Follow Procedure

Dear Editor,

On Dec. 3, 2009, at the direction of Commissioner Billy Traylor, a public works employee used a county credit card to purchase candy to be distributed to children during the Port St. Joe Christmas Parade.  The cost of the candy was $705.14.  The same public works employee made another purchase of $259.74 on or about December 13, 2009, for the Wewahitchka Christmas Parade.  It is my understanding that, at least on one shopping trip, Commissioner Traylor shopped with the public works employee.  Both purchases were made without prior approval of the BOCC.

On Jan. 12, 2010, the Consent Agenda contained a memorandum from Commissioner Traylor requesting that the BOCC approve payment of these charges, totaling $964.88, from the camping fees collected at Dead Lakes Park.  Commissioner Bill Williams requested the page be pulled from the Consent Agenda and the charges not be paid because the expenditure for candy had not been authorized by the BOCC prior to the purchase.  At this point Chairman McLemore chastised Commissioner Williams for not attending either parade, an obvious ploy to divert attention from Commissioner Traylor’s unauthorized actions.  Chairman McLemore further stated that Commissioner Traylor had done nothing wrong.  The reason given for not getting board approval was because the second BOCC meeting had been cancelled.

Upon closer examination, it is apparent that since the $705.14 purchase was made on December 3rd, five days before the first regular meeting in December, approval should have been requested in November, not in the latter part of December.  Commissioner Traylor’s reasoning for failure to get board approval in advance is faulty at best.  Although there was no second board meeting in December, there was ample opportunity to bring the issue before the BOCC in advance of the purchase.  According to Chairman McLemore, the county purchases candy for the parades every year. Why, then, wasn’t approval sought in November, or why isn’t there a line item built into the county budget for this annual expenditure?  Unfortunately, this is just another example of certain board members acting on their own because there are no consequences for their failure to respect board guidelines.

My problem is certainly not with the purchase of candy.  My concern is with Commissioner Traylor’s blatant violation of board procedure. I am further distressed by a statement he made in the January 12th meeting that he “would do it again.” I was stunned when Commissioner Yeager made a motion to pay the charges because the candy purchase had been put on the county’s card and the purchase was made every year.  Had I been in Commissioner Yeager’s position, I would have recommended that the credit card bill be paid and that Commissioners Traylor and McLemore reimburse the county for their unauthorized purchase within 7 days. This type of response would certainly have been incentive for all commissioners to follow board procedure in the future.

I also believe that, from the beginning, Commissioners McLemore and Traylor should have paid for the candy themselves.  Another option would have been for them to ask friends, neighbors, and businesses for donations, thus eliminating the use of any public money.  I would have gladly donated to the candy fund myself, and I am certain many other Gulf County residents would have also given generously.

In 2008, the county spent $388.27 for Christmas candy. In 2009, although money continued to be tight, why was it necessary to spend $964.88?  The candy was purchased in Bay County, but there are a number of businesses in Gulf County that could have easily supplied the candy given prior notice. What happened to shopping locally?

We have seen this disregard for procedure before.  Commissioner McLemore’s unauthorized use of a mosquito truck comes to mind.  How is it that Commissioner Traylor, without board approval, can obligate the county for close to $1000 for candy?  Aren’t the camping fees collected designated for repairs and maintenance in Dead Lakes Park?  How often have other expenses just slipped through the Consent Agenda without open board discussion?

It is truly sad to realize that some of our commissioners lack the ethics and integrity to do the right thing and that our elected body will not discipline its own.  I deeply appreciate Commissioners Williams and Peters efforts on this issue, but as everyone knows, it only takes three votes.

Barbara Radcliff  

Indian Pass