had made about apparent illegal/criminal actions on the part of City
Officials and on the part of the building contractor, Mr. Miller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
told Mr. Mayo that this hearing was conducted without my knowledge and without
me being present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before submitting his
official report to the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board, Mr.
DeStefano did not:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>question me in order to clarify my stand <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>indicate if he called or met with others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>return my phone calls requesting
information and the status of my case<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>notify me of when, or if, there would be a
hearing on this case<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Under
the Public Information Law, I requested:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the names of people called by Mr.
DeStefano and the substance of the interviews <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the reason that I, as a principal, was not
called by Mr. DeStefano in preparing his<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>official report for the Escambia
County Contractor Competency Board<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>any emails, notes, memos, letters, etc. to
or from the investigator to any person or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>agency where my case is mentioned in
any way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an inventory of the items Mr. Miller
admitted, during the meeting with the County Competency <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Board Investigator and the City
Building Inspection Department Director, Mr. Wilkinson, to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>taking from our property and
holding them and refusing to return them (grand theft)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr.
Mayo ignored my letter and refused my requests listed above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-31638089267596940952018-10-25T11:36:00.000-07:002018-10-25T11:36:09.896-07:00Chapter 19<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Very little attention was paid to this important change in the operation of the Pensacola Buildiing Inspection Department as Mr. Bowden, of the Pesacola News Journal, started a compaign to change the confederate flag in the Fiesta of Five Flags’ display as he said that the current one (the “Stars and Bars”) was not historically correct. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many disagreed with his statements and produced old letters and documents to support their side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The controversy about the flags (or as Mr. Bowden named it, “the flag flap”) continued and spread to Escambia County regarding their Five Flags’ display. The County Commission and the City Council voted on which flag they wanted with the County staying with the “Stars and Bars” and the City going to a different Confederate Flag. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, every Pensacola Police Officer uniform patch and every marked Pensacola Government vehicle had the “Five Flags” on it so they all had to be changed. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile, during this contrived controversy or distraction, no one paid any attention to the rampant corruption in Pensacola. The Pensacola News Journal had consistently refused to publish letters to the editor I had submitted regarding corruption in Pensacola and had consistently refused my requests for them to do an investigative report on corruption in Pensacola where public officials were breaking the law and harming law-abiding citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">There were many speakers at the Pensacola City Council Meeting of February 10, 2000, to discuss the pros and cons of changing the flag. The minutes of this meeting can be located at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.ci.pensacola.fl/">www.ci.pensacola.fl</a></span> under council minutes for February 10, 2000. I attended this meeting and spoke during Open Forum about the continuing corruption in Pensacola especially as it pertains to the Pensacola Building Inspection Department. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I stated, “Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Bowden decided to spend valuable time and City money researching the Confederate Flag in the City of Five Flags’ display.” I discussed how this discussion on the flag issue had been a hot topic while corruption in the City was not being corrected by the City Manager, Mr. Bonfield, the County Sheriff, Mr. McNesby or Florida State agencies, to include Governor Jeb Bush, who were tasked with this function.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I also attended and spoke at the next Pensacola City Council
Meeting on February 24, 2000. The
minutes of this meeting can be located at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.ci.pensacola.fl/">www.ci.pensacola.fl</a></span> under council
minutes for February 24, 2000. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After I spoke about the problems with the Pensacola Building
Inspection Department, especially concerning the illegal actions of
contractors, including grand theft, only two members of the Pensacola City
Council asked me questions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON: Yes.
Are these contractors you’re talking about, are these contractors you
hired or are these contractors that the City has sent out to do work for
you? I’m not sure I understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: They’re certified by the
City. The building official for the City
has a responsibility to monitor contractors and to have hearings on problems
with contractors. Yes, they must be
regulated by the City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MAYOR
FOGG: I think the Manager would like to
address that, Ms. Thompson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> CITY MANAGER
BONFIELD: Ms. Thompson, I believe the
contractors are licensed by the State of Florida. They may be registered with the City, but
that’s simply a matter of conferring that they have a state license. Mr. Wilkinson is in the back; he may be able
to address that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I don’t know
that the council really wants to get into all those issues tonight, but I don’t
think the response that Ms. Mead gave you, that we’re conferring any kind of
licensing on them or certification on them, is accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER THOMPSON: But I guess my question
still is, are you hiring them yourself, are you paying them? The City is not sending you contractors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: Yes, right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER THOMPSON: So you’re hiring these
people youself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS. MEAD:
Right. The profession is
regulated by the Professional Board of Regulators, but the City building
official is responsible to monitor contractors who work within the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MAYOR
FOGG: Anything else, Ms. Thompson?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER THOMPSON: Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MAYOR
FOGG: Okay. Thank you.
Ms. Jones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Yes. Ms. Mead, I have a question. You mentioned something about a felonious
situation. Have you met with Mr.
Bonfield lately?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS. MEAD: No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: I think it would be good
for you to try to meet with him and go over some of these things, especially if
you feel the City has any responsibility for any of these things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: Well, I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Well, I would suggest – I
can’t make you, but I think it would be nice if you would meet with Mr.
Bonfield. There’s one thing you said
about things stolen by the subcontractors or the contractors?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: Yes, ma’am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Now, of course, I think
Ms. Thompson’s already asked were they hired by you, but who is in the building
with them when they’re working? Do you
just give them the key and let them go in?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: It varies. Sometimes I’m there, sometimes there’s
another contractor there, sometimes they are in there by themselves. No one lives in the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Okay, so, obviously, there
must be some things in the house – it’s not a new construction, so there must
be some things in the house that were there when they enter the house; is that
right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: Attached to the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Oh, attached to the house?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS. MEAD:
The spindles, yes, ma’am. Like,
the first thing that was stolen was a hugh bell out front that must have
weighed two hundred pounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: My goodness. Do you have insurance?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: That’s not really an insurable
thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: The problem is, you report it to
the police – the Police Department is very nice, but there is a line between
civil and criminal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: That’s true. Did you report these things, on the
contractors or subocontractors, to the licensing agent?.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: Yes, ma’am, and they sent it back
to Mr. Wilkinson. That’s the authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: So, in other words – now,
Mr. Bonfield just said that we just register them; we’re not responsible for
their licenses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: I called the licensing board and
they said they sent it to Mr. Wilkinson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Well, why would they want to
send it back here if they’re the ones responsible for issuing the license?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: I can bring in their letter. I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES: Because it seems to me,
and I don’t know the law – maybe the attorney might help me with this – but if
they’re licensed by the State, shouldn’t complaints be handled by the
State. Mr. Bonfield or Mr. Attorney or
somebody? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> CITY MANAGER
BONFIELD: Yes, and there is a local
construction licensing board also that, I guess, is a division of DBPR, is that
correct, Delmus, or DPR, that regulates contractors?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR.
WILKINSON: Ms. Jones, there’s two types
of contractors; it’s a two-tiered system.
There’s Certified Contractors with the State, and then there’s Registered
Contractors wih the State. Those
Registered Contractors are certified by the County, and the local Escambia
County Contractors Competency Board regulates those </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">contractors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Could she make a complaint to
them and they have to give up their license or something?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR.
WILKINSON: When she filed the complaint with the State DBPR, Department of
Business and Professional Regulation, because it is a locally licensed
contractor, they did send the complaint back.
It was investigated. There was no
contracting laws that were determined to be violated. It was a contractual dispute between the
contractor and Ms. Mead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Well, let me ask you one other
questions, though. When they sent it back,
whoever they send it back to, do they have a hearing and let her be present
there? Were you present? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS.
MEAD: No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR.
WILKINSON: There was no evidence of
wrongdoing to have a hearing on. It was
investigated, and with the investigator from the competency board, and nothing
to file action on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: So they don’t have meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR.
WILKINSON: They do if there’s charges
brought against a contractor, but not on an investigation where there’s no
charges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Well, she filed a charge, didn’t
she?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR. WILKINSON:
She filed a complaint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Did you consider that a complaint
or a charge? I mean, I don’t know the
difference between them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS. MEAD: I told them to take his license if he was
going to cheat people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Could she go back and file
another complaint rather than a - I mean, a charge rather than a
complaint? Is it still possible for her
to do that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR.
WILKINSON: I’m not sure. That would be
through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation whether they
would act on that or not. I’m not sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: No, I mean the part that they
sent back here. Since they sent it back
here, and you say somebody investigated it, but there was someone here that
could have had a hearing and made some determination on the licenses – what can
a citizen do when they have these kinds of problems? I mean, if we don’t have a system, we need to
get one that allows people to be able to - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR.
WILKINSON: It can be – she can contact
the contractor’s competency board. That
would be the board that would be regulating that particular contractor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> CITY MANAGER
BONFIELD: And that’s not the City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: That’s the County.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MR.
WILKINSON: That’s the Escambia County
Contractors Competency Board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Okay. So you can file a charge with the board, with
your documentation, and then maybe they’ll have a hearing if it’s called a
charge rather than a complaint, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> CITY MANAGER
BONFIELD: That’s up to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Yeah, I know, but I mean, since
they didn’t call it a charge, and you say they only work on charges, then you
need to call it a charge. Maybe you’ll
get some remedy for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yeah, you
know, this sounds very serious, you know, and if contractors are doing this –
and, now we can’t say they did; you allege that they’re doing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MS. MEAD: Oh, absolutely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Comments by Mary Mead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson stated in his letter to me, dated October 6,
1999, that “The City of Pensacola Inspections Department is responsible for the
investigation of complaints against contractors who are registered with the
State of Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board and cerified through the
local contractor competency board.” Mr.
Wilkinson indicated at the bottom of his letter that copies had been sent to
Mr. Bonfield and Ms. Ustick, so both of them were aware of this investigation
and it’s findings.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet, both City Manager Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson denied this
fact when I stated it at the Pensacola City Council Meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It appeared that both tried to distance themselves from the
investigation, by Mr. Wilkinson, of misconduct by Mr. Miller yet both had
stated to me that the City had this authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson (who had refused permits to all contractors
except Mr. Miller) informed me in his letter that he had met with Mr. Miller, the
contractor, Mr. DeStefano of the Escambia Contractor’s Competency Board, and Mr.
McFatter, who was Mr. Miller’s partner in hiding Mr. Miller’s income to defraud
those who had judgments against him, “to determine if there have been any
violations of the laws regulating contractors.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This meeting, investigation or hearing was held in secret
without notifying me so that I could testify and present evidence of contractor
misconduct on the part of Mr. Miller; evidence which I had already supplied to
Mr. Wilkinson, in writing, in my letter of October 4, 1999, where I matched the
Escambia County Ordinance disciplinary requirements with the specific actions
Mr. Miller committed which violated the Statute and Ordinance (Florida Statute,
Section 489, Contracting, as the basis for the Escambia County Ordinance,
Section 18-36 Prohibitions, violations).
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson ignored this evidence and reported to me and to
the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board that there appeared to be no
contractor code violations on the part of Mr. Miller. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This hearing appeared to be a cover-up for Mr. Miller’s
misconduct as Mr. Miller’s other actions, including writing a bad check for
thousands of dollars, relating to contracting, violated the contractor’s
code. The evidence I supplied clearly
showed that his misconduct appeared to be the actions of a career criminal
using his contractor’s license to deceive and commit grand theft against
clients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson did not include in his report that Mr. Miller
had gleefully confessed to “holding” (stealing) vast amounts of building
materials and historic artifacts belonging to us, which he never returned, – but Mr. DeStefano did put this in his
official report so that it was a matter of record. Neither Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. DeStefano, Mr.
Bonfield or Ms. Ustick, all government employees, reported this confession of
grand theft to the proper authorities for prosecution as required under Florida
State Law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
JONES: Yes, it’s an allegation. So, if it’s an allegation, though, somebody
needs to address it, I think with her
present or somewhere. I mean, I think if
you bring a charge against someone that you ought to be able to meet them
somewhere to discuss it, whatever it is.
Anyway, thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> MAYOR
FOGG: Thank you. The next speaker, Mr. – or Ms. Thompson, you
wish to speak?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> COUNCIL MEMBER
THOMPSON: Yes. I just wanted to say that I agree with Ms.
Jones, that I think Ms. Mead definitely needs to get with the City Manager and
at least see what the City Manager can do before you go off and say that, you
know, nothing has been done. I think you
do at least have to give him a fair opportunity to at least look at what you
have and then say the parts that I think the City can do somethinig about, and
those things that the City cannot do anything about, you know, then at least he
can direct you to the right places to
make sure that you get those things taken care of. So I certainly would recommend that you go
and talk to the City Manager. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While I had not met with Mr. Bonfield, I had repeatedly
written him and Ms. Ustick and sent a copy of all correspondence to both of
them and frequently to the Pensacola
City Council Members, as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I stated above, it appeared that Mr. Bonfield and Mr.
Wilkinson desperately tried to cover-up the fact that Mr. Wilkinson had
conducted a secret “official” hearing, on October 6, 1999, in Mr. Wilkinson’s
office, without notifying me so that I
could be present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though I had sent documentation, including Mr.
Wilkinson’s letter, to each Pensacola City Council Member, only Council Member
Jones and Council Member Thompson addressed this important matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was able to obtain a copy of Mr. DeStefano’s official report. His report does not reflect an investigation
of the documentation I had given him but, instead, talked about the secret
hearing, held on October 6, 1999, at 2:30 p.m., by Mr. Wilkinson in his office. At this
hearing, Mr. Douglas E. Miller, the
contractor, confessed to “holding” (stealing) our property (historic artifacts,
building materials and money paid in advance for abandoned projects (defined by
State Statutes as grand theft) as reported by Mr. DeStefano, the County
Investigator for the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board and this fact
was documented in his official investigation report which he turned in to his
supervisor, Ms. Hardy, and to the Head of the Escambia County Building
Inspection Department, Mr. Mayo. Mr.
Wilkinson made a full report to his superior, the City Manager, Mr. Bonfield.
All of the attendees and their
supervisors violated Florida State Statute 455.227, Prosecution of criminal
violations, which states “The department or the appropriate board shall report
any criminal violation of any statute relating to the practice of a profession
regulated by the department or appropriate board to the proper prosecuting
authority for prompt prosecution.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr.
Miller specifically discussed the property he had stolen from us. I had proven that Mr. Douglas E. Miller had
been paid in full (as annotated by Mr. Douglas E. Miller on his invoices) on
all completed work and had requested and been paid in-advance on the projects
he had abandoned. Mr. Douglas E. Miller
never contacted me about being owed money.
When Mr. Wilkinson answered my letter involving closing Mr. Miller’s
permit, Mr. Wilkinson included a copy of the Florida Law regarding mechanic’s
lien. All parties at this hearing knew
that, if Mr. Douglas E. Miller felt he was owed money, a mechanic’s lien was the
appropriate step to take and not grand theft.
It appears that licensed contractors such as Mr. Douglas E. Miller have
found that claiming they are owed money works as an excuse to steal valuable historic
artifacts, building materials and money without being arrested. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">All of the attendees and their supervisors kept Mr. Miller’s
grand theft confession from me, the victim.
I had to file repeated public information requests to obtain a copy of
Mr. DeStefano’s official report, a public record. Mr. Miller’s confession was important
evidence to support the crimes I had repeatedly attempted to report to law
enforcement agencies and contractor monitoring agencies – with no success. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our professional Property Inspection Report stated that only
minor repairs and improved maintenance were required for our building. The building was being used when we bought it
and should legally have been used immediately, planning these minor repairs as
we went, but City Officials refused us an occupational license, would not let
us open, and demanded that we hire Mr. Miller who I later found out was a
career criminal who should not have been issued a contractor’s license in the
first place as he had unpaid judgments related to construction, had been
arrested for writing a bad check for thousand of dollars related to
construction and had never completed a construction project in Pensacola or
Escambia County. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-45197780793622661762018-10-25T11:35:00.002-07:002018-10-25T11:35:50.296-07:00Chapter 18<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As I have repeatedly stated, public officials appeared to be
committing wide spread corruption here in Pensacola and no one who was being
paid to enforce the law and protect the public was willing to address and stop
this corruption.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Public Officials appear to consider
themselves above the law and free to break the laws at will to reward their
friends with sweetheart deals, threaten and coerce members of the public to
knuckle under, and deprive members of the public, individually, and the members
of the public, as a whole, of their money and property.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There appeared to be a secret group of powerful people running Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the Pensacola News
Journal addressed this group as “the good old boys,” or “GOB” they appear to
be other than good, not all were old and not all were boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This group, gang, or cartel appears to
consist mostly of developers (many got sweetheart deals) and public officials
(many put together these sweetheart deals and then decided who got them). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I indicated, in October, 1999, Building Inspection
Department Director Wilkinson began demanding that I comply with the Florida
Accessibility Codes, even though these codes did not apply to my situation since
the Florida Accessibility Law affected only buildings constructed after 1997
and documented historic buildings were exempt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our historic building was built in 1883 and had been documented, for quite some time, on the National
Registry of Historic Places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
appeared to be another false basis to continue his demands for unnecessary
construction and removal of our remaining historic artifacts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms.
Ustick wrote me a letter, dated November 1, 1999, forwarding section 4.1.7 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">of
“The </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Florida
Accessibility Code for Building Construction” dated </span><br />
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">October 1997. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
wrote Ms. Ustick, on </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">November 4, 1999, and told her that this</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">regulation had </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">nothing to do with my house.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I pointed out that the regulation </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">exempted buildings </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">built before
October 1, 1997, and since ours was built over </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">a hundred years before </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">that
date, it was exempted.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
found out later that the Pensacola Economic and Community Development Committee
had written a memo, dated December 9, 1999, requesting the Pensacola City
Council to instruct Mr. Bonfield to amend the City Code to change the policy
and procedure for the Certificate of Occupancy Inspection Program conducted by
the Pensacola Building Inspection Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson wrote a letter to us, dated December 27, 1999,
stating<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that we could proceed with
constructing the outside stairs under the Standard Building Code specification,
as reflected in and originally approved in the plans we submitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cut the outside stairs and landing to 36
inches, as specified and approved by the Pensacola Planning Department and as
specified in Mr. Wilkinson’s letter of December 27, 1999, but Mr. Weeks, t</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">he on-site
investigator, a<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> Building Inspector in Mr.
Wilkinson’s Department and under his direction, would not accept that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr.
Weeks, apparently instructed by his supervisor, Mr. Wilkinson,<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> then required adherence to the ADA </span>and Florida
Accessibility Code<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> requirements of 44 inches,</span>
which we then cut and he again rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then he demanded compliance with the Standard Building Code, again, which
we then cut again and he rejected again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]></o:wrapblock><![endif]-->
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12525 Meadson Road<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pensacola, Fl 32506</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">November
4, 1999</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms.
Maryann Ustick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Assistant
City Manager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">P.
O. Box 12910<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pensacola,
Fl 32521-0053<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear
Ms. Ustick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
just received your letter, dated November 1, 1999, forwarding section 4.1.7 of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Florida
Accessibility Code for Building Construction” dated October </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">1997.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Item
is referenced in your e-mail dated September 29, 1999, Subject:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mead </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Case, to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr.
William Weeks as follow-up information that he provided to you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
4.1.7 has nothing to do with my house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
4.1.7 Application subparagraph (5) General Exceptions subparagraph (c)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Reads:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This edition of the code does not
apply to buildings, structures or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facilities which were either under
construction or under contract for<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Construction on or before October 1,
1997.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
my house was built in 1883, it is clear that this section does not apply to my </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">house. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even
if my house had been built a hundred years later, in 1983, this section</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">would </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">still
not apply to it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ignoring
the applicability of instructions has been a common problem I have<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">encountered
in City Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one seems to be reading
and understanding the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">entire </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">rule/statute/code/instruction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am
still waiting for the public records and documents that I had requested<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">regarding
the Building Inspection file on my house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary
M. Mead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cc:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Bonfield, City Manager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Weeks then demanded that we use his own personal specifications to cut the stairs,
which we did.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Weeks finally accepted the outside stairs which were cut
to his personal specifications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
result was that a support post was in the center of a downstairs window and the
landing was too small to take heavy appliances up the outside back stairs to
the second floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All appliances had to
be hauled up the historic inside stairs, built in 1883, and bumped up each step
by the appliance installers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">During the time we were obeying Mr. Weeks’ demands in order
to get our stairs approved, I wrote a letter to Assistant City Manager, Ms.
