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Hernando Today

Committee Debuts To Criticism

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 4, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Civic activist Janey Baldwin drove home her point at Tuesday's debut of the budget and finance standing committee that the entire affair was a waste of time.

In fact, she made the point at least a half dozen times during the course of the five-hour, 40-minute meeting.

"I am opposed to this committee," Baldwin said. "I think it is a complete waste of time and money."

Baldwin, prior to the meeting, had made it clear on a local radio show and at past county commission meetings, that the committees - the brainchild of County Administrator David Hamilton - would be impotent and lead board members to dump important business on to the laps of these advisory bodies.

Committee members cannot vote. They can only make recommendations to the full commission board.

And that's where the waste of time comes in, Baldwin said.

Most of the presentations made at the committees will have to be repeated for the benefit of the whole board, forcing staffers to do double the work.

Any citizens who show up at the committee meetings could make the same comment at a regular county commission meeting, she said.

Finally, committee member Anna Liisa Covell told Baldwin she's done nothing but complain since she got there and asked her to come up with something constructive to say and help the process.

"We didn't beg to be on this committee," Covell said. "We're here on our own dime."

Apparently unfazed, Baldwin continued to criticize and say these meetings were taking staff away from their normal business.

She did, however, thank the five committee members for putting in a long day.

Baldwin was one of only a handful of audience members in attendance.

There was no citizen input during the beginning of the meeting, as there is at regular county commission meetings.

Instead, Chairwoman Rose Rocco told the public - the few who were there - they could speak during individual agenda items.

To start the meeting, County Attorney Garth Coller instructed the committee about the Government-in-the-Sunshine laws.

This committee consists of Commissioners Rose Rocco and Jeff Stabins, along with citizen-members Covell, John Scharch Sr. and Greg Meyers.

Deputy County Administrator Larry Jennings thanked the citizens for taking the time to volunteer on the committee.

Hamilton created the committees because he believed they would more closely target the main issues of the day.

The budget committee meets monthly.

Next up is the business and economic development committee, which will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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