The Mulder-Trovato Dispute:

Mayor Mulder claims City Attorney George Trovato twice told him that his unconstitutional "anti-free speech" motion was legal, but Trovato denies giving any advice on the motion.

WHO IS LYING?

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Commissioner Zischkau lays out case for termination of City attorney George Trovato

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Ponder the questions that remain unanswered

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MAYOR MULDER'S CONTROVERSIAL 'ANTI-FREE SPEECH'  MOTION

Mayor Mulder claimed that City Attorney George Trovato twice gave him legal advice that his speech-suppression action was legal and ethical.  George Trovato denies Mulder's claims.

Q:  Who is telling the truth, and who isn't telling the truth?

WHO IS LYING?

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Vice Mayor Carmolingo said he relied on the City Attorney to provide him with legal advice to tell him if the Mayor's controversial motion wasn't correct, but George Trovato let him down.

Q:  If Carmolingo did not get any legal advice where expected from Trovato, then why did Carmolingo go ahead with his vote to use tax dollars to sue the commissioners' vocal critics? Why didn't Carmolingo ask the City Attorney for advice before he voted?  What should be done about a City Attorney who fails to perform his duties and the end result is an embarrassed City?

Commissioner Zischkau lays out case for termination of City attorney George Trovato

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Regarding City Attorney George Trovato's failure to provide competent legal advice to the commission before they voted to use tax dollars to sue the Mayor's critics, Commissioner Denizac asked Trovato if it was his obligation to warn the commission that Mulder's motion was unconstitutional.  After some hesitation, Trovato answered yes - he has a responsibility to notify the commission.  However, Trovato said he'd been given different orders by the commission.

Q:  What Commission orders were given to Trovato that would preclude him from warning the Commission that Mulder's motion was unconstitutional, and who gave the order?

Commissioner Deyette said the commission was not prepared for Mayor Mulder's motion and she "did not have time to do any research or anything" on Mulder's motion.

Q:  If she did not have any time to research or prepare for Mayor Mulder's surprise motion, why did Commissioner Deyette go ahead with her vote to use tax dollars to sue the commissioners' vocal critics?  Why didn't Commissioner Deyette ask the City Attorney for advice before she voted?

Commissioner Denizac claimed that after Mayor Mulder publicly threatened to sue her for slander, City Attorney George Trovato refused to provide her with legal representation.  Denizac claimed that shortly after Trovato's refusal, she and a local reporter both witnessed Trovato giving legal advice to Mayor Mulder on the same matter.

Q:  Why would City Attorney Trovato refuse to give legal advice to one commissioner but give it to another?  What should be done about a City Attorney who refuses to perform his duties?

Commissioner Zischkau lays out case for termination of City attorney George Trovato

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After Mayor Mulder made his "sue my critics" motion, claiming that City Attorney George Trovato told him he had to vote on it, Commissioner Herb Zischkau asked Trovato if the City Charter allowed for such use of tax dollars. Trovato replied that he would have to check the Charter.

Q:  If Trovato had not yet checked the Charter on the issue of using tax dollars for personal law suits, then why did he advise Mayor Mulder to vote on the motion?  Is that incompetent legal counsel and what does the Florida Bar have to say about it?

BIDDLE DEBACLE

Mayor Mulder allegedly approached and recommended to hopeful City vendor Biddle that they hire his close friend, political advisor, campaign contributor and business partner Bill Tavernier to help Biddle get through the Deltona's bidding process.  Biddle reportedly hired Tavernier under contract, but the first proposal submitted to the City was rejected due to formatting non-compliance.  Biddle's bid was later mysteriously re-submitted and won the City contract.  Biddle then fired Tavernier, and the City fired Biddle not long afterwards.

Q:  If Tavernier's bidding experience was not good enough to pass the test of bid formatting requirements, then why would Mayor Mulder recommend Biddle hire him to get them through the City bidding process?

Q:  Who put Biddle's bid back into the bidding process after it was rejected, and why?

Q:  Who made the decision to fire Biddle, and why?

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