A Message to Mount Dora City Council

A plea to elected leaders to act responsibly

Members of Mount Dora city council, mayor Girone,

I write as a Mount Dora citizen who is alarmed at the hasty and bewildering attempts to remove city manager Vincent Pastue, assistant city manager/planning and zoning manager Mark Reggentin and city attorney Cliff Shepard — all at the same time and with almost no public notice.

It is beyond comprehension that these experienced and vital city staff face termination over issues that, as far as the general public knows, have nothing to do with their competence. (Privately informed interest groups cannot count as sufficient in our democratic form of government.)

What could possibly justify their removal, if there are no issues of competence?

Mount Dora is at its most critical crossroads with Innovation District development and related growth issues coming at the city full-force. That some of you would consider eviscerating Mount Dora’s effectiveness at this juncture by getting rid of senior staff — and for no other express reason than, as Mr. Slaby has said, “it’s time for a change” — raises serious questions about your ability to govern this city.

Perhaps competence really is at issue here — your own.

Please remember that our city charter has defined Mount Dora as a council-manager form of government, which means that by definition our city employs a city manager to serve as the city’s CEO, responsible for hiring staff, preparing the city’s budget and carrying out ordinances.

You hired that person — Vincent Pastue — last year, at considerable cost and from a significant field of highly-qualified candidates.

If competence were the issue with him, you would only have to read his SWOT memo to know he has thought hard about the significant work ahead for the city and provided you with essential guidance on how to move forward. A far as strong city managers go, we can feel fortunate to have one like Mr. Pastue.

But competence isn’t the issue, isn’t it? Not with Mr. Reggentin, who has guided this city into an economic development vision that will pay dividends for decades for Mount Dora and all north Lake County. Nor with Mr. Shepard, who has saved the city millions of dollars in avoided litigation costs and is an invaluable resource on Sunshine Laws.

So before such an arrogant and reckless and costly move is taken (how much will the city spend on severance and replacing three senior executives?), please inform citizens at the Jan. 26 council meeting the full reasons you feel this action is necessary.

And then — of course — you must allow the accused the opportunity to respond. The court of history has a lot more invested in them than you, so we deserve to hear them out.

Shadow politics is successful only when a community isn’t paying attention. Some of you may have gained the chair you govern from by using such tactics (and continue to do so by maintaining a stony silence when asked about reasons). But Mount Dora citizens are on the alert now, and the light is now shining on you. No more shadow mandates.

Please do your job and allow Mr. Pastue, Mr. Reggentin and Mr. Shepard to continue theirs. Chances are they will be continuing to serve the city long after you are elected out.

Generations of Mount Dorans to come will either thank or condemn you (and those who empower you) for the actions you are about to take. Default from duty to the city’s best interests will shadow you a long ways out the door.

Please be sure to think carefully about what you are to do next. Our homes, our community, our future depends on you.

Respectfully yours,

David Cohea

Be a good citizen and email council with your concerns to <[email protected]>