Commissioner Jackson Got Paid Last Night

Vice Mayor (*interim pending
legal action) Andreana Jackson

Well, I guess congratulations are in order.  One of North Bay Village's most engaging mysteries has been solved.  I refer not to the extortion case in which the wife of Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband and Mayor Kreps have been named as "subjects of interest" nor to the Hornsby matter regarding his eligibility.  The first is still in active investigation by the state and federal authorities, and the Hornsby matter is in the courts with several new actions filed this week.

No indeed.  I am talking about the mystery of why Commissioner Jackson who had always prided herself on openness and transparency decide to join the Mayor and Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband in doing the wrong things the wrong way.

It's not like she and Mayor Crazy Eyes were friends.  Just a year ago, the mayor assaulted Jackson at the Village Holiday Event.  Here's the police report.  My favorite part was the mayor's explanation that her slapping Jackson was understandable since it's only reasonable to assume that big scary "urban" women are bound to poke your eyes out.

2016-12-28 Incident Report - Comm Jackson by nbvrbc3373 on Scribd.

But still, Commissioner Jackson is apparently a bigger person than most and forgave the Mayor.  I think. 

What was even more surprising was that Commissioner Jackson also forgave new interim commissioner Laura Cattabriga who accused Jackson of criminal conspiracy in a lawsuit no less.

You can read about that here.

Jackson by nbvrbc3373 on Scribd

Why no, Jackson forgave Laura Cattabriga and voted enthusiastically and illegally to install Cattabriga in the not legally vacant Hornsby chair.   Laura Cattabriga got up and pretended she didn't know that Mayor Crazy Eyes, Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband and the "conspirator" Commissioner Jackson had already agreed to put her in the not vacant seat. 

Then, wait for it, yep, IT HAPPENED!  (Excuse my outburst.) 

Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband

In a completely transparent move, Mayor Crazy Eyes announced that she had the honor and privilege of nominating Andreana Jackson for the not vacant office of Vice Mayor.  The groans delighted gasps that filled the chamber from the audience. Well, no. Nobody was that surprised.  I can't lie to you, unlike Jackson.  

So the mayor made the motion and it was promptly seconded by ... no one.  Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband did not break his customary silence and between you and me, I think he was unhappy about the fact that on January 29, Commissioner Jackson called the cops on him because he was screaming at a constituent in front of Village Hall or maybe he had just been instructed to be quiet.   Anyway he said nothing.  

Newly installed Commissioner Laura Cattabriga just sat there smiling like the first runner up in a discount beauty pageant.  You know the smile.  "I should have won and they crushed me for that?"  I'm not sure but I think maybe she thought she was going to get the nod.  

Anyway, after an awkward silence, Commissioner Jackson seconded the motion herself.  Relieved looks all around, except of course for the actual Vice Mayor who may not be removed, it's not allowed in our charter or laws but Norm Powell said it was all like, you know, cool because he invented a new law that said so.  And the commission voted 3 to 1 to install our new Vice Mayor (*interim pending legal action.)   

And it all paid off!  All the people Jackson betrayed, the lies, the plotting behind closed doors, the insults, the assaults, but she has her triumph.  It's Payday!  

Well, I mean not literally but given the current circumstances of our mayor, with the likelihood of resignation or removal, it could lead to even better things soon.   Like the mayor's seat.  

Right now, the job pays next to nothing, like $600 per month.  Not enough to settle the two current open lawsuits against Vice Mayor (*interim pending legal action) Jackson.  Seems she has a bit of a problem there.  But it gives us all hope that if we only are willing to betray our principles, our friends, and the village that trusted us, and align ourselves with people who don't care about the law, maybe we too can become Vice Mayors someday.  So congratulations, Madame Vice Mayor (*interim pending legal action.)  

Screenshot of Open Lawsuits as of Feb 13, 2018 Source:  Miami Dade Clerk of the Courts.

Kevin Vericker

February 14, 2018

Kangaroo Courts, Our Commission, The Removal of Doug Hornsby

Let’s start with the removal of Doug Hornsby from the commission.  On January 29, two commissioners called for a “special” meeting to discuss the situation with Doug Hornsby’s eligibility to serve. 

