"A consent agenda is a board meeting practice that groups routine business and reports into one agenda item. The consent agenda can be approved in one action, rather than filing motions on each item separately."
The consent agenda is also a place where unscrupulous elected officials often get away with having an item(s) payed by the taxpayers that we don't owe.
On the Agenda dated Feb 14, 2017 Cecilia Jones had submitted for payment a bill for $300.00 in attorney fees for a deposition she got herself involved in with an ex-employee of the City of Defuniak Springs which had absolutely nothing what-so-ever to do with County business! Ms. Jones was asking to be reimbursed for money she alleges she paid out to said attorney even though she could NOT produce a receipt where she had paid for said services. Basically, the bill had NEVER been paid, was for services that allegedly occurred through Nov. 8, 2016 and submitted for payment in the hope that people would not notice. The deposition stems from the firing of a City employee in 2012.
The statement from the attorney to Cecilia Jones C/O Mark Davis, ***** v Walton County et al albeit, ***** never sued Walton County! According to the attorney the primary focus of the questions to Cecilia Jones were in regard to her actions as a County Commissioner and whether or not her conduct would have interfered or influenced any decision by the Defuniak Springs City Marshall. Why is what the City Marshall does of any consequence to the County? The City is Incorproated and the County has nothing to do with the daily running or operation of the City!
Why is it the taxpayers responsibility to bail Cecilia Jones out for her ridiculous behavior in City business that had nothing to do with County business? She acted alone and even the attorney acknowledged that he was acting on her behalf as a private attorney and not on the Counties behalf.
When Mark Davis was contacted about this he agreed to pull the item from the consent agenda only because it was pointed out to him this was a Sunshine law violation. Then Mark Davis said he would put it under the agenda on his time and was told again he would be in violation of Sunshine law so he agreed to pull the item from the agenda.
Under the Consent Agenda when they ask for public comment C. Jones also prevented Bob Hudson him from speaking by telling him he had to sit down and wait until the end of the meeting to speak under public comments.
Just before the close of the meeting, prior to Mac Carpenter speaking, Bob Hudson got up to go outside and C. Jones immediately seized the opportunity of Bob being outside Chambers to call for public comment and said "seeing none" they would break for 5 minutes. She effectively silenced Bob Hudson.
The consent agenda is also a place where unscrupulous elected officials often get away with having an item(s) payed by the taxpayers that we don't owe.
On the Agenda dated Feb 14, 2017 Cecilia Jones had submitted for payment a bill for $300.00 in attorney fees for a deposition she got herself involved in with an ex-employee of the City of Defuniak Springs which had absolutely nothing what-so-ever to do with County business! Ms. Jones was asking to be reimbursed for money she alleges she paid out to said attorney even though she could NOT produce a receipt where she had paid for said services. Basically, the bill had NEVER been paid, was for services that allegedly occurred through Nov. 8, 2016 and submitted for payment in the hope that people would not notice. The deposition stems from the firing of a City employee in 2012.
The statement from the attorney to Cecilia Jones C/O Mark Davis, ***** v Walton County et al albeit, ***** never sued Walton County! According to the attorney the primary focus of the questions to Cecilia Jones were in regard to her actions as a County Commissioner and whether or not her conduct would have interfered or influenced any decision by the Defuniak Springs City Marshall. Why is what the City Marshall does of any consequence to the County? The City is Incorproated and the County has nothing to do with the daily running or operation of the City!
Why is it the taxpayers responsibility to bail Cecilia Jones out for her ridiculous behavior in City business that had nothing to do with County business? She acted alone and even the attorney acknowledged that he was acting on her behalf as a private attorney and not on the Counties behalf.
When Mark Davis was contacted about this he agreed to pull the item from the consent agenda only because it was pointed out to him this was a Sunshine law violation. Then Mark Davis said he would put it under the agenda on his time and was told again he would be in violation of Sunshine law so he agreed to pull the item from the agenda.
Under the Consent Agenda when they ask for public comment C. Jones also prevented Bob Hudson him from speaking by telling him he had to sit down and wait until the end of the meeting to speak under public comments.
Just before the close of the meeting, prior to Mac Carpenter speaking, Bob Hudson got up to go outside and C. Jones immediately seized the opportunity of Bob being outside Chambers to call for public comment and said "seeing none" they would break for 5 minutes. She effectively silenced Bob Hudson.