Ustick, dated January 21, 2000, stating that we were being forced to comply
with Florida’s Accessibility Laws, by Mr. Wilkinson’s Department, which did not
apply to our house and which I had previously reported to her on November 4,
1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
also contacted the Florida Housing and Community Development Department in
Tallahassee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
following excerpt is from a letter I wrote to the Director of the Florida
Housing and Community Development Department, Mr. Tom Pierce, in Tallahassee
which described my experience with his Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
spoke with Mr. Mary Katherine Smith at the Florida Accessibility office, where
she is one of your experts.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Her phone
number is 850-487-1824.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">She agreed that
my work on the house does not come under the Florida Accessibility Law and we
can use the requirements in the Standard Building Code to replace the
deteriorated stairs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
called Mr. Wilkinson, the Head of the local Building Inspection Department and
told him the good news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he would
talk with Ms. Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson
called me back and said that, after he explained everything, Ms. Smith agreed
with him that we would have to follow the ADA requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
called Ms. Smith and she said the local Building Inspection Department called
the shots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seemed strange to me as
rules are supposed to go from the top down instead from the bottom up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked to speak with her supervisor, Ms.
Jones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained to Ms. Jones that I
have received two different stories from Ms. Smith and that the second story
was in conflict with the Accessibility Code.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms.
Jones hollered over to Ms. Smith about my question and Ms. Smith repeated her
second story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
decided to write to you as this is a very serious problem for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never refused to abide by the law
while repairing this house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The local
Building Inspection Department has consistently been wrong while interpreting
the Standard Building Code and the Florida Accessibility Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had our plans drawn up in accordance with
the Standard Building Code since we knew we did not have to meet the ADA
requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even then, we could hardly
fit the stairs on the back of the house as there is a detached garage, windows
on the stair wall and a very small back yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The City’s review board approved the plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, Mr. Wilkinson said we had to make the
stairs 44 inches wide instead of the 36 inches wide on the plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several weeks where we agonized where
to put the stairs, how to run them to fit, Mr. Wilkinson realized he was
mistakenly reading requirements for buildings with over a 50 person load.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ours will probably be much less than 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finally agreed to 36 inches which had been
right all along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that is
important for you, as Director, to know when your people are giving out
erroneous information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These kinds of
mistakes cost thousands of dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr.
Pierce never responded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wrote Ms. Ustick on January 26, 2000, and informed her,
again, that Mr. Wilkinson was requiring compliance with rules, the Florida
Accessibility Law (authorized under the American Disabilities Act), that did
not affect us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her a copy of the letter I had sent to Mr.
Pierce.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
informed Mr. Bonfield and Ms. Ustick that we had to cut the back stairs many
times before Mr. Weeks finally accepted them, in my letter dated March 1, 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The City Officials apparent violation of the
Florida Accessibility Code, as in the case of their violation of the
Certificate of Occupation regulations, resulted in causing us to lose time,
money and building materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally, the Pensacola City Manager and the Pensacola City
Council took initial steps on January 27, 2000, to discontinue their illegal
in-house policy of requiring a “new” Certificate of Occupancy on change of
tenant, over a year and a half after I brought it to their attention that this
policy was breaking the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
the action requested by </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">the
Pensacola Economic and Community Development Committee in their memo, dated
December 9, 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No official reason was given for the abrupt abandonment of
the illegal policies City Officials had strictly enforced by intimidation,
threats, bullying, extortion, false statements and an entrenched refusal to
obey the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My guess was that my discussing these illegal activites
during the televised Pensacola City Council Meetings generated phone calls to
Pensacola City Council Members and the City Manager’s Office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was approached many times while in the
hardware store, the lumber yard, and once while pumping gas by viewers who
thanked me for bringing these illegal practices into the open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At no time during the decades that City Officials severely
enforced this illegal policy did they have the authority to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ignored the construction law they had
selected and which was specified by City Ordinance (a choice of 4 provided by
Florida State Statutes) all of which forbade this illegal policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">City Officials appeared to have perfected an illegal scheme,
including the mythical City Ordinance modifying the Standard Building Code, in
the last two decades which they used illegally to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trepass
on private property (to include taking pictures of historic artifacts in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> the
house)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">demand
unauthorized inspection fees<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>demand
unwanted, unnecessary construction (prohibited by federal guidelines </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> in
historic </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">houses – which ours was)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>demand
hiring their contractor friends instead of the contractor the property </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">owner</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">selects by refusing to issue a building permit except to their</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> friends</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> refusing building permits to property
owners legally authorized, by Florida </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> State </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Statutes </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">and
Escambia County Ordinances, to be their own </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> contractors</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">require
removal of historic artifacts (again prohibited by federal guidelines in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> historic houses –</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">which ours was) which their contractors friends then </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> stole</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In order to do the illegal actions stated above, City
Officials appear to have organized ways to enforce these illegal actions,
cover-up their illegal actions to the people they were victimizing, and
represent themselves to other Government Officials that they were operating within the law and within their authorization when
they were not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It appears also that many Government Officials were aware of the City Officials' illegal/criminal actions against property owners and participated in a cover up. </span>City Officials appear to
have:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>committed conspiracy as all City Officials had to agree to pretend that
the in-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> house policy was </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">legitimate and state to those outside of City </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Government </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">that their
in-house policy was </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">authorized
by law when it </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> was not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
appears that the Pensacola Police Department and the Florida State </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Attorney </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">had
to agree not </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">to
prosecute City Officials who were breaking </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Florida laws, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">federal laws, and the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">construction laws.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It appears that the Pensacola Police
Department also had to agree not</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">prosecute </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">contractors </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">who stole historic artifacts and building</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> materials </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(i.e. Mr. Douglas </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">E.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Miller) from properly registered historic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> properties, as </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">ours was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> City Officials </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">made
false statements to officials contacted by victims of this</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> illegal </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">policy in </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">order to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">protect these illegal actions and enable the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> victimization of </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">property
owners </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">to continue.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">committed
extortion, as defined by Florida Statutes, in the collection of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> unauthorized i</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">nspection </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">fees.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">City Officials appear to
have committed </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> extortion by stating that </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">the property </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">would </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">sit unused until it rotted if the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> owner did not comply with their </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">illegal demands.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> City</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Officials appear to have committed extortion by repeatedly stating that </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the property </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">owner </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">could be arrested for disobeying the demands of the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Pensacola Building </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">nspectors</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">committed
grand theft by causing historic artifacts to be removed (not within </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> their
authority) </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">from the historic buildings apparently so
they could be </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> stolen by their contractor </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">friends.</span></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> denied
building permits to authorized property owners and licensed </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> contractors </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">who
were </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">not </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">compliant with these apparent commissions </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> of fraud and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">other apparent
felonies.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It appeared that City Officials made specific false
statements to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) regarding</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">this matter.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I repeatedly requested, under the Public Information Act, all
information and documentation from and to the City Officials and from and to
the DBPR to obtain the communications between them containing false information
as the DBPR made judgments and rulings not in keeping with the laws and facts
relevant to this situation.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Both DBPR and City Officials refused to surrender this
information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DBPR said it was secret and
City Officials said they had no communications with DBPR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On their part, personnel of the DBPR refused
to properly investigate as the extensive documentation I supplied clearly showed,
standing alone, that City Officials were apparently committing crimes, mostly
felonies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It appeared that City Officials made false statements to
Governor Jeb Bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I repeatedly
requested, under the Public Information Act, all information and communications
from and to the City Officials regarding this matter and to and from the Office
of Florida Governor Jeb Bush to obtain the communications between them
containing false information as Governor Jeb Bush made statements identical to
those statements made by City Officials which were not in keeping with the
facts or laws of this situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City
Officials and Governor Jeb Bush refused my request.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Governor Jeb Bush did not answer my request
and City Officials said they had no communications with Governor Jeb Bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Each time I reported the situation to Governor Jeb Bush, he
refused to stop the apparent criminal actions against us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On his part, Governor Bush, also,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>refused to properly investigate the situation
and allowed City Officials to apparently continue committing crimes, mostly
felonies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he had stopped them the first
time I reported them, we would still have our historic artifacts, our building
materials and our life savings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The announcement regarding the “change” in the Certificate of
Occupancy policy was announced at the Pensacola City Council Meeting of January
27, 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials never admitted
that modifying the Land Development Code (LDC) in January, 1999, which was
stratigized to put their illegal requirement in writing and pretend it was the
construction law, broke local, state and federal laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials never admitted that their big
show at this meeting to modify the LDC to remove the illegal requirment made no
difference as the legal construction law, the SBC, had never been changed but
had always stated that a Certificate of Occupancy was not appropriate on change
of tenant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the City Council Meeting, after the City Council had
agreed to discontinue this illegal in-house policy, City Council Member King
complimented me “for being very vigilant in kind of directing us to a point
where we can all agree…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pensacola City Manager Bonfield stated that this change was
to make the Building Inspection Department more efficient instead of the fact
that this change was to finally comply with the construction law which they had
previously refused to do, but had chosen to continue the illegal victimization
of Pensacola property owners as long as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No Pensacola City Official or Pensacola City Council Member
ever admitted that their actions had been illegal or criminal in any way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No public official I contacted would conduct an investigation
to see why City Officials had been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>allowed to force illegal practices on City citizens for decades which
resulted in great loss to thousands of individuals (money, historical property,
years of the loss of the use of their building due to false accusations),
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No mention was made of restitution
for the victims of these illegal activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I repeatedly wrote the same public officials to whom I had
been reporting these crimes and stated the need for an investigation of how
these crimes had been allowed to continue for so long, but all refused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some Florida State Officials said that the matter
was moot as City Officials had changed their policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained the loss of our irreplaceable
historic property, our life savings and two years of our lives where we had
been denied the legal use of our property and denied the protection of the law,
where we had been falsely accused of breaking laws, and forced to undergo
threats and extortion, did not appear to be moot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Since City Officials no longer had a lucrative illegal
process to hide, they began issuing building permits in compliance with Florida
Statutes and construction law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer
did City Officials insist on issuing building permits only to licensed
contractors who were compliant with the illegal demands of City Officials
especially in the case of fraud regarding the illegal Certificate-of-Occupancy-requirement-on-change-of-tenant
scam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Licensed contractors who had refused
to participate in this scam and property owners, in approved categories, were
issued building permits in compliance with the law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-28335058851876256682018-10-25T11:35:00.001-07:002018-10-25T11:35:32.809-07:00Chapter 17<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though I had repeatedly contacted City Officials (City
Manager – Mr. Bonfield, City Attorney – Mr. Caton, Pensacola Police Department
– Chief Potts, etc.), appeared before and contacted each member of the
Pensacola City Council, contacted County Officials, appeared before the
Pensacola Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, City Officials continued what appeared to be illegal/criminal acts regarding our business
property. None of the people I notified about this would stop these illegal/criminal actions which were defined as felonies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After Mr. Wilkinson, Director, Building
Inspection Department and Mr. DeStefano, Investigator, Escambia County
Contractors Competency Board, met secretly with Mr. Miller and Mr. McFatter in
a “hearing” on October 6, 1999, and stated they could find nothing wrong, I
decided to turn to the Florida State Officials, again, for assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I filled out and sent a “Uniform Complaint
Form,” with extensive documentation, to the Office of Consumer Complaints, Bureau
of Investigative Services, Department of Business and Professional Regulation,
Tallahassee, Florida, dated October 11, 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
wrote to the Chairman of the Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals and Adjustments, Mr.
Woolf, on October 8, 1999, forwarding the statement from State Representative
Ritchie which reinforced each statement I made at the meeting he had chaired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I had previously sent him the official decision by the Florida Building Commission which stated that I was right that a new certificate of occupancy in my case was not needed. Mr. Woolf and the other members stated they did not use the Standard Building Code, which was approved by State Statutes as the Official Construction Regulation and, instead, used the rule (based on rumor and gossip) they had made up and which the Pensacola Planning Board put in the Pensacola Land Development Code. This fake regulation illegally </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">required a new CO on change of tenant. This had as much authority on construction as a Bugs Bunny Comic book.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">City Officials and the </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals and Adjustments framed me by using this false "law" and demanded that I get a new CO. They refused to obey the Standard Building Code, Florida Statutes and the Official Decision by the Florida Building Commission. They continued to break the law by illegally requiring a new CO to trespass on private property, demand removal of historic artifacts for easy stealing and require unnecessary and unneeded work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I asked Mr. Woolf to reverse the official finding
of this Board as the finding appeared to violate many laws including local,
state and federal.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">He never answered.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote a letter to the Florida Commission on Ethics, dtd
October 14, 1999, describing the illegal activities on the part of City
Officials which were illegally and negatively impacting</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> our historic
property, built in 1883. The Florida Commission on Ethics refused to stop the felonies against those of us who owned historic property.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wrote a letter to the Florida Department of Business and
Professional Regulation, dtd October 18, 1999, describing, again, the illegal
activities of Mr. Wilkinson which were illegally and negatively impacting</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> our historic
property, built in 1883. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
next Council Meeting was on Thursday, October 14, 1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I spoke at </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">the meeting, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Councilwoman
Jones stated, “Mr. Bonfield said that the issue is </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">really </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">something different </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">because she can proceed with the certificate of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">occupancy item.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, I mean, didn’t you get </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">that same
impression, that the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">certificate of occupancy </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">problem is no longer a problem, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">according to Mr. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bonfield.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I stated my
surprise at </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">this false statement.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">…but he meant, when he
said that, I think – and he can answer for himself – that you had other
problems, but the certificate of occupancy you could go ahead with whatever you
understood about that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MS.
MEAD:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What other problems?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote a memo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was never contacted by anyone, because I
asked what were these technical codes because I passed all my inspections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Comments
by Mary Mead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
the last council meeting, Ms. Ustick met with me at my property and we talked
about the certificate of occupancy issues holding us up, and other apparent
incompetence, or worse, on the part of the Building Inspection Department –
especially passing inferior work as satisfactory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
only thing holding us up was the illegal requirement for a certificate of
occupancy on change of tenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City
Officials illegally used this scam to strip property owners of their life savings,
expensive building materials and historic artifacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I had repeatedly proven that this
practice was illegal, and had never been any part of any construction law, Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson demanded it apparently for
personal gain. Again, this practice was always against the construction law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had not wanted to do any of the unnecessary, expensive and destructive work
City Officials were forcing us to do, against our will, under the guise of the
illegal Certificate of Occupancy requirement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
the meeting at my property, Ms. Ustick issued a memo, dated October 7, 1999,
regarding our meeting, which she distributed to City Council Members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> She did not send me a copy. </span>All of her statements in this memo were
false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though no technical code violations on our part, were
raised or discussed in any way on or before the meeting at our property on
September 27, 1999, Ms. Ustick stated in her memo that </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“technical code
issues” and a lawsuit in court against the contractor were the only things
holding us up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Both
of these statements were false as <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">we had not
been notified of any technical building code violations on our part as we had
none – we had passed all inspections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>We
had not filed a lawsuit in court against the contractor, Mr. Miller, so this
statement was also false.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Apparently
Council Member Jones was referring to the Ms. Ustick’s memo of October 7, 1999,
in reference to “other problems” or “technical code issues” and that the
Certificate of Occupancy was no longer a problem holding us up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I had immediately written to Ms. Ustick, on October 11, 1999,
since she had prepared the memo which was sent by Mr. Bonfield, in order to
address the false statements she made in the memo, dated October 7, 1999, which
was addressed to the members of the Pensacola City Council, in the hopes that
she would send a corrected memo to the members of the Pensacola City Council
before the next Council meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
appeared that she did not send a corrected memo as Ms. Jones referred to false
statements in her memo of October 7, 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my memo I stated<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I was never
contacted by anyone by mail, phone or in person, regarding technical codes –
that I had passed all my inspections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Also,
I was never contacted by anyone by mail, phone or in person, regarding my memo
to Ms. Ustick, dated October 11, 1999, where I had stated that all of her statements in
her memo to the Pensacola City Council were false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">-------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAYOR
FOGG:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excuse me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The manager would like to make a comment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to say . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAYOR
FOGG:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Manager.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">CITY
MANAGER BONFIELD:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t believe that’s
an accurate statement, Mayor, members of the council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the last council meeting, Ms. Ustick
personally met with Mrs. Mead at her property and talked about the issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For her to stand here and say she hasn’t been
contacted I just don’t think is accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MS.
MEAD:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, no.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAYOR
FOGG:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ma’am, you don’t have the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MS.
MEAD:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He misunderstood me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAYOR
FOGG:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have the floor until
you’re recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Manager.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">CITY
MANAGER BONFIELD:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Mrs. Mead’s
specific case, we do not believe the certificate of occupancy issue that she’s
raising – we understand the issues she’s raising – we don’t think it’s
applicable to holding her up in any way for the work that she is trying to
accomplish, and that subsequently, we will be reporting back to the
council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We anticipate that’s going to
be at the November meeting in some kind of a briefing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think it will be in the form of an
ordinance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’d like the
opportunity to explain to you all the issues, look at it from a policy
perspective, and then we’ll see where go from there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAYOR
FOGG:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All right. Thank you, Mr.
Manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Jones, do you have anything
further?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Comments
by Mary Mead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet
again Mayor Fogg stepped on Robert’s Rules of Order by interrupting a discussion
by a speaker and a City Council Member, who had the floor, so the City Manager
could make false statements in rebuttal to facts that he didn’t want exposed to
the audience in the auditorium and the audience watching at home, many of whom
might have also been victims of the apparent illegal/criminal actions on the
part of City Officials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mayor
Fogg refused to let me address the false statements made by the City Manager, for
example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t believe that’s an accurate
statement, Mayor, members of the council.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">last council </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">meeting, Ms. Ustick personally met with
Mrs. Mead at</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> her property and talked about </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">the issues.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">For </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">her
to stand here and say she</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> hasn’t </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">been contacted I just don’t think is accurate.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The City Manager knew I was referring to
not being contacted after his</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> office </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">distributed false </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">information to City Council Members, the memo
of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> October 7, 1</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">999, and my rebuttal citing the</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">facts, dated October 11, 1999.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I did not receive </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">any communication referencing
my memo and he </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">did
not </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> address the facts in my </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">memo but continued to pretend that “we do not</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> believe </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">certificate </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">of occupancy </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">issue that she’s raising –
we understand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the issues </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">she’s raising – we </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">don’t think it’s </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">applicable to holding her up in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> any way
for </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">the work that she is trying to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">accomplish”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is no </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">work that we are trying to accomplish. We wanted to operate our business </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">as soon as the closing</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> was over but Mr. Bonfield forced us to do unwanted and unneeded </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">work. That </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">is what is holding us up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
have repeatedly proven that his statements were false and that the City
Officials’ actions were illegal/criminal and mostly categorized as felonies.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The rewards
from these apparent illegal/criminal actions must be very great in order for City
Officials to refuse, again and again, to obey the law.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">COUNCIL
MEMBER JONES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, I think what he’s saying is that, you
know, there was some other things like building stuff and whatever, but –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MS.
Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There aren’t any.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
discussion was over and a new topic was addressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
wrote a letter to Mr. Bonfield regarding the false statements he had made at
the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Bonfield’s answer to my
letter regarding the City Council Meeting consisted of 3 short paragraphs in
which he: apologized if I interpreted his comments as attacks on me or
questioned my standing as a citizen voicing a concern; stated he did not intend
to address my other comments; stated that Assistant City Manager Maryann Ustick
will respond regarding the technical code issue before the committee meeting on
November 15.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson sent a memo to Ms. Shirley White, City Clerk,
regarding my request, under the public information act, for any documentation regarding “technical code issues” about our property as this claim of apparent
wrong doing on our part was made in a memo from the City Manager’s Office to
each member of the Pensacola City Council and at the televised Pensacola City
Council Meeting of October 14, 1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
“technical code issues” regarding our property had been made known to me and I
had no knowledge of what Mr. Bonfield was talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms. White asked Mr. Wilkinson for documentation about the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">“technical code issues” Mr. Bonfield stated was holding me up. Mr. Bonfield stated that his (illegal) demand for a new CO was not holding us up but that these </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">“technical code issues” were. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr.
Wilkinson indicated, in his memo to Ms. White, that there were no “technical code issues”
regarding our property.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr.
Wilkinson also discussed my request for information regarding the secret
hearing to investigate construction laws broken by Mr. Miller, the licensed
contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson did not
address my request for an inventory of my artifacts, building materials, etc.,
Mr. Miller had stolen from me and admitted to taking during the secret
hearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson said that he had
no written material concerning this important hearing and that the participants
of this secret hearing, that I was not allowed to attend, could find no
violations of construction law committed by Mr. Miller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms. Ustick, the Pensacola City Manager’s
Office, sent a letter dated October 21, 1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms.
Ustick awkwardly defined the “technical code issues” as the incidents I reported
at the meeting at our property where I stated that the Building Inspection
Department inspectors appeared to be incompetent, negligent or absent
altogether regarding the proper inspection of permitted projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
weak excuse seemed odd to me as Mr. Bonfield and Ms. Ustick claimed, in a
televised meeting and in writing in a memo, that I had violated technical codes. The fact is that I was in the habit of dutifully meeting and sometimes exceeding the
requirements of technical codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms.
Ustick later stated that the “technical code issues” were the instances of
apparent incompetence on the part of members of the Pensacola Building
Inspection Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have no knowledge of the members of the Pensacola City Council or members of
the public receiving updated information, either from Mr. Bonfield or Ms.
Ustick, that, according to Ms. Ustick, we were not at fault regarding
“technical code issues” but that City Staff was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">During this time, I hand-delivered a package to the Escambia
County Sheriff’s Office covering the apparent criminal actions (felonies) against us,
which is also harming many others in Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The receptionist called down two detectives, a man and a woman, who
refused to accept the report as the crimes had taken place in the City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained that the City was in the
Sheriff’s jurisdiction, that we paid Escambia County taxes on the property in
the City, and that I needed the Sheriff’s help to stop apparent criminal
actions against us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They refused to
accept the documentation and asked me to leave immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On two separate occassions, I hand-delivered a package to the
United States Attorney’s Office, downtown, documenting the illegal policies
City Officials were using which harmed the people of Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither report was ever answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-44440755943830819982018-10-25T11:35:00.000-07:002018-10-25T11:35:19.361-07:00Chapter 16<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote Mr. Wilkinson a letter, dtd October 4, 1999, and, again, made a formal complaint against Mr. Miller, the contractor Mr. Wilkinson had forced us to hire. I stated, “I sent a copy of everything to you, Mr. Wilkinson, and you have not responded to my correspondence. I am asking that the Building Inspection Department perform its duties regarding this complaint against our former contractor, Mr. Doug Miller.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote Ms. Ustick a letter, dtd October 4, 1999, and reported, again that City Officials had been negligent in enforcing registered contractor complaints which they are obliged to do. I stated, “I am asking you to insure that the Pensacola Building Inspection Department follow the law. I am also asking that the Building Inspection Department perform its duties regarding the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">irregularities and apparent illegalities conducted and performed by our contractor, Mr. Doug Miller.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">City Attorney Caton was still ignoring my repeated requests to stop the illegal Certificate of Occupancy swindle. I wrote him on October 8 1999, pointing out that he had not answered my memos of August 24, 1999 and September 20, 1999, in which I asked that the City Officials stop this illegal demand which was refusing me the legal operation of my business and illegally demanding construction which was harming my historic property.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson sent a letter, dated October 6, 1999, regarding my complaint against the contractor, Mr.
Miller. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The Director of Building Inspections, Mr. Wilkinson, stated: "On October 6, 1999, I met with Mr. DeStefano of the Escambia County Contractor's Competency Board, Mr. Miller and Mr. McFatter to determine if there have been any violations of the laws regulating contractors. After careful review of all the contracts provided by Mr. Miller and the discussion with him and Mr. McFatter, there is no evidence to show violation of any laws regarding contracts. It does, however, appear that you may have contractual disputes between yourself and your contractor. These disputes are a civil case and will have to be pursued through the court system."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amazingly, in two days, from October 4 to October 6, Mr.
Wilkinson had read all of my documentation regarding my official complaint
against Mr. Miller, had called a meeting with Mr. DeStefano of the Escambia
County Contractors Competency Board, Mr. Miller and Mr. McFatter, had held the
meeting on October 6, 1999, and prepared the report, also dated October 6, 1999. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson did not notify me of this meeting so that I
could attend. The people who were at
this meeting were Mr. Wilkinson, who had refused permits to all contractors
except Mr. Miller, Mr. McFatter, whom Mr. Miller insisted I hire to receive his
payments (I was learning that Mr. Miller had unpaid judgments against him,
regarding contracting, and didn’t want his payments confiscated to pay these
judgments), Mr. Miller and Mr. DeStefano.
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson stated that, after reviewing the contracts and
after discussion with Mr. Miller and Mr. McFatter, he could find no evidence of
violations. It appeared that Mr.
Wilkinson had ignored Mr. Miller’s specific violations of Escambia County
Ordinance Section 18-36 Prohibitions and Florida Statute, Section 489,
Contracting which I had detailed in my letter.
I later learned that, at this meeting, Mr. Miller confessed to taking a
huge amount of our building supplies and historic artifacts (overmantels, spindles, railings, sconces, etc.),
boasted of these facts and that all attendees acted as if it were a celebration
– jovial and telling funny stories about me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. DeStefano did not report Mr. Miller’s
confession of grand theft to the appropriate agency as required by Florida Statutes. Mr. DeStefano did include Mr. Miller’s
confession of “holding” our property (grand theft) in his report to the
Escambia County Contractor Competency Board.
Mr. Mayo nor any member of the Board reported Mr. Miller’s confession of
grand theft to the appropriate agency as required by Florida Statutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">On October 08, 1999, Mr. Wilkinson sent an email to Ms.
Ustick which stated, “I received the copy of the informational memo so I called
Ms. Mead yesterday afternoon.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I left a
message with her daughter that in October an information memo would be going to
council because the proposed ordinance was still under review.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I said the projected presentation to council
would be in November.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I had not received a copy of the memo where they were discussing me and my property. On October 11, 1999, I requested and received a fax of the
“FOR INFORMATION ONLY” generated by Ms. Ustick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of her statements regarding our property are false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have not been notified of any technical
building code violations on our part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have not filed a civil suite against Mr. Miller, who Mr. Wilkinson forced us to
hire which I can prove because he refused permits to all other contractors I
sent but he stated I should hire Mr. Miller and only granted permits to Mr. Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once again, false information is sent out to try to cover up the illegal/criminal actions being committed against my husband and me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Contrary to this memo, the only thing holding us up
is the illegal demand that we get a new Certificate of Occupancy (when the official regulations only asks that a copy of the current one be presented) and then demanding
illegal requirements in order to obtain said new Certificate of Occupancy.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This illegal requirement has been holding us
up since July, 1998. Only updates to maintenance (no construction required)
were required by the Professional Property Inspection Report we received before
we bought the house in July, 1998. I gave a copy to the Pensacola Building
Inspection Report to the Pensacola Building Inspection Department.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The house was in use
when we bought it and could have been put to use the day after we bought
it.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">All of their demands have been illegal, unfounded and unnecessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The only reason we had to hire a contractor in the first place is because City Manager Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson, Director of the Building Inspections Department, said that we could not operate our business, even though no construction needs were found in the Professional Property Inspection we paid to have conducted before we bought this historic property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Against the construction law, City Manager Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson demanded that we get a new Certificate of Occupancy and drew up a list of unnecessary construction projects (with Mr. Miller) which resulted in Mr. Miller stealing our historic artifacts, stealing our building materials and charging us a lot of money to remove these artifacts so he could carry them off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, Mr. Miller and his crew spent a lot of time, that we were paying for, to crawl under our house, dig in our yard and search the walls looking for historic “treasure.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Mr. Wilkinson had not illegally forced us down this road, we would have no problems with a contractor because we didn't need a contractor and would have no mythical “technical building codes” which were cited as supposedly holding us up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote to Ms. Ustick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I sent a copy of my memo to Ms. Ustick to each City Council Member, the Mayor and City Manager Bonfield.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-75923709052591689212018-10-25T11:34:00.001-07:002018-10-25T11:34:55.142-07:00Chapter 15<div class="MsoSubtitle">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">City Attorney Caton said, “the staff and the Attorney’s Office disagree with a lot of what Mrs. Mead had to say, but I don’t think it will serve any useful purpose to say we agree with you here and don’t agree with you there and what have you.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since I quoted directly from the Standard Building Code, the construction regulation selected by City Officials long ago, Mr. Caton disagrees with the SBC which is exactly the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials have based a policy on procedures forbidden by the SBC, CO on change of tenant. City Officials use their illegal demands to bully property owners into hiring City Officials' friends (those who agree with City Officials' illegal demands), to force property owners to do unnecessary work and end up needlessly costing law-abiding property owners a great deal of money for unnecessary contractors, expose owners to grand theft of building materials and historic artifacts, and when these things inevitably occur, the Police Department, City Attorney and the State Attorney appear to protect the people breaking the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Since we live in America, we are supposed to be entitled to
the protection of local, state and federal laws. All Officials I have contacted, including law
enforcement, refuse to stop the apparent illegal/criminal actions against us as owners and unwilling victims of corruption thereby
protecting the violators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The emails on the following pages concern arranging the visit
to our property by Ms. Ustick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The email from Ms. Ustick to Delmus Wilkinson, dated
September 24, 1999, states, “I want to meet with Ms. Mead at the property first
and see what her issues REALLY are before we meet to go over this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have repeatedly told Ms. Ustick, Mr. Bonfield, Mr.
Wilkinson, all City Council Members, the DBPR, FDLE, Governor Jeb Bush, etc.,
what the REAL issues are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">City Officials are breaking laws made and instituted by our
elected officials, signed by the Governor and passed into law and which should apply to all by:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Illegally
requiring a Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> which they use to steal </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">money, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">building
materials and artifacts from </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> property owners</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Committing
conspiracy to commit extortion by all City Officials </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> working together to
enforce </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">illegal
requirements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Committing
conspiracy to commit grand theft since the outcome </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> of these illegal actions
results </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">in the forced
removal of the property</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> owner’s assets:
building materials, money, artifacts, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Conspiracy to
prevent the commercial property owner from operating </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> an authorized, legal</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> business in the
City by illegally requiring a new </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">to obtain an
occupational </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> license (really just a tax to operate in the City) and then
refusing to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> award a new
Certificate of Occupancy when they do comply with these</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> illegal demands, as </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">we did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Refusing my
repeated requests, under the national Public Information </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Act and the State</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Sunshine law
for documentation sent to Governor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jeb Bush, DBPR, FDLE, etc. and the r</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">efusal of the
recipients, whom </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I also contacted, to furnish a copy also. These secret </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">dossiers have</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> illegally remained secret due to City Officials and State Officials, both,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> consistently
refusing to abide by the pertinent laws thereby keeping the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> reasons for these </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">State
Officials refusing to stop these illegal actions </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> unknown to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Intimidation
(caused by building inspectors dressing similar to police </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> officers), hysterics,
adamant </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">refusal to
obey the law and other illegal </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> actions on the part of City Officials which
cause a </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">hostile atmosphere </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">environment
for a property owner who is in complete compliance </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> with </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">all applicable laws.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have made extensive efforts to show anyone and everyone who
is in some way in a position to stop the illegal actions how City Officials are
acting outside of the law. Most appear
to be involved in widespread corruption which is harming the people of the City
as a whole and as individuals. This is
my REAL intent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I met with Ms. Ustick and Mr. Weeks on our property on
September 27, 1999. I discussed the
damage caused to our historic property by the apparent illegal/criminal actions
and illegal demands on the part of City Officials especially the Building Inspection
Department. I asked that she stop these
illegal activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I received a letter from the Florida Attorney General, Mr.
Butterworth, dtd September 27, 1999, refusing to stop the apparent illegal/criminal
actions against me and my husband, but stopping corruption appears to be his job. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since City Officials appear to have illegally
demanded over 300 new CO’s from Pensacola property owners in a situation
defined by the Standard Building Code as not appropriate for new CO’s, it
appears to be the Attorney General’s job to charge public officials with
breaking the law since the State Attorney for our area, Mr. Golden refuses
to obey the construction law, the Standard Building Code. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It appears that Mr. Butterworth also
refuses to do what appears to be his job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wrote Ms. Ustick a letter, dtd September 28, 1999, and put
in writing my thanks for Ms. Ustick and Mr. Weeks visiting our property on
September 27, 1999. I also pointed out,
as we had discussed at the site, that Pensacola Building Inspectors accepted
projects as complete and complying to building codes when they did not
physically inspect the projects they accepted.
I also reiterated the complaints against Mr. Miller, the contractor,
that I had made, in writing, to Mr. Wilkinson but had heard nothing
further. I put in writing the discussion
with them where I showed them the damage caused to our historic property by the
apparent illegal/criminal actions and demands on the part of City Officials and
asked Ms. Ustick to stop this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms. Ustick wrote a letter to Mr. Weeks, dtd September 29,
1999, where she stated, “Bill, I wanted to thank you for coming out after hours
to meet with Ms. Mead this week and also for the follow up information you
provided. It was very helpful to have
your perspective and to keep me out of trouble.
Thanks again.”</span><br />
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-75344416670107238492018-10-25T11:34:00.000-07:002018-10-25T11:34:39.600-07:00Chapter 14<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On August 27, 1999, I again wrote each member of the
Pensacola City Council reporting that the illegal activities of City Officials,
especially Mr. Wilkinson, were continuing and asked, again, that they
investigate these illegal activities directed at harming citizens of Pensacola
and stop these illegal activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On August 27, 1999, I again wrote Mr. Curtis Golden, State
Attorney, reporting that the illegal activities of City Officials, especially
Mr. Wilkinson, were continuing and asked, again, that he investigate these
illegal activities directed at harming citizens of Pensacola and stop these illegal
activities which is his job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
received a letter from the State Attorney’s office stating, “I am sorry to
again advise you that the State Attorney’s Office has no jurisdiction over the
matters contained in your letter of August 27, 1999.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (signed)CURTIS A. GOLDEN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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STATE ATTORNEY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It appears that this is precisely what the state attorney is
supposed to investigate and stop. According to the real construction rules, City Officials are trespassing when they come on our property when a new Certificate of Occupancy is not required or they were not asked to perform an inspection. According to Florida Statutes, City Officials are committing extortion when they threaten individuals with arrest if they operate their legal business without getting a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant when the classification stays the same, and our classification stayed the same. City Officials illegally demand a new CO in order to illegally get access to the owners property. City Officials then take pictures of valuable architectural features in the house, illegally demand removal of the historic artifacts and then steal them or have them stolen by a contractor they force the home owner to hire by refusing building permits to contractors of the owner's choice. Florida Statutes also describe the collection of an inspection fee which is not required as extortion on the part of the Official. Stopping this illegal scam which results in serious damage to an historic property and serious depletion of the owner's life savings is definitely in the job description of a state attorney. Mr. Golden repeatedly refuses to do the job he is being paid to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wrote an email, dtd 9/14/99, to the Pensacola Planning
Board members regarding the memo I had received regarding the new proposed
changes to the Land Development Code. I again pointed out that the Land Development Code was not the legal device for construction regulations but the Standard Building Code was the legal device for construction rules. It was illegal for City Officials to demand that we in Pensacola obey the Land Development Code instead of the Standard Building Code because the Standard Building Code was recognized by the State of Florida as a viable building code when the Pensacola Land Development Code was not. City Officials used the Land Development Code to make up their own rules to bully law-abiding Pensacola citizens and illegally take their money, building materials and historic artifacts by force and threats of arrest for breaking the law (their made up law).. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wrote a letter, dtd 9/20/99 to the Pensacola City Council
Members regarding the proposed changes to the Land Development Code. I pointed out that the actions on the part of
the Pensacola Building Inspection Department were in violation of real construction
laws and asked that they stop this illegal activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On September 20, 1999, I wrote the Pensacola City Attorney,
Mr. Don Caton, stating that I had received no answer to my letter to him of
August 24, 1999, reporting, again, that the Pensacola Inspections Department
was still breaking the law regarding CO’s and, again, asking that he stop these
illegal actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I decided to attend the next Pensacola City Council meeting
to be held on September 23, 1999, and bring this matter to the attention of the
public, as the meetings are televised.
Many people are intimidated at these meetings as the council members
talk very fast, often talking over each other.
Mayor Fogg often states, “Robert’s Rules of Order says,” and then makes
his own rules instead of really following Robert’s Rules of Order. I was a long-time member and past president
of a local toastmistress club where we operated strictly by Robert’s Rules of
Order. When someone from the audience
has their turn at the speaker’s podium during open forum, Mayor Fogg leans over
his podium, holds a stopwatch in his hands, stares steadily at it and interrupts
their speech to give updates on their time.
He appears to ignore what they are saying. When they finish speaking, he and the council
members usually ignore their comments and he says “Next,” to hurry the speakers
along usually without answers to their concerns or questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">If the City Manager or City Attorney does not like what the
speaker says, they deny that what the speaker says is true.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">If the speaker tries to respond, especially
if the City Official’s rebuttal is false or does not address the initial
concern, Mayor Fogg sternly advises them that they cannot respond unless one of
the City Council Members asks the speaker a direct question.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This rule is not in Robert’s Rules but is a device
of Mayor Fogg to stifle and diminish citizen concerns and comments.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mayor Fogg and others, if he is absent, have been known to
gavel down speakers if they don’t like what they are saying especially if it is
about apparent illegal acts or incompetence on the part of City Officials which
is precisely what these meetings are supposed to bring out: problems in our local government which need
to be fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In some instances, I have seen the Chief of Police and other
officers standing by, apparently at the ready, to subdue speakers who want to
finish their presentation after being gavelled down which is a violation of
Robert’s Rules of Order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I attended the Pensacola City Council meeting on September
23, 1999. The minutes of this meeting
can be found at ci.pensacola.fl.us.com under government, city clerk records,
city council meetings, for 9/23/1999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On page 10 of the minutes of this meeting, Mayor and City
Council Communications, Councilwoman Jones discusses the correspondence I sent
to the Mayor and all City Council Members expressing my concerns about the
illegal activities regarding the Certificate of Occupancy. Neither the Mayor nor any City Council Member
had answered my correspondence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mayor Fogg told Councilwoman Jones that I had submitted a card to speak during
open forum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Starting at page 43, I speak during open forum and discuss
the illegal policies of the City Officials requiring a Certificate of Occupancy
on change of tenant when this practice is forbidden by the Standard Building
Code, the City’s official reference for construction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On page 47, Mr. Bonfield states, “It’s my understanding that
the current building project that Mrs. Mead has under way now is not affected
by the issue that we are evaluating.”<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a false statement.