Thing to understand – the North Bay Village Charter and Sunshine Laws agree that a meeting called for a specific purpose should be for that purpose.  Our Charter allows only the item advertised to happen at the meeting and specifically prohibits any additional actions.   Sunshine Law takes a lenient view of meeting agendas but specifically prohibits advertising a meeting for one purpose with the intention of doing something else.  

Commissioner Andreana Jackson and Mayor Kreps wrote the same memo requesting the meeting “for the sole purpose of discussion.” 

1-29-2018 Special Commission Meeting(1) by nbvrbc3373 on Scribd

Commissioner Jackson and Mayor Kreps were lying. 

From the get go, this was a Sunshine busting, illegal deception of the North Bay Village community.

Out of the gate, the newly hired attorney read a prepared resolution to remove Douglas Hornsby from the commission alleging that he was not an eligible voter at the time of his appointment.  I say “alleging” because that issue was in fact the subject of a court case, since dropped, filed by the chair of our Budget & Oversight Committee and it’s likely he was eligible.  But this was a kangaroo court disguised as a discussion. 

It was completely illegal for the Commission to introduce and vote on a resolution at this meeting, let alone one that was already in the hands of the court.  

Nevertheless, following truly reckless legal advice, three votes, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Mary Kramer’s Husband, and Mayor Marcela Consuelo Kreps voted to remove Dr. Hornsby.  

Then, just to show further deep disregard for the law, the village attorney introduced a new resolution to open a process for a commission appointment to the supposedly vacant seat.  Again, the Charter specifically prohibits this.  

Now our mayor, who is a very stupid person and after 7 years completely oblivious to the legal requirements of a meeting, announced she thought this was a splendid idea and moved to adjourn the meeting.  She had to be not so gently led back to the fundamental process that the commission needs to vote on things.  Of course, it had already been agreed so when reminded, the three stooges, Jackson, Mary Kramer’s Husband and Mayor Crazy Eyes voted “Yes”.  

And as of this weekend, the website holds an application for appointment that includes the applicant signing a release for to disclose any expunged or sealed legal documents that they might have. 

This is illegal.  Under Florida Law, an employer may not require an applicant to disclose expunged or sealed records.   That’s the purpose of expunging and sealing.  And the commission is a paid position, in fact, for at least one member, it may be the only verifiable income. 

Additionally, the Charter does not include this as a requirement because it’s illegal.  

Yet someone added this new requirement with no voter or commission action, and it’s illegal. 

As of today, Feb 6 2018, I have received no response and frankly I don’t expect one.  The Mayor never responds, the commissioner who's married to Mary Kramer has nothing to say, and Commissioner Jackson, well she seems to me to be frightened by something, and she has gone completely silent except for bizarre clap-backs "thanking" people for their support when they ask questions. 

Now, we will be faced with more lawsuits, a less competent government and it's all a disaster. 

Oh, and the extortion investigation in which the mayor and the wife of Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband have been named as "subjects of interest" is still on.  So there's that. 

Let the lawsuits begin!

Kevin Vericker
Feb 6, 2018

Firing the Chief - Next Up On The Mayor's Agenda

People ask me, "Don't you have anything positive to say?" and they're right.  I often only point up the negative when I am posting about North Bay Village and do not give enough credit to the good things that are happening.   And here's the big one.  

Our Police Department is back, big and strong.  They are the police of old that I remember, involved in the community, making our traffic safer, talking to the residents and rebuilding the trust that had been shattered under the previous chief.   

And the credit belongs squarely with Chief Carlos Noriega.  He's not one of those warm and fuzzy guys with great PR, but he's solid, open and professional.  He's has slowly and steadily reestablished the community trust through visible policing, traffic patrols, supporting crime watch, and initiating community events.   Here's how good it's become.  A cop can actually be seen talking to a resident without worrying if his job on the line.   That's some great stuff.  

I wish I could stop the post right here with a tip of the hat and a jaunty sign off.  

But I can't.  

The mayor is trying desperately to fire the Chief.  After the firing of Robert Switkes, who stated he believed his firing to be retaliation for Switkes filing the reports of extortion, Switkes said clearly that "the mayor is a subject of interest" in that same investigation. 

