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Hernando Today

Civic Activist Again Blasts Committee

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 18, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Civic activist Janey Baldwin wasted little time in blasting the business and economic development committee that met for the first time Tuesday.

"I think it's a waste of time and money," Baldwin told the committee members.

Baldwin said the proper place for discussion is before the whole county commission at its regular meetings.

"We elected them to make the decisions," she said.

If this sounds familiar, it's because Baldwin made the same comments during the first meeting of the budget and finance committee, which met for the first time March 3.

None of the committee members responded to Baldwin's criticism.

The committee members present Tuesday were chairman and County Commissioner John Druzbick, and citizen members Richard Matassa, Nick Nicholson and Laurie Pizzo. Commissioner Jim Adkins said he couldn't attend because he would be in Tallahassee lobbying on behalf of the Farm Bureau of Hernando County.

Baldwin also said it would seem appropriate for the three citizens on the committee to file financial disclosure forms to remove any taint of conflict of interest.
Matassa and Nicholson, are engineers and frequently come before the county for project approvals. The other member, Laurie Pizzo, is a local real estate agent.
Assistant County Attorney Jeff Kirk said they didn't need to file such forms because the committee only makes recommendations.

However, Kirk said they are bound by the rules of ethics that would require them to recuse themselves if there is a conflict of interest.
Matassa said he is up front with any business venture he is involved with and would not jeopardize his professional engineering license by violating the laws of ethics.

"The reality is, I'm here to help the community, not necessarily to help myself in any way shape or form," Matassa said.

Baldwin would not back down.

She returned later in the meeting and again requested the citizens file disclosure forms. If there was no legal requirement then they should do it voluntarily, she said.

Druzbick said he would look into the matter further and report back at a later meeting.

Commissioner David Russell first proposed the idea for standing committees. County Administrator David Hamilton then fleshed them out.

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

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