Our professional Property Inspection Report stated that only minor
repairs and improved maintenance were required for our building. The building was being used when we bought it
and could be used immediately, planning these minor repairs as we went, but
City Officials demanded that we hire Mr. Miller who I later found out was a
career criminal and who should not have been issued a contractor’s license in
the first place as he had unpaid judgments related to construction, had been
arrested for writing a bad check for thousands of dollars related to
construction and had never completed a construction project in Pensacola or
Escambia County. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">City Manager Bonfield, City Attorney Caton, Building Inspection Director Wilkinson and the contractor, Mr. Miller, demanded that I do extensive
unnecessary and unwanted construction, mostly involving removing irreplaceable
historic artifacts built exclusively for the house in 1883, which Mr. Miller
then stole. Even though Mr. Miller
confessed to taking our property to City Officials and to a County Official, the Pensacola Police Department refused to
arrest him and refused to return our stolen property to us. The Pensacola Police Department sided with Mr. Miller committing grand theft against us and appeared to be a partner in the grand theft of our historic artifacts and the grand theft of $300,000.00 which included all of our life savings and put us deep in debt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We bought the property in July, 1998, and City Officials refused us the use of our property until we obtained a “new” Certificate of
Occupancy even though one was on file which was all that was needed according to the official construction regulations.
They repeatedly falsely stated that we were required to get a new CO but they stated we would not get one, so we could open,
operate our business and receive income from our investment property until we
did everything they illegally required. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">City Officials ignored the Declarative Statement issued by
the Florida Building Commission in November, 1998, stating that I was right and
they were wrong that a “new” Certificate of Occupancy was not required. City Officials ignored this ruling and
continued to force us to work toward getting a “new” Certificate of Occupancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Bonfield and the other City Officials had kept us from
the use of our property for a year and two months even though Mr. Bonfield
falsely stated that were not holding us up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The following pages took place near the end of my turn at the
podium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwZ33i2ktQhG2_3Erl6OEKKcZJHsB7KNNFoGwgHG53sZQy6sbMuGLg3iiUGm-UraTFgcZym3BZdqv4h8niofozkkP9SCPkA2cLFrgRoZkjcKPqNVTDS7CH4z4oGbkMy8aks5dQSddJds/s1600/Minutes+pg51+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1164" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwZ33i2ktQhG2_3Erl6OEKKcZJHsB7KNNFoGwgHG53sZQy6sbMuGLg3iiUGm-UraTFgcZym3BZdqv4h8niofozkkP9SCPkA2cLFrgRoZkjcKPqNVTDS7CH4z4oGbkMy8aks5dQSddJds/s640/Minutes+pg51+003.jpg" width="465" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Bonfield stated on page 51 of the City Council Minutes, “One is it’s a complicated issue.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a false statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issue is straight forward and clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the official construction regulation, the Standard Building Code, a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant is not appropriate when the classification stays the same and ours did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is clear enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The only complication comes if public officials want to require a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant to defraud property owners out of their life savings by requiring unneeded, unnecessary and unwanted construction. City Officials defraud property owners of historic buildings by requiring their artifacts be removed from the building so the artifacts can be stolen. They keep on refusing a new Certificate of Occupancy, even if the owners comply with their illegal demands, to deny them an occupational license so the owners cannot operate their legally authorized business in the City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these actions are illegal, according to City Ordinances, the Standard Building Code, Florida State Statutes and the U.S. Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-69729652456308673012018-10-23T20:12:00.000-07:002018-10-23T20:12:33.525-07:00Chapter 13<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">As I stated above, in February and April, 1999, Mr. Miller contracted to do three projects on our house at 520 North Spring Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson had said that we must do these projects in order to get a new Certificate of Occupancy so we could get an Occupational License so we could use our commercial building. Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson used extortion to force these projects on us - that we would never be allowed to use our commercial property unless we complied with these illegal requirements. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br /></span></span>
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">We paid Mr. Miller in full in one case and paid him substantial advance payments in the other two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller immediately removed all of the artifacts but stopped work on these projects the first week in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite nearly constant directions to finish these projects, he refused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of completing the projects (returning my artifacts) that he had received substantial payments on, one paid in full, Mr. Miller, did other work that he said Mr. Wilkinson needed to be done and presented me with high weekly bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Mr. Miller removed all of the spindles and railings on the porches and verandas on the first and second floors (contract dated 2/12/99).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Architectural Review Board approved a maximum of 15% of the spindles being removed for refurbishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller violated the Board’s decision and removed and stole them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then abandoned this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This caused a dangerous situation as the porches and verandas now contained no spindles or railings.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Mr. Miller removed the back stairs and kept all materials and then abandoned this project without building and installing the new stairs (contract dated 2/12/99).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been paid ahead on the work done (66%).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This caused a dangerous situation as the landing from the upper back door then did not have back stairs, spindles, or railings</span></span></span><br />
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Mr. Miller removed and kept all of the antique decking on the second floor front porch, overlooking Spring Street, and partially installed untreated boards which warped the first time it rained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The contract (contract dated 4/2/99) specified treated (waterproof) boards which I paid for in advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller was paid in full for this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller abandoned this project and left warped boards on the second floor wrap-around porch on the side and front of the house – a definite tripping hazard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">The items illegally removed from the property without my approval and illegally kept from me were heart pine over a hundred years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heart pine is now extinct. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Mr. Miller, McFatter and his crew spent a lot of time digging in the yard, tearing out walls, and pulling up slate fireplace hearths looking for treasure.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">On September 6, 1999, I sent a certified letter, required by Florida Statute 489.126 Moneys received by contractors, to Mr. Miller regarding the abandoned projects. I sent a copy of this letter to Mr. Wilkinson to let him know the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller did not write a response but came by once and said he would finish the stairs if I would pay him the remaining amount immediately. I said he could finish the project and I would pay him the final amount then. I never saw Mr. Miller again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Although not required by County Ordinance, I sent Mr. Miller another certified letter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on September 25, 1999, firing Mr. Miller for abandoning projects and not returning our property which he did not have permisssion to remove from the house much less remove from the site altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also, again, sent a copy of this letter to Mr. Wilkinson to let him know the situation - that I had fired Mr. Miller for abandoning three projects paid far in advance - one paid in full. These were some of the projects Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson had insisted on in order to receive a Certificate of Occupancy so we could get an Occupational License to open our business. We had been illegally closed for 16 months at that time.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">On September 20, 1999, I wrote the Pensacola City Attorney, Mr. Don Caton, stating that I had received no answer to my letter to him of August 24, 1999, reporting, again, that the Pensacola Inspections Department was still breaking the law regarding CO’s and, again, asking that he stop these illegal actions. I also wrote another </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">letter to Mr. Bonfield, Pensacola City Manager, dtd August 24, 1999,
stating the public records request I had made in June, 1999, had not be
fulfilled.</span></span></span><br />
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wrote a letter to Mr. Butterworth, the Florida Attorney General, dtd August 24,
1999, pinpointing the illegal actions on
the part of City Officials, and informing him that the State Attorney, Mr.
Golden, has refused to stop these legal actions against us and the other
citizens of Pensacola. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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concluded the letter to Mr. Butterworth
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was given a copy, unofficially, of a memorandum, dtd August 25, 1999, to the Chairman and members of the Pensacola Planning Board
which requests changes to the Land Development Code (LDC) regarding Certificate
of Occupancy. These changes
appear to be designed to illegally enhance control over the citizens of
Pensacola, again, when they buy or rent property to a new tenant. All of these changes are in violation of the
Standard Building Code, the construction regulation selected by City Officials,
and will not change the Standard Building Code but will be used, the same way the
previous LDC changes were used, as something in writing to point at in the Code
books to force Pensacola citizens to comply – legal or not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
wrote Florida Governor Jeb Bush, again, about the apparent illegal/criminal
activities, especially against “old folks” such as we are and also against
historic buildings. I pointed out that
we had owned the property for one year and two months and City Officials were
still making illegal demands and refused us an occupational license even though
I presented a copy of the current CO on file in the Pensacola Building
Inspection Department, as required by Pensacola Ordinance. I was in compliance with the regulations but City Officials were not. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span></o:p></span></span></span>Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-45172658609420558192018-10-23T11:27:00.000-07:002018-10-23T11:27:14.661-07:00Chapter 12<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">I was finally given access to the Certificate of Occupancy records.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reviewed the Certificate of Occupancy records on line in the Building Inspections Department and had them print the list for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Page 1 of that list is shown below; it contains 3 Certificate of Occupancy records.</span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> Many required fields were left blank especially Occupancy Type, Construction Type and Proposed Use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These fields were vital as a new Certificate of Occupancy inspection was only required on a new building or when the Occupancy Type changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was impossible to tell, based on their official records, when the Occupancy Type changed as this field was left blank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no fields to record code violations or life safety violations contrary to what Mr. Wilkinson stated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, these inspection items were covered by other Departments (Fire Department, etc.) and were not part of the Certificate of Occupancy Inspection.</span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">No Certificate of Occupancy was issued for the middle record and no reason was given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meant that the business could not operate as they were illegally not allowed to obtain an occupational license to operate their business even if they already had a valid Certificate of Occupancy on file – as we did but were still being denied an occupational license to operate our business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">I wrote Mr. Butterworth, the Florida Attorney General, on August 24, 1999, pinpointed the illegal actions on the part of City Officials, and informed him that the State Attorney, Mr. Golden, had refused to stop these illegal actions against us and the other citizens of Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I concluded the letter to Mr. Butterworth with the hope that he would seriously address the situation I pointed out and take corrective steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I received a letter from the Florida Attorney General, Mr. Butterworth, dated September 27, 1999, where he refused to take any action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">I wrote Florida Governor Jeb Bush, again, about the apparent illegal/criminal activities, against us and against our historic building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pointed out to Governor Bush that he had stated in his letter of June 17, 1999, that “Persons serving on the Construction Board of Appeals are independent of the local government and practice building construction or design, so they should be familiar with the city’s rules and regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are independent of the city, they are not obligated to follow the decision of your building official.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">I reported to Governor Jeb Bush that all of the Board Members were licensed contractors who were required to obey Construction Laws which in Pensacola are covered in the Standard Building Code, yet they admitted to breaking the construction law regarding COs themselves which resulted in additional income from unnecessary construction, illegally required by City Officials, and the opportunity to steal building materials and artifacts from property owners – as happened to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him that I had researched the composition of the Board and discovered that almost all members, in addition to their regular businesses, had lucrative contracts with the City or, in other words, were de facto employees of the City and not independent or impartial at all, in violation of Florida Statutes. </span></span><br />
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p>I informed Governor Jeb Bush that the Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals and Adjustments Meeting was held on August 4, 1999, and the Board members had unanimously voted to allow City Officials to continue breaking the law. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">It appeared that City Officials and members of the special-interest group were predators who routinely broke laws in order to subject the people of Pensacola to illegal requirements in order to make them unwilling victims who were forced to lose their assets, including money, building materials and artifacts which they had worked hard to accumulate in order to support themselves and their families.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">I again asked Governor Bush to stop the apparent criminal/illegal activity taking place in Pensacola.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Around this time, there were news stories about the need for Governor Bush to address the rampant corruption problem in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the best articles was written by Carl Hiassen, Miami Herald, “Corruption fight depends on Bush Input.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, it appears that Governor Jeb Bush did not crack down on the rampant corruption taking place in Florida.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">The Pensacola Police Department appeared unwilling, and even refused, to address the reports I made of theft of our property, especially artifacts over 115 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pensacola Police Department made one arrest - not for the theft of irreplaceable artifacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>incident took place at the house downtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I had purchased 5 door locks from Home Depot and had them rekeyed to match, one for each outside door of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had handwritten on the outside of the boxes what the key numbers were because they usually came in sets of three instead of five as I required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">When I got back to the house, the contractor installing the locks was ready for the locks and I placed one by each door, all set to install.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">One lock went upstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I came back down, the contractor asked me where the locks were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ascertained immediately that they had been stolen, which much of our materials and many of our artifacts had been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had diligently reported these apparent illegal/criminal actions to the Police Department but they had appeared disinterested and none of our previous stolen property was ever returned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pensacola Police Department consistently refused to seriously address theft of our property even though it states in Pensacola City Ordinances that it is their job to protect citizens and their property in Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared that the Pensacola Police Department officers accepted theft during construction as not breaking the law.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I went back to Home Depot and returned to the lock section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All five locks were there, with my handwriting with the new key numbers clearly on the boxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared that one of the contractors on site had stolen them, returned them to Home Depot and had received a refund for the locks, almost $300.00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bought the locks again and went to the Police Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I walked in, carrying the locks, the desk sergeant yelled at me to get that stuff out of there while swinging his arm pointing at the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left, put the locks in the car and returned to the desk sergeant where I said that I wanted to report locks which had been stolen and which I had to repurchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started asking me to describe the locks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked if I could go to my car and either write down their description or bring them back in so I could show him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to go write the description down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did and returned to the desk sergeant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him they were probably stolen by one of the contractors as all thefts so far had been by contractors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took the report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I went back to the house and gave the locks to the contractor to install.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him they had been returned to Home Depot by the thief and that the store had a copy of the return sheet and would release it to the Police Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Michael Jackson, a subcontractor, came forward, confessed that he had stolen the locks and asked that I not press charges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he would reimburse me for the second purchase of the locks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him I had already made a report and he left without another word.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I was called by a detective at the Police Department to come in for a statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I told him that Mr. Jackson had confessed, he described Mr. Jackson and said that he was a known petit thief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I later received a letter from the pretrial Diversion Program that Mr. Jackson had been referred to their program by the State Attorney’s Office, that he had to complete their requirements and make restitution in order to avoid a trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I contacted their office, as directed, and told them of the cost of the locks, just under $300.00 which is the cut off between petit theft and grand theft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Mr. Jackson never made restitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I notified the State Attorney’s office that he had never made restitution as required in the program but they took no steps to rectify this violation on Mr. Jackson’s part and didn’t seem to care.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Shortly after Mr. Jackson’s arrest, a Pensacola police cruiser pulled into our parking lot where I was working outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The policeman turned off the engine, opened his door, leaned out and told me that the only reason Mr. Jackson had been charged with theft was because he had confessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His attitude seemed to be that I had done something wrong by reporting the theft, by taking the initiative to go to Home Depot to ascertain that the stolen property had been returned by the thief and by notifying the Police Department that they could easily get the signed receipt from Home Depot in order to identify and arrest the thief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The policeman’s attitude seemed to be that I had done something wrong in causing a thief to be apprehended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started up the cruiser and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was too confused to say anything.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">On August 27, 1999, I again wrote Mr. Curtis Golden, State Attorney, and reported that the illegal activities of City Officials, especially Mr. Wilkinson, were continuing and asked, again, that he investigate and stop these illegal activities which was his job. </span></div>
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I received a letter from the State Attorney’s office stating,<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I am sorry to again advise you that the State Attorney’s Office has no jurisdiction over the matters contained in your letter of August 27, 1999.”<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(signed)CURTIS A. GOLDEN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>STATE ATTORNEY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span></o:p></span>Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-20091842030474176902018-10-22T21:14:00.000-07:002018-10-22T21:14:17.847-07:00Chapter 11<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Official description<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals reviews and grants or denies applications for variances and waivers of all technical codes, including the building code, the plumbing code, the gas code, the mechanical code, the electrical code, the minimum housing code, the unsafe building abatement code and the swimming pool code but not the life safety and fire prevention codes. Serves as the regulation and discipline board for holders of City plumbing and gas certificates of competency. Reviews the appeals of the interpretation of the Building Official in regards to technical codes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Membership:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Seven members and two alternates, appointed by the City Council. The board shall be comprised as follows: one (1) registered architect, one (1) registered professional engineer, one (1) general or building contractor, one (1) electrical contractor, one (1) plumbing and gas contractor, one (1) mechanical contractor and one (1) member at large from the public. Alternates shall be one (1) member at large from the construction industry and one (1) member at large from the public. Board members are not required to be City residents.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Term of office: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Three years (alternates serve two-year terms)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Financial disclosure required?:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">No<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Meeting schedule: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As needed on first Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. at City Hall and upon call of the Chairman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The members of the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals routinely violated Florida Statutes, Standard Building Codes and City Ordinances which control construction which I initially discovered at the hearing regarding the illegal Certificate of Occupancy requirement, in 1999, i.e. the Board Members ignored all exceptions written into these regulations which specifically excluded historic properties because they didn’t want to exclude them – no matter what the law dictated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the hearing, Members of the Construction Board admitted to breaking the pertinent Certificate of Occupancy law themselves and denied my request that the Building Inspection Department obey the pertinent regulations covering the Certificate of Occupancy requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It appeared that the City Officials and members of the Construction Board had joined forces in order to institute and continue the illegal requirement for a “new” Certificate of Occupancy each time a tenant or occupant changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the Construction Board consisted of individuals in construction, they benefited from this illegal requirement which they used to require unnecessary construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These unnecessary construction requirements were also in violation of the Federal, State and City regulations concerning property and especially the restoration of documented historic properties listed on the Nation Registry of Historic Places which ours was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Certificate of Occupancy for our building, which was on file when we bought the property, was finally acknowledged to meet all of the legal requirements and is still the one on file for our property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1999</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Appointment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Type/Date<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A = Appointment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Employment/<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R = Reappointment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Appointed by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Name<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Background<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor John Fogg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kenneth Woolf,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kenneth H. Woolf, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1996<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Architect<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Architect, P.A.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1999<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor John Fogg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donald Jehle,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jehle-Halstead Inc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1997<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Engineer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does business with<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the City<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1996<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Councilman <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James Boyd,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boyd Plumbing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Anderson <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Plumber </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does business with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the City<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor John Fogg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fred O. Fell<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>F&M Electric Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1996<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Electrical<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1999<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contractor<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor John Fogg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stephen Ritz<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tower East Group <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1997<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mechanical<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has a lease with the <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contractor<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor John Fogg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kimberlee Anderson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pres, Gulfside<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1995<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At large<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> f</span>rom Public <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mechanical Inc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does business with <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the city</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Councilman <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James C. Moulton<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moulton Properties<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1995<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Eubanks </span>General or Building<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does business with<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contractor<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the City<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Alternates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor John Fogg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don Jackson – At<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Construction<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1996<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>large-Construction <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Industry<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A 1994<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor John Fogg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dewey A. Miller –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>D. A. Miller, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">R 1996<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At large from Air Conditioning<o:p></o:p></span><br /> Public<br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I researched the composition of the Board and discovered that 5 of the 7 members of the Board (71%) did business with the City or, in other words, were de facto employees of the City and, apparently, not independent or impartial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All of the initial appointments were made in 1994. Mayor John Fogg made most of the appointments and, in violation of Florida State Statutes, appointed individuals who had contracts with the City which was a conflict of interest. Each of the appointed individuals who had a conflict of interest signed a statement declaring they met the requirements. They signed a false statement as they did not meet the requirements of having no conflict of interest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mayor John Fogg appointed the individual who was supposed to represent the non-construction public. This individual was not really a representative of the non-construction public but was in the construction industry: Ms. Kimberlee Anderson, the President of Gulfside Mechanical Inc., who did business with the City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It appeared that the goal of the appointments was to load the Construction Board with construction professionals, most of whom worked with or for the City, instead of staffing the Board with members who were independent and impartial and who would make decisions based solely on regulations controlling construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span></o:p></span></div>