The Police Chief has been pursuing that investigation.  In the meantime, the mayor, along with Jose Alvarez (whose wife was also named a "subject of interest" by Switkes) and Andreana Jackson, have joined in an unholy alliance to get rid of the police chief as soon as they can. 

Seem like they think if the Chief goes away, the extortion investigation goes away.  

News flash - it doesn't.   The feds take violations of the Hobbes Act very seriously and even if the State Attorney General, who is not known for her work ethic, lazes this one by, the feds are coming.  

Now only the Village Manager can fire the police chief, and for cause, but with an interim Village Manager and the active participation of the new Village Attorney, the pressure on the Chief continues to mount.   

There was an utterly insane email chain last Thursday about the Chief's supposed failure to keep the attorney informed on an internal investigation, a chain that involved misaddressed emails, the mayor and Commissioner Jackson throwing aside Sunshine, and a fundamental complaint of the Chief withholding information that the Chief had shared and that was already known to the attorney.   It's the documentation phase of the firing plan and if it's any indication, we have some very sloppy people running our village.  

But Noriega is not one of them.  I believe  most residents who have been here a few years see exactly what a great job the police are doing, even when they are giving you a ticket, and want this chief to keep it going.   If I'm right, then people have to show up at the commission meetings and speak their minds.  

The next commission meeting is February 13 and there is a special meeting on Monday (which will probably be cancelled as it's not kosher).   One way or the other, you have to be there to speak your mind and let the dais know that the police work for us.   

Kevin Vericker

January 27, 2018

Things That Really Happened

Mayor Kreps

Last night, Village Manager Frank Rollason and Deputy Village Manager Jenice Rosado both resigned from their posts and left.  

Wait.  That's not right.  After a nearly year long campaign on the part of the mayor and her various personalities, and following the sleazy firing of Robert Switkes, and in the middle of an extortion investigation in which the mayor and the wife of a commissioner have been publicly called out as persons of interest by the former Village Attorney, and amazing disorganization on the dais, Village Manager Frank Rollason and Deputy Village Manager Jenice Rosado both resigned.  

Yeah, that's better. 

That was not a surprise.  There's only so much people will put up with.  But the Village was left in a bad situation.  Frank Rollason has offered to help in the transition but did not agree to stay.  I have not talked to Jenice Rosado but in her resignation letter, she referenced a "toxic work environment."  Mayor Kreps assured the meeting that "procedures will be followed" because the Village cares. 

Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband
was at the meeting too. 

So today, in response to the resignations, the Village called an Emergency Meeting.  The description "emergency" was deliberately chosen as "Special" meetings require 24 to 48 notice.   Our charter makes no mention of procedures for an "Emergency" meeting (it should) but in the judgment of the new village attorney, the lack of a chief administrative officer in the village constituted an emergency so normal notice procedures, typically 48 hours, were suspended.   There was 8 hours notice.  

Anyway, to make a long story longer, the meeting went on with just 3 members of the dais, the Mayor, Commissioner Jackson and Mary Kramer's husband.   There was little suspense as the subject matter had been picked over before the meeting and Bert Wrains, our affable finance director, was appointed interim Village Manager by the commission, and then Ana de Leon, one of the best neighbors I've ever had, was appointed acting HR director by the commission which is not legal because the commission only hires the Village Clerk, Village Manager and Village Attorney but still it was a nice gesture.  It does make me wonder what the commission thinks their job is.   

Then the commission declined to authorize travel expenses if there is an attractive candidate for Village Manager which was odd again because that's the Village Manager's decision but that's how they roll.  

A few residents were there and several spoke.  The best line of the night was Celia Veloz who congratulated the commission on finally getting something done - driving Frank Rollason out.  She was being sarcastic, or is it ironic?  Still it was a good line and I wish I had said it.  

Laura Cattabriga, a self anointed vigilante out to destroy Doug Hornsby, went to the microphone and implored everyone to all learn to get along.  Or she'll sue their asses too.  (Not a direct quote but implied.)

Fane Lozman made an appearance to state that the meeting itself was illegal and there's no way a personnel matter should be considered an emergency like, I don't know, a tornado or a tsunami.   He used to be a good friend with Mayor Crazy Eyes but apparently that soured.  

