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An Open Letter to
the Residents of Deltona
“To
sin by silence when one should protest makes cowards out of men”
-
Ella Wheeler
Wilcox
That quote has had a place on
my desk at home for many years and also shared a place in my office
as Mayor from 1995 thru 2005. I have been asked repeatedly over
the last few years to speak up and share my views on the goings on
in our wonderful City. The very quote which inspired me to become
involved in the City I truly love and have spent over forty years
trying to make better is again reminding me to get involved.
I have stayed in the
background for far too long. My reasoning was that I felt that the
new Commission would find their own way and in time work together on
the matters that affect the residents of Deltona. Some felt change
was in order and some felt that the previous commissions were
unresponsive to the residents. Even the insults hurled by some
individuals at the prior commissioners, other elected officials,
high ranking members of our County, members of our educational
system and our business community were a surprise but, being
politically correct kept many, myself included, from answering many
of the charges and personal attacks.
As a 40+ year
resident and former Mayor I have a responsibility to become more
involved and live up to the quote at the start of this letter. It
became clear that I have not followed a basic belief that I have so
proudly tried to live up to over the years. That is over!
This commission is
about to make several changes that could in my humble opinion
destroy the very dream many had when we incorporated Deltona. The
sheer whims, political paybacks and lack of good thoughtful debate
and actions of some cannot stand in the way of the safety of 90,000
residents.
I do not want to
attack any one individual and will offer any help I can give in
making Deltona a better place to live and raise your family or live
out the balance of your days. I’m committed to make Deltona a place
that all residents will again say “I’m Proud to be a part of it”.
Many today scoff at that idea even though it‘s on our City seal.
Many things need the
attention of our commission and the ones I will point out below are
ones that take serious debate and thoughtful deliberation by a
commission working together now. The current commission is BROKEN
and I pledge to help however and whenever I can to heal this
condition
I. Employee
morale and clear direction to staff by a united Commission.
The employees I’ve
talked to have a “keep your head low and keep your mouth shut”
mentality. Constant fear of losing your position and the flight of
top notch staff will bring down any organization.
The City Attorney,
City Manager, Department heads all leaving some only after a few
days. Something is terribly wrong in our City. Today (July 4th)
I read in the paper that another Dept. Head has lost her job. This
steady drain on talent is deplorable and has to stop now. It is
costly to train, update and reorganize the workforce on a almost
monthly basis.
2. Starting a
Police Department is an issue that perhaps the commission should
look at, but, how did they go about it?
The comments leading
up to the request for a study and the attacks and predetermined
outcomes stated were uncalled for and hurtful to the many who
currently bravely serve our City. I just spent several hours
looking over the draft report from the consultants and find it
totally lacking as a means of making a decision on in-house police
protection. They repeatedly praise the Sheriff Department and then
even suggest that the contract could be modified and serve Deltona’s
other interests well. No where in the study could I find a defect
in the current operations. (Control seems to be the factor guiding
this issue. My biggest fear is who will control the Police
Department.) Also, the costs are spelled out and are lower than
the other cities used for comparison in their work product. Another
curious part of the study is the constant reminders by Willdan
Homeland Solutions of their ability to continue to provide
additional services to our City should we be in need of going
further with this project. In ten years as Mayor I never have seen
such blatant advertising in a draft report. Interesting?
Is this the time,
with the current cost cutting others are planning for to make this
move? Let’s fix what’s broken in all other departments before we
take on this huge task.
3. Public Safety
Complex needs and location.
I firmly support the
needs for this facility and it was a topic discussed long ago. I
find it curious that when the property on the North side of Howland
was under contract, the contract was cancelled for a site across the
street that clearly would (or could) be a good fit. The problem
though is again, as so many times happens with this commission, that
information is lacking. One of the commissioners with
expertise in land and real estate tore apart the original contract
(north side land) but stood mute on the contract with the other
Group. I wonder why? Even the developer stated that without
Deltona’s part in the plan he felt the project would not become a
reality. Clearly something is wrong when a developer needs the
city to be the anchor in his development. What might be the cost,
if once starting this project the developer cannot fulfill his part
of the agreement? Let’s purchase the land needed and build this
facility. Let the developer stand on his own or offer a portion of
the land to the City at a fair price if this is the best location.
The current contract with this firm seems very one sided as it
stands now. Most of the development will be on the backs of the
Deltona residents and the profits will be the developers.
4. The Charter
Review and extension of Commissioners terms.
Our current Charter
is very clear on term limits. The attempt to add a year to terms
without the approval of the residents seems to overlook the intent
of the framers of this document and may be unlawful. The supervisor
of election needs support in the time period between the primary and
general election. This is what the commission should address by
ordinance. If it’s a question of saving the costs of odd year
elections put the question on the ballot in this fall’s election and
see what the people decide. Let the electors grant the extension if
they feel that this commission deserves. One term of four years of
this commission may be all that many can accept.
Other Charter
changes proposed by the CRC needs close examination and thorough
discussion. Once the Commission has made their decision on the
items to be placed on the ballot it will be the responsibility of
each voter to study the issue and make their choice know by their
vote.
This commission has
all the tools to do the jobs they were elected to do. What some may
lack in experience they can make up for in their serious study of
the issues.
When watching the
cable station I find it very interesting to see three commissioners
saying very little and at most times nothing on many an issue and
then voting strongly for that same issue. It does make a viewer
wonder their reasoning. Why won’t they share their opinion with
us, or is it true that they are being told what their opinion is? I
truly hope not but, am forced to wonder because of the lack of
interaction and discussion by some of the group.
I stand ready to
help in any way I can and will start asking the questions needed to
bring about the debate needed. I can only hope that it will raise
awareness in some commissioners to speak up and share their
reasoning for their actions on these and many other important
issues.
In the months ahead
we will be experiencing financial concerns that others cities have
started to address and Deltona should not be left behind is these
discussions! We need to be interacting with our neighbors and
sharing ideas about the future of S.W. Volusia and how together we
can cut costs and work together. We need a commission involved
individually and collectively with the residents. There is a
certain degree of arrogance in believing that you have all the
answers. The lives of over 90,000 residents expect and deserve
better.
Martin Luther King,
Jr. once said, “He who accepts evil without protesting against it
is really cooperating with it.”
These comments are
meant to encourage discussion and debate.
I hope they will
achieve these results!
Sincerely,
John Masiarczyk
Mayor 1995 - 2005
www.deltonabonafide.com |
Working
together the last few weeks we have been able to gain the attention
of some of the members of the commission. No action or change, but
they did notice us and even commented that an effort to prolong the
meetings was a set up. We know it’s NOT TRUE! As residents of our
wonderful city we should let our elected officials know our
feelings on issues. But as one commissioner said: I hear from many
more members of my church, e-mails (10-12) and friends coming to my
house on this issue and that’s why I am voting this way. (I guess
we have to join the correct church or make social calls on the
commissioner to get them to listen to us).