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</o:p></span></span>Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-62897419243952577612018-10-22T21:13:00.002-07:002018-10-22T21:13:51.080-07:00Chapter 10<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Director of Building Inspections, Mr. Delmus Wilkinson – Building Official, and the Assistant Director of Building Inspections, Ms. Tam Landis, two of the ones who were forcing us to follow non-existent regulations, were in attendance (she was the secretary to the Board).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made many false statements regarding the regulations and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time they nudged each other and giggled, like high-school sweethearts, and made fun of me as I presented official material.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All of the Board Members were licensed contractors, bonded and insured, who were required to obey Construction Laws which in Pensacola were covered in the Standard Building Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the Board Members were owners of multi-million dollar enterprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, the Board Members admitted to consistently breaking the construction law themselves which resulted in additional income from unnecessary construction required by City Officials and the opportunity to steal building materials and artifacts from property owners – such as happened to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The whole board appeared to be heavily biased in favor of City Officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Board ignored the Standard Building Code Regulations I supplied, the only official construction regulation authorized in Pensacola, which clearly showed that the City Officials were breaking the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Wilkinson used his usual excuse for refusing to recognize exceptions listed in the regulation when he said at the meeting, “So in order to use the building code you’ve got to use it as a whole and not just pick out just one sentence that might fit your particular need.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He meant that he ignored all official, defined exceptions to the applicability of these rules; such as a CO is not appropriate on change of tenant if the classification remained the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson also ignored the exclusion for properly documented historic houses, which ours was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These interpretations on the part of Mr. Wilkinson were in violation of the Standard Building Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Breaking the only authorized construction law in Pensacola (the SBC) apparently provided the Board Members with a windfall income based on illegal demands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Board Members fiercely defended these illegal requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This fact was evidenced when Board Member James C. Moulton stated, “I’m not talking about the Standard Building Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking about a local ordinance.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpts from the verbatim transcript of the Pensacola Construction Board </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of Appeals Meeting follow: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Minutes of Board Meeting – beginning of the discussion of my case<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Mead, I spent about three hours of my time reading all these letters and proposals today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems to me that the problem here is not that the City has not accepted the fact that it is a commercial facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that the problem?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m not changing…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(inaudible)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a problem on when a Certificate of Occupancy is required.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s required anytime you change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just for the protection of a businessman and I do it every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time you change what?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You change the occupant or you change the use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But where is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See I have been through the Building Code and I spoke to the authors of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have spoken to the people in Tallahassee but that isn’t in here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is being enforced and it specifically says otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would (Board Member James C. Moulton:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>excuse me) turn to the next page (Board Member James C. Moulton:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>excuse me).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James C. Moulton:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that the local ordinance?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the Standard Building Code.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James C. Moulton:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking about the Standard Building Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking about a local ordinance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />There was a lengthy discussion of the situation. I was the only attendee who </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">had a copy </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of the Standard Building Code and the only one who referenced </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">the SBC as the official </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">authority.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Minutes of Board Meeting – the end of the discussion of my case<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Chairman Ken Woolf:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the reason I was asking you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Fleming’s here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. John Fleming:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m John Fleming from the City Attorney’s Office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Mr. Wilkinson has ably stated the City’s position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member Don Jehle:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One other question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delmus were you – this Declaratory Statement from the Building Commission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you that attend that here or did someone from the City attend?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Wilkinson:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a written statement that was sent to them and addressed to them and I don’t disagree with the Declaratory Statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not saying anything other than – I mean I’ve agreed with what they have said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a change of occupancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not the issue they were addressing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member Don Jehle:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted to make sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Wilkinson:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have read all of Mr. Wilkinson’s –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Chairman Ken Woolf:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speak up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have read all of Mr. Wilkinson’s letters of correspondence to Mrs. Mead, and other than some innuendoes and personal accusations, I find nothing legally binding that would change my mind as to the importance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the protection of the public, their safety, and their welfare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Chairman Ken Woolf:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that a motion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make a motion that – well howdya – I don’t think we’ve had one quite like this before, have we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll have to put on my glasses and look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess the simplest thing to do would just be to make a motion that the variance be denied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, she’s contesting the legality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the situation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary Mead:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which I’m trying to figure out how (inaudible)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Wilkinson:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wouldn’t be a variance request.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Mead is appealing my interpretation of the Building Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, the Board would either be upholding my interpretation of the Code or overruling my interpretation and granting her appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member James Boyd:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK I that – I make a motion to uphold the City’s position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Chairman Ken Woolf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we have a second?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member Don Jehle:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Chairman Ken Woolf:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any comments?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in favor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does everyone understand the motion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in favor, aye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Members:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Chairman Ken Woolf:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All opposed, nay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Chairman Ken Woolf:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you Ms. Mead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since everyone had voted “Aye,” I was dismissed from the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Board Member Boyd stated, “I find nothing legally binding that would change my mind as to the importance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the protection of the public, their safety, and their welfare.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s because Mr. Boyd and all other Board Members studiously ignored the Standard Building Code which is the required construction authority for Pensacola.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Building Inspections Department is not authorized or responsible for the protection of the public, their safety, and their welfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Fire Department is authorized and has the responsibility to protect the public, their safety and welfare in their buildings by conducting fire and safety inspections to insure this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regulations forbid the Building Inspection Department the authority and responsibility for this job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals voted to continue to allow City Officials (Mr. Bonfield, Mr. Caton, and Mr. Wilkinson) to break the Standard Building Code regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I researched the composition of the Board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found that there appeared to be a major conflict of interest since:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1) all of the Board Members were contractors who appeared to benefit by the illegal requirement to force the CO procedure on property owners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2) almost all of the Board Members had contracts and were doing business with the City, or, in other words, were de facto employees of the City and not independent or impartial at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Florida Statutes prohibit a member of an advisory board to “corruptly use or attempt to use his or her official position or any property or resource which may be within his or her trust, or perform his or her official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself, or others.” as discussed in Chapter (6) printed below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared that the Board members support and enforce illegal requirements which provide a benefit to themselves since they are members of the construction community. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Florida Statutes prohibit a member of an advisory board, or his employer, from having a contract with the City as discussed in Chapter (7) printed below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost all of the Board Members had lucrative contracts with the City in violation of Florida Statutes.</span><br />
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THE 1999 FLORIDA STATUTES</div>
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<a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Index&Title_Request=X#TitleX"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Title X</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /> PUBLIC OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND RECORDS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0112/titl0112.htm"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Chapter 112</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /> Public Officers and Employees: General Provisions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(1) DEFINITION.--As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "public officer" includes any person elected or appointed to hold office in any agency, including any person serving on an advisory body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(6) MISUSE OF PUBLIC POSITION.--No public officer, employee of an agency, or local government attorney shall corruptly use or attempt to use his or her official position or any property or resource which may be within his or her trust, or perform his or her official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself, or others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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(7) CONFLICTING EMPLOYMENT OR CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.-- <o:p></o:p></div>
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(a) No public officer or employee of an agency shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity or any agency which is subject to the regulation of, or is doing business with, an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee, excluding those organizations and their officers who, when acting in their official capacity, enter into or negotiate a collective bargaining contract with the state or any municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the state; nor shall an officer or employee of an agency have or hold any employment or contractual relationship that will create a continuing or frequently recurring conflict between his or her private interests and the performance of his or her public duties or that would impede the full and faithful discharge of his or her public duties. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It appeared that the City Officials and the contractors, especially the ones on the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, partnered together to establish their own policies which are forbidden by the Standard Building Code, the construction law, to further their own interests and, in the process, have caused great harm to property owners in Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We were constantly threatened that we could be arrested if we did not follow the demands of the inspectors in the Building Inspection Department even if their demands were against the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson or one of his employees, dressed in their pseudo police uniforms, constantly patrolled our house and frequently barged in and made illegal demands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It appeared that City Officials refused to allow the people of Pensacola to live under the rule of law and under the U.S. Constitution but instead, subjected them to illegal demands which violated the law despite the fact that a many of us, including my husband and myself, served our country in the military to protect and defend the constitution of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the Constitution guaranteed equal treatment under the law, City Officials denied us the use of law enforcement, denied us the protection of the law, our assets were being stolen and City Officials appeared to regularly break the law and their actions were condoned by the Pensacola Police Department, the Escambia County Sheriff, the Florida State Attorney, DBPR and Governor Jeb Bush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote Mr. Bonfield, Pensacola City Manager, on August 5, 1999, again pinpointing the illegal actions on the part of City Officials, and informed him that the Board he had insisted I appear before voted to continue illegal practices in Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also sent a copy of the verbatim transcript of the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yesterday I appeared before the Construction Board of Appeals, as you have frequently suggested, for relief as you have refused to do anything to correct the Pensacola Building Inspection Department’s misinterpretation and misapplication of the Standard Building Code in regard to Certificate of Occupancy (CO).” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I summarized the meeting with the result that the Construction Board of Appeals voted unanimously to allow the Building Inspection Department to continue illegally requiring a certificate of occupancy on change of tenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stated to him that, “Several members closed their eyes and sat with pained expressions most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Landis and Mr. Wilkinson rolled eyes at each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Board would not even address the illegal passage of 8-99.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It appeared that the City Officials were very friendly to this special interest group – developers in Pensacola which included builders, architects and real estate professionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At the same time, Pensacola City Officials were hostile to regular folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials refused to enforce any Florida Statutes which legally limited the power of this special interest group which included Florida State Statutes regarding conflict of interest for members of advisory boards, Florida State Statutes regarding discipline by the City Building Official (Mr. Wilkinson) regarding contractor misconduct and the Standard Building Code which forbade requiring a Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I, again, asked Mr. Bonfield, as the Pensacola City Manager, to have the Building Inspection Department do their job by obeying the law in regard to CO’s and proper inspections of contractor’s work before accepting it as complete.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Below is the official report of the City of Pensacola Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span></o:p></span></span></div>
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-88455038632809232112018-10-22T21:13:00.001-07:002018-10-22T21:13:31.252-07:00Chapter 9<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
State Representative DeeDee Ritchie, studied the regulations and sent the following findings to those involved. All of the recipients, including Governor Bush, DBPR, Florida State Attorney golden, continued to illegally require us to undergo the illegal Pensacola policy apparently designed to swindle Pensacola property owners out of their assets.<br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I received a letter, dated August 3, 1999, Subject:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delmus Nathan Wilkinson, from Ms. Kathy McNeill, Senior Consumer Complaint Analysis at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, regarding my complaint against Mr. Wilkinson, Director of the Building Inspections Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /> -------------</span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Ms. McNeill stated, “this matter does not show possible violation of the statutes or rules which govern the professional involved in your complaint.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had sent Ms. McNeill the pertinent part of the Standard Building Code, the construction rule in effect here, where it states that a Certificate of Occupancy is not appropriate on change of tenant, and also sent her numerous letters and emails from Mr. Wilkinson where he demanded a new Certificate of Occupancy and claimed that it was required on change of tenant – which was false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He misrepresented this construction rule to my husband, me and at least 333 others and forced all of us to comply with his illegal requirement by threats and extortion (refusing to allow the legal use of property until compliance with the illegal requirement).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I had also sent documentation to Ms. McNeill which showed that I had supplied a copy of the Declarative Statement from the Florida Building Commission which stated that I was right, that a new Certificate of Occupancy was not appropriate in our circumstance, but Mr. Wilkinson refused to stop his illegal actions and forced us to comply with his illegal requirement in spite of Florida Building Commission’s decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Documentation from the City Attorney, Mr. Caton showed that Mr. Wilkinson had illegally required 205 new CO’s for Oct 1997-Sep 1998 and 280 new CO’s from Oct 1998-Sep 1999, or approximately 331 new CO’s after he knew, by Declarative Statement, that this policy was illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared that City Officials, with Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson as the driving forces, were defrauding the 50,000 citizens of Pensacola with illegal demands which violated the construction regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I had reported to her that it appeared to me that Mr. Bonfield, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Caton used this illegal requirement to swindle the people of Pensacola out of their money, building materials, and, if available, irreplaceable, valuable historic artifacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">It appeared that Ms. Kathy McNeill refused to acknowledge the facts we presented to her but, instead, made false statements in her letter and, representing the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), refused to stop these illegal activities on the part of Mr. Bonfield, Mr. Caton, and Mr. Wilkinson which were harming many citizens in Pensacola, including us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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When I called DBPR to find out why they had made this decision, I was told that everything about it was confidential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stated that I was the person who made the complaint and, as such, was entitled to know what facts were presented and who, if anyone, appeared as a witness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not notified to attend so that I could testify and present evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All individuals I spoke with at DBPR refused to answer any of my questions as they stated that it was a secret and that the decision was final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They refused to divulge what logic or reasons they used to make their decision even though there appeared to be overwhelming evidence of wrong doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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These actions appeared to be out of the sunshine which Florida public officials were supposed to obey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The result of the ruling by DBPR was that Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson continued to demand compliance with an illegal requirement even though it was the City Manager’s job is to see “that the ordinances of the city and laws of the state are enforced.”<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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Mr. Bonfield continued to refuse to do his job of stopping illegal harmful demands against me and repeatedly told me that I had to appear before the Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals to get the City to obey the law regarding CO’s, the sole intent appeared to be to strip us, older law-abiding people, of as many of our assets, earned by decades of hard work, as they could get away with. Again, the City Manager, Mr. Bonfield, should have done his job and stopped the illegal actions. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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Mr. Bonfield apparently told Governor Jeb Bush that I had to appear before the Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals to get the City to obey the law. Even though I had repeatedly requested that Governor Bush and Mr. Bonfield send me a copy of correspondence between them, both refused. Governor Bush ignored my request and City Officials said there was no correspondence with Governor Bush. <u1:p></u1:p>Governor Bush continued to refuse to stop apparent illegal/criminal actions on the part of City Officials, an apparent illegal/criminal conspiracy based on greed not laws.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Governor Jeb Bush had written me, on June 17, 1999, that I should appear before the Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals that he, Jeb Bush could do nothing even though Governor Bush consistently referred to himself as Florida’s chief law enforcement official. I was born in the US, obeyed the law, am a veteran as I served my country (my husband is also a veteran), and am a citizen of Florida and no one in Florida, even Governor Bush, can stop the crimes against us?</div>
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Governor Bush and Mr. Bonfield told our State Representative, DeeDee Ritchie, that I should appear before the Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals to get the City to obey the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Ritchie had been unable to get City Officials to obey the law despite her efforts – which were considerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always appreciated Ms. Ritchie’s assistance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was forced to go before the Pensacola Construction Board of Appeals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I paid the fee to appear before the Board, made the 11 copies of all pertinent official materials, as required, and appeared before the Board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> August 4, 1999</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p> <o:p><span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span></o:p></div>
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-14195854640831695182018-10-22T21:13:00.000-07:002018-10-22T21:13:11.298-07:00Chapter 8<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote a letter to the State Attorney, Mr. Curtis Golden, dated July 11, 1999.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I received your letter dtd June 15, 1999 where you state:<u1:p></u1:p> “In reply to your letter of May 28, 1999, I refer you to my letter of May 27, 1999. In your letter of May 28, 1999, you mentioned failure to inform you of a new ordinance. You are advised that an ordinance is a public law of which the general public is presumed to have knowledge. Failure to advise you of the ordinance is not a violation of the public records law.” <u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />In my letter, I had covered the apparent illegal/criminal actions on the part of City Officials, in detail, and asked, again, that he investigate the matter of the trick concerning the certificate of occupancy illegal requirement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I had repeatedly stated that City Officials did not follow Florida Statute 166.041 “Procedures for adoption of ordinances and resolutions” which states that “Each ordinance or resolution shall be introduced in writing and shall embrace but one subject and matters properly connected therewith. The subject shall be clearly stated in the title.” It is Mr. Golden’s job to enforce Florida State Statutes.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I received a letter from the State Attorney, Mr. Curtis Golden, dated July 16, 1999.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “This will acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 11, 1999. I am sorry to have to advise you the State Attorney has no authority to challenge the validity of the procedure followed by City Councils or County Commissions. I must regretfully refer you to a private attorney for advice in this regard.” <u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Signed Curtis A. Golden<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">State Attorney<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Golden’s statements appeared to be untrue as it was his job, as State Attorney, to address violations of Florida State Statutes as the actions surrounding the illegal ordinance, effective date Feb 11, 1999, did violate Florida State Statutes.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /> I wrote a letter to each of the City Council members, dated July 27, 1999, relating the apparent illegal/criminal actions of City Officials against me and my husband and the people of the City of Pensacola since this secret illegal ordinance affected every building in Pensacola. Not one answered.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br /><br /> I wrote another letter to DeeDee Ritchie, the State Representative for my area, dated July 27, 1999, in which I related the details of the apparent illegal/criminal actions on the part of City Officials regarding all buildings in Pensacola and especially harmful to our historic building.<o:p></o:p><br /><br /> While no Pensacola City Council member answered my letter of July 27, 1999, I later found out that Councilwoman Rita Jones had made an inquiry to the Pensacola City Attorney, Mr. Caton regarding this matter. I was able to obtain a copy of his answer to her, dated August 2, 1999. Remember that Mr. Caton is the City Attorney and was one of the authors of the change to the LDC which is not the authorized construction regulation for Pensacola. <u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br /><br /> ------------------------------------------<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br /> “This is in response to your inquiry about the controversy between Mary Mead and the Inspections Department. Ms. Mead objects to the Inspections Department’s interpretation and administration of a portion of the City Code. We have been informed that Ms. Mead argues that she should not be required to have a new certificate of occupancy before she can obtain an occupational license for her intended office use at her property because a certificate of occupancy was previously issued several years ago for an office use at the same location. (Ms. Mead may have other related arguments, but it has been reported to this office that this is the heart of the issue between her and the Inspections Department.)”<o:p></o:p><br /> ….<br /> (Mr. Caton discusses Sec. 7-2-4 and Sec. 12-12-6(A))<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />….<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br /><br /> “It should be noted that Sec. 12-12-6(A) quoted above was amended by the City Council as one of several amendments to the LDC by adoption of Ordinance No. 8-99 on February 11, 1999. The only significant change to this section was to add the word “tenancy” for clarification purposes. A public hearing on this amendment as well as the other amendments was held on January 20, 1999, at which time the proposed ordinance was passed on first reading. The ordinance was then adopted by the City Council on second and final reading on February 11, 1999. This was the proper procedure for adoption of amendments to the LDC. <u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br /><br /> Based upon the foregoing provisions of the City Code, it is the opinion of this office that the City staff is correct in not issuing a business or occupational license until a certificate of occupancy is issued for the business and that the Inspections Department is reasonable in requiring an inspection prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> According to the Director of Inspections, there were 205 such certificate of occupancy inspections for existing buildings in the fiscal year which ended September 30, 1998; and there are projected to be over 280 such certificate of occupancy inspections for existing buildings in the present fiscal year. In other words, the Inspections Department routinely makes inspections and issues certificates of occupancy whenever there is a change in the occupancy, tenancy, or nature of the use of an existing non-residential building. This has been the City’s practice for over twenty years and is the same procedure being followed in Ms. Mead’s case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> To summarize, this office agrees that the past and current interpretation of the City Code by the Inspections Department to require a new certificate of occupancy for a previously inspected facility when there is a change in the occupancy, tenancy, or nature of the use of the existing non-residential building is a proper one. However, it should be noted that the City Code provides for appeals of the decision of the Director of Inspections to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, a body that is authorized to overrule such decision. It is my understanding that Ms. Mead has filed such an appeal with a hearing currently scheduled for Wednesday, August 4, at 2:00 p.m.<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
<br /> Please let me know if you need any clarification of this opinion.<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br /><br /><u2:p> </u2:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
(signed) Don J. Caton<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
City Attorney<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />DJC:je<br />
Cc: Thomas J. Bonfield<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Delmus Wilkinson, Director of Inspections<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jennifer Fleming, CRA Executive Director”<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><u2:p> </u2:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">------------------------------------------</span><br />
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Mr. Caton misstated as the hearing was held on January 28, 1999, and not on January 20, 1999.<o:p></o:p></div>
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December, 1998, through September 30, 1999, City Officials were still illegally requiring a new Certificate of occupancy on change of tenant, when it was not legally required, was considered inappropriate according to official construction regulations, and was against the official Declarative Statement issued by the Florida Building Commission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Documentation from the City Attorney, Mr. Caton showed that Mr. Wilkinson had required 205 new CO’s for Oct 1997-Sep 1998 and 280 new CO’s from Oct 1998-Sep 1999, or approximately 331 new CO’s after they knew this policy to be illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared that City Officials were defrauding the 50,000 citizens of Pensacola with illegal demands under the construction regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mr. Caton stated, “In other words, the Inspections Department routinely makes inspections and issues certificates of occupancy whenever there is a change in the occupancy, tenancy, or nature of the use of an existing non-residential building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been the City’s practice for over twenty years and is the same procedure being followed in Ms. Mead’s case.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Mr. Caton stated that the Building Inspections Department will inspect properties and issue Certificates of Occupancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This letter was issued on August 2, 1999, over a year after we purchased this property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time the Building Inspection Department had refused us the use of our property as they proceeded, step by step, to make illegal demands apparently designed to strip our property of all items of value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Building Inspection Department “inspected” our property at least 50 times and no technical violations or structural problems were ever found. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In January Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson forced us to hire the contractor of their choice by refusing permits to contractors we hired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All work they demanded was cosmetic which, according to construction regulations, they had no control over – they had control only over structural, electrical, plumbing, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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From January to August Mr. Bonfield, Mr. Wilkinson, and Mr. Miller required the removal of artifacts from our historic building (over 500 spindles and the railing made of heart pine over 115 years old, two beautifully carved overmantels with beveled mirrors and beautiful columns, antique hardware, 4 decorative plaster sconces – all made specifically for the house in 1883) all of which were stolen by Mr. Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He confessed to taking our property to the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board investigator and to Mr. Wilkinson in an official hearing, to the Pensacola Police Department Investigator, Mr. Stone, to his co-workers, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Property owners in Pensacola have been forced to submit for two decades to illegal procedures, since City Officials have been illegally requiring a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant for over twenty years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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All buildings are subject to the Standard Building Code but City Officials exempted properties owned by “slum lords” who appeared to be in violation of construction codes but were not inspected and forced to make their properties safe even though I have seen small children playing on balconies with missing railings, unkempt yards, abandoned vehicles, and other dangerous violations on rental properties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared that these properties had nothing worth stealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I have noticed a preference for older people, such as my husband and I were, as the victims of the illegal requirements of City Officials and the victimization by contractors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span><br />
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-50457692993557634732018-10-22T21:12:00.001-07:002018-10-22T21:12:49.009-07:00Chapter 7<br />
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I contacted State Attorney Golden's office again and again and reported the apparent rampant corruption I observed in City Government especially regarding the apparent grand theft ring operating out of City Hall. <br />
<br />
I received a letter from the State Attorney, Mr. Curtis Golden, dated May 27, 1999, in response to my letter to him pointing out the illegal activities of City Officials.<u2:p></u2:p><u1:p></u1:p><br />
---------<u3:p></u3:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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“This will acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 21, 1999. The Office of State Attorney does not do routine law enforcement investigations. Any complaint must be filed with the appropriate law enforcement agency.<u3:p></u3:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I might advise you however that your letter does not set forth sufficient allegations to pursue an investigation.”<u3:p></u3:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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Signed Curtis A. Golden<u3:p></u3:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
State Attorney<o:p></o:p></div>
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I received a letter from Mr. Wilkinson, dated May 27, 1999, where he informed me that we had a requirement, under the Certificate of Occupancy, for a temporary power installation and fees. I wrote Mr. Wilkinson, dated May 28, 1999, that this did not apply to us as the requirement is only if you are getting a new Certificate of Occupancy. We exchanged letters and phone calls regarding this matter and, as usual, Mr. Wilkinson threatened that our building would sit until it rotted if we did not comply. I complied, went in, paid the fees and completed the paperwork required under the Certificate of Occupancy so we could get the use of our property even though construction laws exempted us from obtaining a new Certificate of Occupancy.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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<u2:p> </u2:p>I wrote the State Attorney, Mr. Golden, a letter, dated May 28, 1999, and stated, in part:<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
---------<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your office was recommended by the local law enforcement agencies as the proper office to pursue misuse of government office.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
If you need any additional information, please call me at 850-492-1962. I have a copy of the extensive correspondence I have had with the City over the past year.”<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I received a letter from the State Attorney, Mr. Curtis Golden, dated June 15, 1999.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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“In reply to your letter of May 28, 1999, I refer you to my letter of May 27, 1999. In your letter of May 28, 1999, you mentioned failure to inform you of a new ordinance. You are advised that an ordinance is a public law of which the general public is presumed to have knowledge. Failure to advise you of the ordinance is not a violation of the public records law.” <o:p></o:p><br />
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Signed Curtis A. Golden<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
State Attorney<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
---------<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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I had sent a copy of the letter I had written, dated May 21, 1999, to Mr. Bonfield, the City Manager, to Mr. Golden with my letter of May 28, 1999. In this letter, I had spelled out the apparent trick on the part of City Officials of calling the illegal requirement for a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant “minor changes” in the newspaper advertisement and at the City Council Meeting itself. No reference was made to Certificate of Occupancy in either of these places, which is required under Florida State Statutes. City Officials failed to inform anyone through newspaper ads or at the hearing itself of the true nature of this ordinance, in violation of Florida State Statutes, it was hidden under “minor changes.” It appeared that Mr. Golden ignored this violation of Florida State Statutes and refused to take corrective action even though he was the State Attorney.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
In addition, this new requirement was in an Ordinance that was not the approved construction regulation for Pensacola. The approved or official construction regulation still forbade a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant in the same classification. <u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I wrote and telephoned the State Attorney’s office and spelled out the City Officials’ violation of State Laws, including violating the Florida open record’s law, Florida Statutes regarding extortion in regard to unauthorized fees related to the Certificate of Occupancy, and the apparent scam against over the 50,000 people of Pensacola perpetrated by the false Bugs Bunny comic book requirements requiring a new CO on change of tenant. </span><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="background: white;">
<u1:p></u1:p><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mr. Golden, the State Attorney ignored all of the City Official's apparent illegal actions, and refused to do anything to stop these illegal actions against us – City officials were still participating in and were the main driving force of the grand theft of our historic artifacts, money and building materials. The State Attorney still refused to indict the individuals responsible and investigate and prosecute the law-breakers who were harming many people in Pensacola, especially us.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since I had not received an answer from Governor Bush in answer to my letter to him dated February 28, 1999, I again wrote and sent extensive documentation (evidence) to show that under the real construction regulation, the Standard Building Code, a new Certificate of Occupancy was not required on change of tenant. I pointed that we had no change of tenant after the effective date of February 11, 1999. I again explained, in detail, the illegal activities on the part of Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson, in that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
They had not modified the Standard Building Code, the construction regulation, but had modified an ordinance which had as much authority on a construction regulation as a Bugs Bunny comic book, to illegally require a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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The effective date of the illegal ordinance was February 11, 1999, and there had been no change of tenant on our property since June, 1998, so we did not fall under this illegal ordinance.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I pointed out, again, that their illegal requirements were in violation of local ordinances, Florida State Statutes and federal laws concerning extortion, conspiracy, grand theft, and restoration of historic properties.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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In answer, I received the following letter from Governor Bush, dated June 17, 1999.<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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Once again, it appeared that Governor Jeb Bush had ignored the facts in my letter but had passed me off to someone else instead of stopping the apparent illegal/criminal actions against us, thereby allowing City Officials to apparently continue to scam and swindle us here in Pensacola. Every day we were being cheated out of our life savings, historic artifacts, and building materials we had purchased - mostly vintage.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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Governor Jeb Bush stated in paragraph 1:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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I sympathize with your difficulty in obtaining the required approvals for a Certificate of Occupancy from the Pensacola Building Inspection Office, but would encourage you to follow the established procedures in your jurisdiction for appealing decisions by the building official. Persons serving on the Construction Board of Appeals are independent of the local government and practice building construction or design, so they should be familiar with the city’s rules and regulations. As they are independent of the city, they are not obligated to follow the decision of your building official. If you are not satisfied with the result at that level, it is my understanding you can appeal to the full city council.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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<u1:p>I continued to be amazed and astonished at Governor Jeb Bush's apparent tolerance for corruption and crime. I had written him three times that we did not fall under the requirement for a new CO on our property downtown. The City Officials' illegal/criminal demands were just a smoke screen in order to steal from us and steal from hundreds of others each year. </u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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On June 23, 1999, I answered Governor Bush’s letter. I reiterated, again, the illegal activities on the part of Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">-----------------</span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I again wrote to Mr. Bonfield:</span><br />
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">-----------------</span><br />
“The City Building Inspection Department needs to do the work they are being paid to do instead of writing ordinances, enforcing nonexistent ordinances, bluffing building owners and lying to us again and again.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<u1:p>I hope you will respond to my letters and that you will get the Building Inspection Department to do their job.”<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
----------------<br />
<u1:p></u1:p><br />
<u1:p>Mr. Bonfield responded in a letter, dated June 30, 1999.<u1:p></u1:p> I addressed his letter in the following letter, dated July 11, 1999.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p>--------<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p> </u1:p>Dear Mr. Bonfield<u1:p></u1:p>. . .<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I received your letter of 6/30/99 in which you state:<u1:p></u1:p> “Mr. Wilkinson has communicated to you the City’s position on the process for building inspections and certificate of occupancy for your property.”<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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<u1:p>I, again, covered the illegal actions on the part of Mr. Bonfield, Mr. Wilkinson and other members of the Building Inspection Department. I, again, covered the illegal actions regarding the illegal ordinance, effective Feb 11, 1999, which they were applying to us when there had been no change of tenant after the effective date of Feb 11, 1999, etc.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<u1:p>I, again, asked Mr. Bonfield, as City Manager, to investigate and correct this matter.<u1:p></u1:p><u2:p></u2:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<u2:p><br /><span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span></u2:p><br />
<u2:p></u2:p><br />Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-58904124288344435842018-10-22T21:12:00.000-07:002018-10-22T21:12:29.373-07:00Chapter 6<br />
EXCERPT FROM THE PENSACOLA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR January 28, 1999.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<u>PUBLIC HEARINGS</u>:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<u1:p> </u1:p> MAYOR FOGG: And that brings us to Public Hearings. Madam Clerk, Item 5-A.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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CITY CLERK WHITE: Item 5-A is a public hearing to consider:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p> </u1:p> PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
CODE INCLUDING THE PROVISION TO ALLOW PORTABLE <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
SIGNS TO BE PLACED ON DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS, <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
ALLOWING THE REQUIRED VISIBILITY TRIANGLE <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
REQUIREMENT TO BE REDUCED, THE DELETION OF THE <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
REQUIRED FOUR-FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
AIR CONDITION EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY LINES,<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
AND OTHER MINOR CHANGES. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
MAYOR FOGG: Thank you, Madam Clerk. If there’s anyone in the audience here this evening that would like to speak to any item on the agenda this evening please fill out a blue card that you will find just to the right of the center podium. You can also find these cards outside each of the entrances into the chamber.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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Each member of the audience here this evening that would like to make input is allowed to address any single issue for a maximum of five minutes. Is there anyone in the chamber this evening that would like to address Item 5-A on the agenda tonight. No one has indicated they’d like to. Council, what’s your pleasure?<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
COUNCIL MEMBER WAKEMAN: I so move.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<u1:p> </u1:p> COUNCIL MEMBER EUBANKS: Second.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
MAYOR FOGG: Properly moved and seconded. Discussion? Please vote.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<u1:p> </u1:p> (Electronic voting takes place indicating the motion passed unanimously._<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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MAYOR FOGG: And it’s approved unanimously.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<u1:p> </u1:p>Those of us opposed to the City’s illegal CO policy on the grounds that the City’s use of it was illegal were not there to speak about it as we had no knowledge of it being discussed. Some of us could have pointed out that changing the LDC did not change the SBC and that the construction regulation stayed the same – new Certificates of Occupancy were not appropriate on change of tenant if the classification stayed the same. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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On the second reading, on February 11, 1999, at the City Council Meeting, the proposed ordinance became effective. The effective date of this ordinance was February 11, 1999, so it did not apply to changes of tenancy before that date. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The United States Constitution stated that “No...ex post facto Law shall be passed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This said that a law ex post facto – literally, after the fact – is one that punishes conduct that was lawful when it was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Federalist</span> No. 78, Alexander Hamilton noted that "the subjecting of men to punishment for things which, when they were done, were breaches of no law" is among "the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny." </span></div>
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Our change of tenancy was in July, 1998, eight months before this ordinance, so this secretive illegal action still did not apply to us.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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The Ordinance (Bugs Bunny comic book) stated <u>after</u> the Public Hearing, “Certificate of occupancy required. A new building shall not be occupied or a change be made in occupancy, <u>tenancy</u>, or the nature of the use of a building or part of a building until after the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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Even though the legal reference for construction in Pensacola, the Standard Building Code, remained the same, City Officials continued to victimize the people in Pensacola with the same scam and swindle they had used for years. In addition, since City Officials still demanded that an occupational license required a “new” Certificate of Occupancy; City Officials could still decide who could operate a business in Pensacola and who could not by denying them a new CO, as they were doing to us even though we had reluctantly complied with all of their apparent illegal/criminal demands.<o:p></o:p><br />
Governor Jeb Bush answered my letter where I reported the apparent illegal/criminal actions of City Officials against the people of Pensacola on February 23, 1999.<br />
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The correct response would have been for Governor Jeb Bush to initiate an investigation by FDLE and the Attorney General's office based on the evidence I sent to the Governor. Instead, he appeared to support the corruption in Pensacola of Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson who were apparently using criminal/illegal means (felonies) to steal from us. <br />
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Governor Bush stated in paragraph 1, “Thank you for your letter of January 8 concerning requirements for renovating your property in Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are to be commended for your interest in restoring and preserving one of the great historic structures of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The state is blessed with a wealth of historically significant property and many state, regional and local government agencies are dedicated to the cause of preserving these properties for future generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We depend on individuals such as you to assist in preservation of historic structures private ownership and outside of the public domain.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Governor Bush skipped over the fact that City Officials were illegally requiring “renovations” even though they had no authority to demand these renovations which, in this case, consisted of stripping our historic structure of almost all of the historic artifacts built for the house when it was constructed in 1883.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Mr. Bonfield was breaking the construction law (SBC) in this demand and he was breaking the United States Secretary of the Interior regulations regarding Historic properties. </span>We defended our property against renovation (make new) since we considered it extremely important to preserve the original artifacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though they were forcing us to renovate, City Officials did not have the authority to compel us to renovate or make new our historic property.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I had reported to Governor Bush that City Officials were forcing us, under false requirements, false charges and false statements, supposedly under the authority of the SBC, to undergo an illegal Certificate of Occupancy process and forced us to hire a contractor, their friend, and submit to projects which caused great harm to our historic house. We were desperately defending our historic property since we wanted to keep the 115+ year old artifacts in place where they belonged.</div>
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I had also reported to Governor Bush some of the harassing actions on the part of City Manager Bonfield and the Department of Building Inspections Director, Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pointed out that the unnecessary, expensive construction they were requiring was in violation of the SBC, United States Secretary of the Interior’s rules on restoring historic properties, was against our wishes, was causing great harm to our historic building and was causing unneeded financial loss to us.</div>
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Governor Bush stated in paragraph 2, “After reviewing your letter and back up documentation you provided, it appears you are asking if the City of Pensacola has acted within its authority in requiring that a certificate of occupancy be issued for you property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opinion of the Florida Building Commission, which you received as a declaratory statement, resolves the issue of whether the Standard Building Code requires a Certificate of occupancy in this case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However an interpretation of the Standard Building Code does not entirely answer the question of whether a certificate of occupancy is required in your case.”</div>
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Contrary to Governor Bush’s letter, the Florida Building Commission’s interpretation of the Standard Building Code did entirely answer the question of whether a certificate of occupancy was required in my case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Their decision was made in November, 1998, and the phony City Ordinance was not requested until December, 1998, after City Officials received the decision ruling against them. </span>The only building code in Pensacola at that time was the SBC and the SBC is still the only construction regulation since the phony ordinance did not amend the SBC. All City Official demands, requirements, and accusations have been based on false statements of authority and false requirements on the part of City Officials and appear to be criminal and/or illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4038122453903186288" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Governor Bush stated in paragraph 3, “Florida law requires all local governments to choose from among the state minimum building codes established in the state statutes the code which will serve as the building code within their jurisdictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Standard Building Code is one of the minimum codes from which a jurisdiction may choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, state law does allow local jurisdictions to require more stringent standards than those in the selected minimum codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See s 553.73(4), F. S. 1998 (supp), enclosed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the information you provided, it appears that the City of Pensacola has adopted a local ordinance requiring a certificate of occupancy be issued under the facts of your case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a more stringent requirement than those in the Standard Building Code.” </div>
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Governor Jeb Bush tried to pass off the bugs bunny comic book (BBCB) doctrine as a more stringent requirement of the SBC. This was an absurd and blatantly false statement. The BBCB doctrine did not affect construction and the City Officials illegally forcing this "more stringent standard" on us was in violation of our Constitutional rights as it was ex post facto - after we had a change of tenancy. <br />
<br />
The <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Standard Building Code, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Section 103 Powers and Duties of the Building Official, stated:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">103.1 General.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The building official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The building official is further authorized to render interpretations of this code, which are consistent with its spirit and purpose. </span>The original passage in the SBC indicated that the Certificate of Occupancy is not appropriate on change of ownership if the classification of the occupancy type stays the same. The City policy of requiring a new CO on change of tenancy in the same classification is in direct violation of the SBC not a more stringent requirement. (another absurd example of more stringent: Original - be careful where you spray the weed killer - don't kill the plants. More stringent - kill the plants.)<br />
<o:p><br />© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br /><u1:p></u1:p></o:p> </div>
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-51039691209788979662015-01-09T09:47:00.001-08:002015-01-09T10:04:25.970-08:00Chapter 5<br />
<o:p>
</o:p>Mr. Wilkinson stated, again and again, that we had to do
what he said, regarding construction, if we ever wanted to use our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though only an upgrade in maintenance
was required, Mr. Miller and Mr. Wilkinson developed three major, unwanted and unneeded,
construction projects for our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even though these projects were labeled construction and Mr. Wilkinson
demanded that we hire a contractor, these projects did not require a permit or
a contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only purpose of these
projects appeared to be to remove historic artifacts from our building – which
we did not want to do and which federal regulations regarding historic
buildings forbade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These items had to be
approved by the Pensacola Architectural Review Board as they affected the
outside appearance of a historic building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proposal and
Acceptance Form dated 2/12/99 “Removing all handrails on exterior of house
completely except for support columns, build & install all new handrails
with new custom spindles to match original & top & bottom rails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This includes building curved laminated
handrails on (2) two separate round porches.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cost:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$7,347.72<o:p></o:p></div>
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Instead of caulking and painting the spindles in place,
which is required by the Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines and the course
we wanted to take, Mr. Wilkinson demanded that the spindles be removed from the
building, caulked and painted and then returned to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This amounted to over 500 spindles and the
rails above and beneath them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
spindles and railings on each of the six porches/verandas and on the outside
stairs. These actions were not permitted under the restoration guidelines but
Mr. Wilkinson demanded (he called it refurbishment) so we had to agree in order
to use our business property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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At the board meeting, I explained that we only wanted to
update the maintenance of the property to its original, beautiful Victorian
state and no major construction was really needed or wanted, only improving the
maintenance.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The Board Members approved items 2 and 3 (see below) and
modified Item 1 by stating that at least 85% of the spindles and all rails were
to remain in place, as demanded by relevant regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was relieved as I had not wanted them
removed as Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Miller demanded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really didn’t want to do any of the items
as they were unnecessary, exposed our beautiful building to damage and were
very expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Miller and Mr. Wilkinson ignored this conditional
approval by the ARB and did what they wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I was instructed to go to City Hall, to the Building Inspection
Department, they removed all of the spindles and railings and carried them off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Miller abandoned this project and, as I indicated, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>never returned the railings and spindles (over
500 carved spindles – enough for 6 porches/verandas and the stairs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller later confessed, in a meeting with
Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. McFatter, and the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board Investigator
that he had stolen the railings and spindles, plus building materials, the
decorative sconces, overmantels and many other items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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On separate occasions, Mr. Miller also bragged about this to
his co-workers and others that he had stolen our property. We never saw any of
these items again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proposal and
Acceptance Form dated 2/12/99 “Removing porch roof on second floor northeast
corner of house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Removing stairs on east
side of house and building new stairs as per drawings & specs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cost:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$3,763.06<o:p></o:p></div>
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The “porch roof on second floor northeast corner” was a very
small area (just a few feet) of roof which had been added – not original to the
house - over the second floor outside stair landing for shelter against rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had deteriorated a little and did not
match the original design of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a simple matter to remove the porch roof without altering the
main roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No permit or contractor was
required for this small project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The outside stairs had been approved, with board by board replacement
of the few damaged boards, by the Professional Property Inspector but the City
Building Inspections Department ignored this report, again, and demanded that
the stairs be removed and replaced with the replacement conforming to current
codes, again in violation of the rules governing restoration of an historic
property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller removed the stairs,
took the materials and abandoned this project.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proposal and
Acceptance Form dated 4/02/99 “Totally strip & save all decking material on
(2) two second floor decks (exterior).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rework structural framing & then redeck with ¾” pressure treated
exterior plywood for sublayer & 5/4” pressure treated decking on top with a
membrane between layers for water leak prevention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All materials to
be provided by owner and any unseen repairs will be extra labor charge over 56
working hours on this project.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cost:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2,800.00<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
While #3 stated, “Rework structural framing,” no structural
rework was needed or done. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no
rework or any “structural framing” since they were to only take up the old (read
vintage) deck boards and then redeck. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of using “¾” pressure treated exterior
plywood” and “5/4” pressure treated decking, Mr. Miller purchased “untreated
lumber” even though I had paid for “treated lumber.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started to rain soon after they had started
to install the decking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the lumber
was not treated, which was specified in the contract, the boards warped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Miller left the warped boards in place,
causing a definite trip hazard and abandoned this project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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As I had repeatedly informed Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson,
all of these projects were unneeded, unwanted by me, and violated the
regulations enacted by the Secretary of the Interior’s Office to restore or
repair Historic Buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
forced to accept these projects if we wanted to use our building - ever - this appeared
to extortion on the part of the City Officials, especially Mr. Bonfield and Mr.
Wilkinson.<o:p></o:p></div>
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An article was published in the Pensacola News Journal
announcing a hearing to be held during the Pensacola City Council Meeting of
January 28, 1999, to change the Land Development Code to consider “proposed
amendments to the Land Development Code including the provision to allow
portable signs to be placed on downtown sidewalks, allowing the required
visibility triangle requirement to be reduced, the deletion of the required
four-foot distance between residential air condition equipment and property
lines and other minor changes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This referenced the change to the LDC requested on December
10, 1998, by City Manager Bonfield, City Attorney Caton and Building
Inspections Director Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I paid no attention to this since it was a change to the
Land Development Code, which had nothing to do with construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was watching for a change to the
construction regulation, the Standard Building Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
.......... <o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Pensacola Land Development Code, defined in
Florida Statute 163.3213, was not one of the approved regulations for
construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fact, it had nothing to
do with construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It regulated
zoning, subdivision construction, sign regulation, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What I later discovered was that Mr. Bonfield, Mr. Caton,
and Mr. Wilkinson had carefully developed a plan that appeared to allow them to
secretly continue to scam and swindle the public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Florida State Statutes required that an Ordinance must
contain the full description of the Ordinance in the title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Officials broke this Florida State Law.
Mr. Bonfield, Mr. Caton, and Mr. Wilkinson hid the illegal requirement for a new Certificate of Occupancy under the
umbrella of “minor changes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
required announcement of the City Ordinance did not reveal that this was about putting
the City’s illegal policy regarding CO’s on change of tenant in writing, (it
had previously been enforced based on verbal demands and threats) but they put it in an
ordinance that had no authority over construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It appeared that City Officials were desperate to continue the
illegal policy, apparently based on greed and corruption, which had allowed
them to:<o:p></o:p></div>
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(1) illegally demand unnecessary construction, which gave
more work to their friends and the opportunity to overcharge, steal building
materials, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
(2) illegally demand removal of historic artifacts which
their friends then stole<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
City Officials had used their illegal policy for years to
bully, threaten, and force actions on people when they, in actuality, had no authority
or legal right to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of these
apparent illegal/criminal actions were frequently sadistic in nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our case, City Officials required us to
pay for having our irreplaceable artifacts, over 115 years old, removed which
their friends then stole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The illegal
requirement to remove our spindles and railings caused a serious situation as
the verandas were now without spindles and railings (Mr. Miller confessed
to stealing them) which left the porches and verandas dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to pay to have the spindles and rails crafted
as they were necessary to operate our business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
These illegal requirements resulted in us paying for
unneeded and unwanted “construction” which left our beautiful historic property
in a poorer state than it was before City Officials made these illegal
demands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These illegal demands resulted
in the loss of valuable historic artifacts, resulted in the value of our historic
property illegally being reduced and resulted in lost income from our illegally
closed business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The only way to officially and legally change the
construction requirement was to amend the SBC which required public notice,
hearings, and public input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City
Officials appeared to fear that at the first public notice, the people of
Pensacola would realize they had been victimized for years by the illegal
policy requiring new CO’s on change of tenant when no legal requirement had existed
and, in fact, the construction regulation strictly forbade this policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In the real world, this illegal LDC action did not legally
or officially require a new Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant since
the official construction regulation for Pensacola was still the Standard
Building Code, which was still located in the Pensacola Building Inspection
Department, which was untouched by this change, and which still dictated that a
Certificate of Occupancy on change of tenant was not appropriate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
No ordinance outside of the SBC could change the
requirements for construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The LDC
was not one of the documents specifically identified in Florida Statutes as one
of the accepted Florida Building Codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
The public hearing was held on January 28, 1999, at the twice-monthly Pensacola
City Council Meeting, to discuss these changes to the Land Development
Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no mention of changes to
the Certificate of Occupancy during the hearing, no discussion of the changes
to the Land Development Code and, on page 2 of the minutes, the acceptance of
the changes to the Land Development Code was moved, seconded and unanimously
approved during the voting with no public discussion of what the changes
were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Instead of putting the requirement for a new CO in the LDC
they may as well have put this change in a Bugs Bunny comic book and referred
to it as changing the SBC since the LDC and a Bugs Bunny comic book are alike
in that neither could officially change the SBC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since many individuals were easily confused
about regulations and appeared to mistake the LDC changes for SBC changes, for
clarity, I will refer to the LDC as a Bugs Bunny comic book in discussing this
matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Pensacola City Council Members who approved the Bugs
Bunny comic book for construction purposes were:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike DeSorbo, Owen Eubanks, Doug Halford,
Rita Jones, Jack Nobles, John Panyko, J. D. Smith, Sharon Wakeman, Mike Wiggins
and Marie Young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-51379527297882341412015-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:002015-01-04T10:28:47.541-08:00Chapter 4<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>On December 10, 1998, unknown to us and the public at large, City Manager
Bonfield, City Attorney Caton and Building Inspections Director Wilkinson
requested that the Pensacola Planning Board issue an official memo requesting a
new ordinance which included “… Staff also proposes minor changes to the LDC
for clarity or interpretation purposes.” This will be important later.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I filed an official complaint against Mr. Wilkinson, as the Pensacola
Building Official, with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(DBPR) and included extensive documentation of his actions which appeared to be
in violation of the laws regarding buildings in Pensacola.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Two days before Christmas, December 23, 1998, a notice from the Pensacola
Building Inspection Department was placed on our front door downtown. It
stated, “1. Please obtain a properly licensed contractor. 2. Please
have contractor obtain the required building permit for the required structural
repairs. 3. Please do not hang any sheet rock or insulation in all areas
where repairs are required.” <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I wrote Mr. Wilkinson about this latest demand that I hire a contractor for
work and explained that the work did not require a contractor since no
structural repairs were needed.<u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I received a letter from Mr. Wilkinson regarding the events on December 23,
1998. He stated, “There is no insinuation that you were doing work or
going to do work without a permit, but rather a notice reminding you to have a
building permit obtained prior to concealing this work. This is the same
procedure used on all construction projects within the City of Pensacola.”
<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
First of all, we did not start off as a construction project, major or not,
as construction is not needed based on the professional property inspection we
had hired done before we bought the house. The Official Report stated
that all we needed was an upgrade in maintenance which did not involve the
Pensacola Building Inspection Department. We were planning to carefully
upgrade the maintenance, as suggested. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson kept forcing us to go through the Certificate
of Occupancy renovation process which is inappropriate as we are not changing
occupancy type and, in addition, historic properties were exempt. They
were demanding extensive construction in order to strip our property of
valuable, precious, historic artifacts which were built specifically for our
house in 1883. We wanted to retain these important parts of our property
in keeping with its historical value and uniqueness. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Wilkinson wrote and said we could not continue work on
items not requiring a permit until I hired a contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson does not have the authority to
do this since anyone can do work on their property which does not require a
permit – his demand was another bullying tactic and was against construction law. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson had forced our
business property to sit unused for 6 months at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I contacted Mr. Wilkinson and requested that he
issue me a permit as the contractor which was allowed by state law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I had been co-contractors when
building our residence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We easily passed
the Bank’s construction loan inspections and finished the project ahead of time
and under budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Wilkinson refused to issue to me a permit as the
contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I was forced to give
in or our property would continue to sit unused, I sent Mr. Wilkinson a
licensed contractor for a permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
contractor was a well-known building contractor from whom I had received an
estimate and I had asked him to obtain a building permit to do the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson refused him a permit with no
reason given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then sent Mr. Wilkinson
another licensed contractor I knew slightly for a permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, Mr. Wilkinson refused him a permit
with no reason given.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Bonfield wrote us several letters, the first dated
December 28, 1998, repeatedly demanding that we undergo the illegal requirement
for a new CO and that we hire a contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Bonfield said that, “While you have previously been
given some inaccurate information from the Inspections Department, in this case
their determination is correct.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Instead of “inaccurate information,” as Mr. Bonfield stated,
the Inspections Department demanded that we do things, in violation of
pertinent regulations, which caused us great harm and expense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bullied, extorted, harassed, trespassed,
and intimidated us with false statements, threats and hysterical antics. Many of these illegal demands appeared to be sadistic in nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On December 29, 1998, I wrote Mr. Bonfield again and
reiterated the points I had previously made about their policy being
illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I again used the comparison
with presenting a driver’s license to presenting our official current CO.<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I wrote, “It has been acknowledged by the City building
inspection office and by the State of Florida Building Commission that there is
a current Certificate of Occupancy on file for our house at 520 N. Spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is all that the City License Department
requires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am requesting a copy of this
and other documents relating to our property.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had previously asked for this documentation but City Officials had
refused to give me a copy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Bonfield’s answer, by letter dated December 30, 1998,
stated in part: “The license department does confirm new certificate of
occupancy inspections with the Building Department when issuing new or
transferring occupational licenses.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pensacola City Manager Bonfield did not send a copy of the current certificate
of occupancy on file or the other documentation I had requested.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I answered, by letter dated January 2, 1999, reiterating the
points I had made in my previous letter and ended with:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have contacted
the researchers for the SBC, other cities in Florida, some counties in Florida
and the State Codes Office where the SBC is used as the authority for building
construction and inspections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No other
city or county in Florida has interpreted the SBC as Pensacola has interpreted
in as a basis to illegally allow the Pensacola Building Inspection Department
to far outstrip their authorized duties and responsibilities.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I wrote more letters to Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson, asking
that they obey the relevant regulations and, again, asking for a copy of the
documentation for our property, specifically a copy of the current certificate
of occupancy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Bonfield and Mr. Wilkinson refused my repeated requests that
they operate in accordance with existing laws, instituted by our elected
officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The State Attorney, Mr.
Golden, also refused to stop the apparent illegal/criminal actions against
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The DBPR had not answered my report
of apparent illegal/criminal actions on the part of Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally wrote Florida Governor Jeb Bush on
January 8, 1999, which reads in part:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“We are asking your help in straightening out a problem my
husband and I are having with the Pensacola City Manager and the Pensacola Building
Inspection Office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have exhausted all
local channels in solving this problem.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I included extensive documentation such as I have shown above.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On January 8, 1999, I also wrote the Florida Commission on
Ethics and our state representative, DeeDee Ritchie, explaining the situation
and sending support documentation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On January 11, 1999, I received a letter from Mr. Wilkinson
where he stated: “Enclosed you will find copies of all the records we have on
file for this building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will note
that the last certificate of occupancy was dated March 6, 1992.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are other certificates of occupancy
included, all of which are for previous business.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I presented the Certificate of Occupancy for March 6, 1992,
to Mr. Muldoon, in compliance with the City Ordinance, and asked for an
occupational license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Muldoon of the
licensing department denied me a City occupational license because my CO was
dated 1992 and issued to the previous owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This was not a valid reason to deny me an occupational
license as the City Ordinance required that a copy of the current Certificate
of Occupancy on file in the Building Inspections Department be presented to Mr.
Muldoon (his Department).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certificates
of Occupancy are good for the life of the house as long as there is no change
in the occupancy type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had been no
change in the occupancy type.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Soon after, on one of the many occasions Mr. Wilkinson was
“inspecting” our property, I asked why he would not accept the building contractors
I had sent to get a building permit, after he had denied me a permit as the
contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson stated that he refused me a
permit as he only issued permits to contractors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson then stated that I had selected
Building Contractors and that a Commercial Contractor was required to work on
our building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew this was a false
statement since I was familiar with three types of contractors:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Residential Contractors – only allowed to build
single family residences, Building Contractors – allowed to build anything
under three stories, and General Contractors – allowed to build anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I again brought to Mr. Wilkinson’s attention that the City
Ordinance did not include instructions on commercial property, only on family residences,
so County and State regulations must be followed for commercial property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pointed out, again, that County and State
regulations allowed the property owner to be the contractor under certain
criteria and that I met that criteria.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Wilkinson again said that a Commercial Contractor was
required to work on commercial buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Wilkinson said that the best Commercial Contractor in Escambia
County was in our house right then helping the painter, Mr. McFatter, and other
people on the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that this
Commercial Contractor had restored many historic properties and did a fantastic
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson recommended that I
hire this contractor if I wanted a permit issued for our building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson made it clear that I had to
hire his contractor or I would never get the use of our property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked who this Commercial Contractor was
and Mr. Wilkinson said he was Mr. Douglas Eugene Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called Mr. Miller over and introduced him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My husband and I were desperate at this point as we wanted
to use our property especially since we were paying the mortgage every month
and City Officials, illegally, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would not
let us use our business property for income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I agreed to hire Mr. Miller so we could finish our house if,
when I called the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board he was a licensed
contractor and that he had no complaints against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
After Mr. Wilkinson left, Mr. Miller brought Mr. McFatter,
the painter, over and said that he would like Mr. McFatter to be my agent between
us for the project to handle the invoices and checks and relay any
messages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Mr. Miller’s request
seemed strange to me, I reluctantly accepted as this appeared to be the only
way to save our beautiful vulnerable historic building, finish the maintenance
updating and allow us to open our business and go to work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I called the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board and
they said that Mr. Miller was a licensed contractor, bonded and insured, and
that he had no complaints against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At this point, I agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
On January 13, 1999, Mr. Miller had no problem getting a
building permit from Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Miller’s building permit stated “interior work only” until the Architectural
Review Board approved.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola Newsletter</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
---------<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-2609406833047148492015-01-03T12:06:00.000-08:002015-01-03T12:07:02.452-08:00Chapter 3<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Wilkinson persisted in constantly harassing me, almost on a daily basis, with false accusations and false charges apparently aimed at illegally forcing me to hire a contractor, when none was needed, by falsely stating that I or others were doing work on our property which required a contractor and/or a permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Since Mr. Wilkinson was a constant visitor to our property, some of the workers suggested that we set up a guest room for his use.<br />
-----------------------------<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Examples of harassment in 1998-1999:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson called me at home and complained that a crew was removing piers, or floor supports, from under our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that a permit was required to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hired a company to properly install jiffy jacks to prevent future sagging of the floor beams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him that a permit was not required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had inspected their work and it appeared to be correctly done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove into town and reinspected their work and found that Mr. Wilkinson was in error.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No piers were removed but several jiffy jacks had been properly installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson finally admitted that the work had been properly done and that no permit had been required.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
..........<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perdido Heating and Cooling was replacing some A/C ducts already in existence (which does not require a permit) and had not yet obtained and displayed a permit for future work that would require a permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson stopped all work on our house, cautioned Perdido Heating and Cooling that they would be fined and that they should immediately get a permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Roger, Perdido Heating and Cooling, applied to the Pensacola Permitting Section requesting the necessary permit for our property, his request was denied by Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called Mr. Wilkinson about this latest impasse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me he would allow the A/C permit, with a substantial fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No reason was ever given for denying Roger’s initial request for a permit or for a fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
..........<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A laborer informed me that he had heard Mr. Wilkinson telling some other workers that he would be requiring a permit to remove exterior stucco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After receiving approval from Ms. Mary Ann Peterson, Code Enforcement, in Mr. Wilkinson’s Department, for using the historic paints I had selected (white with blue trim), I asked Ms. Peterson if I needed a permit to replace the lattice used to repair the original ornamental railing if I replaced it with ornamental railing identical to the original.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had these railing pieces made by a wood craftsman in Pace to replace the lattice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said no permit was needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also asked if I needed a permit to remove exterior stucco to return to the original clapboard underneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said no permit was needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson then wrote me and stated, “I have discussed the removal of the stucco with your painter and I am not requiring a permit for the removal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I stated that an approval from the Architectural Review Board was required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Mary Ann Peterson (435-1862) can be contacted for the procedure and paperwork necessary for this approval.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
As I had explained to Mr. Wilkinson in my letter dated January 7, 1999, I had already met with Ms. Peterson and obtained official approval to remove the stucco and she decided that a permit was not required.<o:p></o:p><br />
..........<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was ordered to report to the Assistant Director of the Pensacola Building Inspection Department, Ms. Tam Landis, serving under the Director of the Pensacola Building Inspection Department, Mr. Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I did not know until later, that Ms. Tam Landis (Wilkinson) had been married to Mr. Delmus Wilkinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since they both remained in their family home, most people speculated that the divorce was to get around charges of nepotism since he was the Director and she was the Assistant Director of the Pensacola Building Inspection Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been divorced for 7 months when I met her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how long they had been divorced when she was hired as Assistant Director – it couldn’t have been more than a few months.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Mr. Hale followed me into her office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Hale and Ms. Landis insisted that we replace the attic timbers/beams in our 120-year-old house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stated that these were the same attic timbers/beams which the Pensacola Building Inspection Department judged in July/August, 1998, 4 months earlier, to be fit and capable to withstand a new roof with 40-year shingles as they issued a permit to replace the roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Landis showed me Polaroid photos which had been taken in our house showing a few of the beams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy to see that even with thin exterior char, these timbers still exceeded the rafter requirements by quite a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, these were initially 4x6’s or 4x8’s and in some places, even larger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current requirements were that timbers must be 2x4’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Their demand would mean removing the new roof put on in August, 1998, with a permit issued by the Pensacola Building Inspection Department which certified that everything was okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their new demand would mean that the house would then be roofless for the time it would take to replace these beams which would have to be special cut by a lumber mill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would risk damage to the interior walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The roof could then be replaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waste was unbelievable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I reminded Mr. Hale that we had this point checked for safety before purchase (the property inspection report) and that the rafters passed the inspection and that no repair or replacement was needed, he was still insistent that they come out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Landis and Mr. Hale did not give me this requirement in writing, they verbalized as they frequently did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told them that a requirement of this magnitude would require a written demand from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They refused to record their demand in writing so I refused to obey it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Since then, this house has withstood a hurricane (Ivan in 2004) and the replacement of the new roof which meant thousands of pounds of shingles, hot tar and rolls of tarpaper plus crews of heavy-footed roofers stomping around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not one timber/beam split, cracked or fell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hurricane Ivan caused no damage to the rafters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as I could tell, there was no change whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that these beams will last another 120 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
-----------------------------<br />
<br />
Pensacola City Ordinance, Section 18. Administration of city affairs, states "The city manager shall be responsible to the council for the proper administration of all affairs of the city placed in his charge". In addition, Pensacola City Ordinances, Section 21, Duties of the City Manager stated, "It shall be the duty of the city manager to act as chief conservator of peace within the city, to supervise the administration of the affairs of the city; to see that the ordinances of the city and laws of the state are enforced…".<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Since it appeared to be his responsibility, on September 1, 1998, I reported these apparent illegal/criminal actions, to Mr. Hinkle, Pensacola City Manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reported that the Building Inspection Department refused to obey the Standard Building Code and refused to obey the Florida State Statutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Hinkle refused to stop their illegal demands and illegal harassment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I continued to report that their demands were illegal to the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager, the City Attorney, etc. and all refused to obey the SBC, Florida State Laws and federal regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all recommended that I do as the Building Inspection Director demanded or that I appear before the Construction Board of Appeals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I sent letters and documentation to each Pensacola City Council Member asking that they investigate this matter since the Director of the Building Inspections Department refused to comply with the local, state and federal regulations in this matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They refused.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I called the SBCCI, Southern Building Code Congress International, who had done the research, prepared, and published the Standard Building Code regulation book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spoke with several of the officers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said that I was right in my interpretation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said that they had never heard of a City interpreting the Standard Building Code as our City Building Inspection Department had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were concerned about the misinterpretation on the part of Pensacola City officials and wondered about the motivation but said there was nothing they could officially do.</div>
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The regulations were very clear and not difficult to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained the regulation to my four-year-old twin grandchildren and asked them what it meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I defined tenant and appropriate, they promptly said that it meant we didn’t need a new CO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently it wasn’t too difficult to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I began calling Florida State Offices to see who could help us and help others who were in this situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spoke with the Head of the Code Section, Florida State level, and he said that my interpretation was correct but there was nothing he could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He referred me to Community Services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Rushman, Community Services, said there was nothing he could do but I could petition the Florida State Building Commission to issue a Declarative Statement.<br />
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On September 16, 1998, I sent a petition to the Florida Building Commission requesting a Declarative Statement on the requirement for a Certificate of Occupancy on change of ownership or change of tenant within the same occupancy type (business in this case).<o:p></o:p></div>
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On November 23, 1998, in answer to our request, we received a Declarative Statement from the Florida State Building Commission stating that our use of the house does not constitute a change of occupancy and that a Certificate of Occupancy is not required. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]-->The comments made by the Florida Building Commission echoed the exact statements I had made to Pensacola City Officials regarding what the construction regulations required and did not require.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to their official decision, a new Certificate of Occupancy was not required for our property.<br />
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It should have been that when we bought the house, according to the SBC and the Florida Building Commission, we were allowed to continue the operation of the business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, City Officials had stalled us for almost 5 months and harassed us by making illegal demands and denying us the legal use of our historic building.<br />
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I sent copies of the Florida Building Commission’s Declarative Statement to the City Manager, City Attorney, the Pensacola Building Inspection Department, and all City Council Members and suggested that the Pensacola Building Inspection Department’s office policies be carefully reviewed for compliance with existing laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The City Manager, Mr. Hinkle, was gone and a new City Manager, Mr. Thomas Bonfield, was now in office.<br />
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In addition to sending the Declarative Statement, I called Mr. Bonfield and related the inappropriate actions on the part of the Pensacola Building Inspection Department, the findings of the Florida Building Commission which support our standing and requested that he undertake the task of getting the Pensacola Building Inspection Department in line with the Florida State Statutes and the Standard Building Code.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Bonfield refused to obey the SBC and the decision by the Florida Building Commission and continued the illegal policy of forcing Pensacola property owners, including us, to comply with his illegal requirements regarding the misuse of the CO by threats and illegal demands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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On December 6, I wrote to the Florida Building Commission stating that the Pensacola City Officials were refusing to abide by the Florida Building Commission’s Declarative Statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wrote back that they could do nothing about the Pensacola City Officials not following the Declarative Statement since the Florida Building Commission did not have an enforcement arm but only decided who was correct in the interpretation of official regulations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola
Newsletter</span><span style="font-size: 28pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-30091638394590813642014-12-28T11:51:00.000-08:002014-12-28T11:51:49.541-08:00Chapter 2In a follow-up letter, dated July 30, 1998, Mr. Wilkinson, again stated, this time in writing, that the policy of the City Officials was to require a certificate of occupancy every time a property changed hands or each time a renter, leasee, or tenant moved in or out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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I stated in my return letter that this policy was not in writing in any City Ordinance and was against the Standard Building Code which the City of Pensacola had adopted as its official regulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His demands were illegal, unauthorized and would be harmful to our historic property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Mr. Wilkinson had written, “Section 3401.3 of the Standard Building Code references existing building; certificates of occupancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section states when in the opinion of the building official an inspection may be required to determine the building is in compliance with the technical codes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I stated to Mr. Wilkinson that Section 3401.2 of the SBC, the paragraph before 3401.3 was scope in that provisions of this chapter governed the application of this code to existing buildings here in Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Section 3401.2 was applicability and called for a Certificate of Occupancy on a change of type – occupancy type or classification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no change of type or classification so this instruction did not apply to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Neither did we fall into the exception to the above two paragraphs stated in Section 3401.3 of the Standard Building Code, existing buildings which states, “when in the opinion of the building official an inspection may be required to determine the building is in compliance with the technical codes.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had given Mr. Wilkinson a copy of the professional building inspection performed before we bought the house on July 1, 1998, which stated that the building was in compliance with all technical codes and only needed a few minor cosmetic repairs and improved maintenance but was otherwise sound and safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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It appeared that Mr. Wilkinson was illegally using Section 3401.3 to require an illegal blanket inspection of every building in the City on change of tenant, owner, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson does not have the authority to do this to everyone, only if the building is not in compliance with technical codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We provided evidence that our building was in compliance with all technical codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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If Mr. Wilkinson couldn’t get past applicability – that the requirement applied to us – then he had to put the instruction down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t have the authority to keep reading and say, even though it doesn’t apply to you, I can force you to undergo this inspection.<br />
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Mr. Wilkinson had previously stated to me that under the requirement for a new Certificate of Occupancy, he was going to require the removal of most of the historic artifacts on our building for “refurbishment.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were against this based on the unnecessary expense and potential for harm to the irreplaceable artifacts which had been in place on the building for over 110 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Federal regulation also forbade removing artifacts from an historic property.<br />
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Mr. Wilkinson had written, “Section 7-2-4 of the Code of the City of Pensacola requires a certificate of occupancy prior to the issuance of a business license.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the phone, Mr. Wilkinson had stated that this section required a new CO instead of just presenting a copy of the CO on file at City Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stated that City Officials would not grant us an occupational license unless we did as he demanded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared that City Officials controlled who could operate a business in Pensacola by use of this illegal requirement.<br />
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Section 7-2-4 of the Code of the City of Pensacola states “A certificate of occupancy issued by the building inspection department shall be furnished to the city treasurer as a condition precedent prior to the issuance of any new or transfer occupational licenses.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the certificate of occupancy was good for the life of the house to identify its use and location, a copy of the Certificate of Occupancy on file in the Pensacola Building Inspections Department was all that is required by Section 7-2-4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An individual did not have to go through a new Certificate of Occupancy process to get a business or occupational license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They only had to show the current CO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This is like having to present your driver’s license for identification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to retake the test and have a new driver’s license issued each time identification is required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You only have to show the current driver's license.</span></div>
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Our County, Escambia County did not require a new Certificate of Occupancy or a copy of any Certificate of Occupancy for issuance of an occupational license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All cities and counties in Florida I checked with did not require a copy of the certificate of occupancy at all in order to get an occupational license which is just a tax for operating in the City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Wilkinson had written, “The building at this address is an existing structure and according to our records was last used as a commercial office.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not true either as the building at this address was an art gallery/antique shop holding functions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called Mr. Wilkinson and told him our building was an art gallery/antique shop holding functions for over twenty (20) years, not an office building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson said that official records stated that it was an office building and that it could only be used for that purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Since Mr. Wilkinson was immovable, we decided to use the building as an office building to satisfy Mr. Wilkinson so we could use our property for income since we had been denied the use of our building since our purchase on July 1, 1998.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had both worked in offices for decades and had the confidence that we could use it as an upscale office building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my return letter to Mr. Wilkinson, I stated that we had submitted to his insistence that the building had to be used as an office building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Our house will be rented as an upscale professional office space.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It appeared that the actions of Mr. Wilkinson in illegally requiring a new CO, illegally requiring extensive unnecessary work, illegally requiring that we use it as an office building instead of what we bought it for (art gallery/antique shop holding functions), illegally requiring a CO inspection fee, forcing us to hire someone of his choice (see later actions) or we couldn’t use our property or would be arrested, appeared to be extortion and abuse of power as defined in Florida Statutes.<br />
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I had spoken with several owners of office buildings to get information on what to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our building was suitable for four (4) office spaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The consensus was that most people rented office space while they were constructing their own building, were on a temporary assignment (insurance adjusters after a storm), or other short term needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the average tenant stayed one year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I did a comparison chart over an eight year period of how many CO’s were required under the valid construction law, the SBC, - zero (0) CO’s were required.<br />
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Under Mr. Wilkinson’s illegal policy if we had been allowed to operate as an art gallery/antique shop holding functions – one (1) CO was required. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span>Under Mr. Wilkinson’s illegal demand that we use it as an office building, and s<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ince
we had space for
four (4) tenants, over an eight year period, we would be required to submit to
32 CO procedures</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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In addition to the fees, the illegally demanded CO procedures could be used to require unneeded and unwanted construction costs (like now), and result in stolen property and stolen building material costs (like now).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p><br />
In my letter to Mr. Wilkinson, I pointed out that we had worked diligently with the Pensacola Building Inspection Department, the Pensacola Architectural Review Board and the North Hill Preservation Board and that it wasn’t that we were trying to get around a legal requirement but didn’t want to waste money and time and risk damage to our historic property because of an apparent illegal City policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We asked him to help resolve this matter as we would lose our money and destroy our house if this kept up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t imagine that this was the goal of the City. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Mr. Wilkinson and I continued to exchange letters where I pointed that a new Certificate of Occupancy was not required and he stated that it was required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of the documentation I studied supported his requirement but, in official regulations, specifically forbade it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His government agency (the Pensacola Building Inspections Department) as well as the property owner (us) must follow Florida State Statutes and the Standard Building Code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Wilkinson told me that he did not follow Florida State Statutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said we would do what he required or the house would sit unused until it rotted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black;">© Copyright – All rights reserved – Pensacola
Newsletter</span><span style="font-size: 28pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038122453903186288.post-63202159168156551702014-12-26T08:38:00.003-08:002014-12-26T08:39:12.442-08:00Chapter 1<br />
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Florida
appears to be heavily laden with corruption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A current report states that Florida is number 10 on the list of the 10
most corrupt states in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have read reports from previous years where Florida has been number 1, the most
corrupt state in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears
that the governors, state attorneys general, state attorneys, and law
enforcement agencies of at least forty other states and sometimes 49 other
states have managed to keep their corruption rates lower than our government officials
in charge in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Another
report states that Florida currently has 4 cities (Pensacola is number 6) in
the category of 10 most dangerous small cities in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears that the Governors and officials of
at least forty-six other states have managed to keep their small cities safer
than our Florida Governors and officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This
appears to be an F minus for those in charge in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We live in Pensacola,
Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, and many others here, who have
been victimized by the high level of crime and corruption, have diligently
reported specific instances of these apparent criminal/illegal actions to local
and state officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Officials we contacted have refused
to control crime and corruption in Florida and have continued the policy of allowing
government officials to victimize the people of Florida, especially here in
Pensacola.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have decided to describe my experiences of being an
unwilling victim of apparent crime and corruption in the hope that my
disclosure will inspire government officials to end the high rate of corruption
here.</div>
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In 1998, my husband, Gene, and I had been looking for a
business property downtown to supplement our retirement income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realtor
notified us that an historic property built in 1883, listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, and located in the North Hill Preservation
District was available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The house, Victorian, had 8 fireplaces with their beautiful
mantels and over mantels still intact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
over mantels were beautiful, made from mahogany or heart pine, most with carved
columns and all contained beveled mirrors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
A total of six ve</span>randas/porches with the original beautiful heart pine columns, heart pine
railings, and spindles adorned the house.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the first floor, there were two distinctive decorative plaster
sconces located near a bay window area in what appeared to be a gentlemen’s
parlor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the second floor, the layout
was duplicated but the parlor area was the master bedroom with a little sitting
room connected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most rooms, upstairs and
downstairs had access to porches or verandas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The house was in PR2 zoning, multifamily which allowed
commercial enterprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The property was
currently being used as an art gallery/antique shop (since 1980) holding
functions and the certificate of occupancy was commercial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seemed to be a good fit since Gene and I
had a strong interest in art and antiques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were excited about running an art gallery/antique shop and holding
functions such as family reunions, parties and weddings here in this beautiful
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We had the house inspected on May 30, 1998, by a
professional building inspector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
structural problems were found outside which would require major construction –
only small repairs such as replacing a few boards and repairing a few spindles
on the back stairs and on some of the verandas, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inspector found no major problems inside which
would require major construction – again, only small repairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on the inspection, we decided to buy
the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His overall finding was that
the house was structurally sound, was in compliance with technical codes, and that no construction was needed – only improved
maintenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The closing was scheduled
for July, 1998.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Most of the expense of repairing our property would be
cosmetic such as sanding and redoing the floors, scrapping, caulking, replacing
rotten boards, repairing spindles and painting the house - no building permit was
required for these jobs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prior to the closing on the house, I reviewed the State
Statutes, County Ordinances and Pensacola City Ordinances to make sure that we
acted in accordance with the rules and regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Chapter 553.73 of the Florida Statutes establishes the
requirement for local governments to adopt a building code where they are
responsible for building construction regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Local Governments must select one of the four
approved Building Codes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1</span></sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">553.73 State Minimum Building Codes.</span>--
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(1)(a) By October 1, 1984, local governments and state agencies with
building construction regulation responsibilities shall adopt a building code
which shall cover all types of construction. <o:p></o:p><br />
(2) There is created the State Minimum Building Codes which shall
consist of the following nationally recognized model codes: <o:p></o:p><br />
(a) Standard Building Codes,
1988 edition, pertaining to building, plumbing, mechanical, and gas, and
excluding fire prevention; <o:p></o:p><br />
(b) EPCOT Code, 1982 edition;
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(c) One and Two Family
Dwelling Code, 1986 edition; and <o:p></o:p><br />
(d) The South Florida Building Code, 1988 edition. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->Each local government and state agency with building
construction regulation responsibilities shall adopt one of the State Minimum
Building Codes as its building code, which shall govern the construction,
erection, alteration, repair, or demolition of any building for which the local
government or state agency has building construction regulation responsibility.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Pensacola City Ordinance 14-1-131 selected <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">553.73 </span>(2)(a), the Standard
Building Code (SBC), as the State Minimum Building Code for Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only the SBC can be used for construction
regulations in Pensacola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Since my husband and I were the contractors in building our
residence, I was very familiar with the Standard Building Code.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Standard Building Code stated that the definition of
Occupancy is “The purpose for which a building, or part thereof, is used or
intended to be used.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our building had
the Occupancy type of Business (commercial) which was Group B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assemblies of over 100 are Group A, and
assemblies of less than 100 persons were covered under Group B, Business –
which we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The building was classified
as Business and we were going to use it as Business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The category of Business was so large it
included:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>animal hospitals, kennels,
pounds, barber shops, carwashes, florist and nurseries, art galleries, antique
shops, office buildings, police stations, radio and television stations,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Standard Building Code, Section 106.1 Certificate of
Occupancy, stated “A new building shall not be occupied or a change made in the
occupancy, nature or use of a building or part of a building until after the
building official has issued a certificate of occupancy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Standard Building Code established that a Certificate of
Occupancy was issued on a new building and was valid for the life of the
building unless a major change took place, such as the occupancy type changing
from residential to business (commercial). Since there was no change in occupancy, nature or use of our
building, a new certificate of occupancy was not appropriate, according to the
regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could move in and open the
day we signed the closing papers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In addition, the Standard Building Code 3401.5 Special
Historic Buildings stated that even if an historic building required a new
Certificate of Occupancy, which ours did not, it could be exempted if it was
found safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our historic building was
inspected by a professional inspector and was found to be safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since our building was certified as historic
and was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this section also
exempted us from a new Certificate of Occupancy requirement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I then studied the Federal regulations for restoring and
maintaining an historic property:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines to Restoring which required that
original materials and artifacts must not be removed from the property but must
be restored and remain in place.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had the closing on July 1, 1998, as scheduled, and began
moving in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We were unloading and arranging antiques in the shop when a
stranger, who appeared to be a policeman, barged in and started accusing us, in
a very agitated manner, of breaking the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He stated that the railings and spindles had to be removed, that the
doorways had to be widened, and on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He stated that under the Certificate of Occupancy requirement these
changes had to be made and that we could not move anything in or use our
property until we got a new Certificate of Occupancy (CO).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stated that we could be arrested if we
broke this law.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I told him that the Standard Building Code (SBC)
specifically stated that a new Certificate of Occupancy was not appropriate if
the classification did not change and it was clearly evident that our
classification had not changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
continued to threaten us with arrest and huffed out of the building.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
I was very concerned about his demands since they were
illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, they were not
practical as our doorways were already wider than newer houses, the railings
and spindles just needed repair, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t want to rip our historic house apart especially since everything he had said
was the opposite of the requirements of the SBC and also was the opposite of
the Federal regulations for restoring and maintaining an historic property
which specifically required that original materials and artifacts must not be
removed from the property but must be restored and remain in place, as I stated
above.<br />
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I called the Pensacola Police Department and asked about a
policeman falsely telling us we could not use our property unless we got a new
CO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The desk sergeant said that he was
not a policeman but he was a City Building Inspector since they wore similar police-type
uniforms and that I should call the Building Inspection Department.<br />
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I discovered that the Pensacola City Building Inspectors
wore pseudo police uniforms, complete with badges and police hats, and
threatened property owners with arrest if they did not do exactly as the
inspectors said even if their demands were in violation of the SBC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These inspectors routinely barged onto
people’s property (trespass), just as this one did, whenever they wanted and
made spontaneous, oral construction demands which didn’t appear to be based on
any official requirement and were not backed up in writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I called the Building Inspections Department and spoke with Mr.
Wilkinson, the Director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pointed out
that the SBC stated that a new CO on change of tenant, if the classification
stayed the same, was not appropriate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Wilkinson stated that City policy required a new CO on every change of tenant
to include owners, renters, leasees, etc. and that was that.<br />
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Mary Meadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199287076733034348noreply@blogger.com