So here we are, 2018, and we still don't have a commission that knows how to vote or what they are supposed to vote on.  I don't think it's going to get better soon.  

No Reason - Just liked the image.

And I almost forgot - the investigation into the extortion of Doug Hornsby is alive and well.  That could work out okay so there's reason for hope.  We might finally get all that publicity we've been looking for.  

Kevin Vericker

January 17, 2018.

Who's Next?

Last month, in a clearly orchestrated move done outside of public view, three members of the commission voted to fire Attorney Robert Switkes for no stated public reason.

Mayor Kreps - Noted as a "subject of interest"
in the extortion investigation
by Village Attorney R. Switkes

Commissioner Jose Alvarez - Family
member named as a "subject of interest"
in the extortion investigation.

Commissioner Jackson - Accused of
conspiracy to violate Sunshine Laws
by plaintiffs Laura Cattabriga and others

Switkes in turn told the dais that he believed the firing to be a retaliation for Switkes reporting the extortion attempts against Commissioner Doug Hornsby to the FBI and state authorities. Switkes also stated that a member of Commissioner Alvarez’s family and the mayor herself were subjects of interest in the investigation.

Since then, Commissioner Jackson, who has been accused of conspiracy to violate Sunshine Laws and for violating Sunshine in a lawsuit filed by the mayor’s allies, has remained tight lipped about her reasons for her sudden decision to join the subjects of interest and fire Robert Switkes, although she has promised that she will explain herself at this month’s meeting.  She won’t, but she promised. 

This week, on Thursday, December 14th at 7:30, the regular commission meeting will be held at Village Hall and although it is not on the agenda, it is widely believed that later in the evening, the two subjects of interest and the accused Sunshine violator, will vote as a bloc to fire Frank Rollason and you can expect that Chief Noriega will be immediately terminated in the same shake up. 

The mayor has been gunning for all three since the extortion attempt against Commissiner Hornsby, her former friend, did not result in his resignation. 

Commissioner Jackson told me that there is no such investigation and the mayor has said the same in the press so apparently they both believe that for some reason, Switkes, Rollason and Hornsby, simply made up that information.   This is of course stupid, self serving and destructive to North Bay Village but that does not concern either of them.

The mayor is very cunning and very, very angry and perhaps a little scared because whether or not she believes it is real, there is an investigation into the extortion attempt.  But being cunning, she knows it’s small potatoes and that without ongoing interest from the village administration, she can just run the clock out on the investigation.   And that probably will happen. 

Look, I don't know where this will all lead but nowhere good, that's for sure.

Kevin Vericker
December 11, 2017

Nothing Good Happens In The Dark

TRIGGER WARNING:  This is going to be a complicated post that attempts to break down several concurrent and related subjects of possible illegal activities in North Bay Village.  If you suffer from short attention span or anxiety when more than one idea at a time needs to be discussed, you should leave now and view videos of puppies 

THE THREE SEPARATE SUBJECTS 

• North Bay Village Douglas Hornsby revealed that he served a prison sentence in Tennessee following his conviction on a drug felony in the 1980's.   This raises the question of whether or not he was an eligible voter in the State of Florida at the time of his appointment to the North Bay Village Commission.   There is no definite statement on that subject from the state authorities and we are still waiting for that.  
  
  
• Several citizens, including the head of the Village Citizens Budget and Oversight Commission, have filed a lawsuit requesting that the court remove Hornsby immediately and find that he was ineligible to serve.   The lawsuit plaintiffs have also accused Frank Rollason, the Village Manager, and Robert Switkes, the now former Village Attorney of consipiring to put and keep Douglas Hornsby on the commission and that Commissioner Andreana Jackson cooperated in cancelling a meeting to avoid public discussion of the issue.  That lawsuit is now scheduled to be heard in January 2018.
  
  
• On Tuesday November 14, without providing the customary public notice of consideration, the Mayor of North Bay Village made an unannounced motion to fire Village Attorney Robert Switkes "for cause" and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Andreana Jackson "for discussion".  There was no discussion except for the Mayor briefly mentioning in her motion that the Commission on Ethics had commented that Vice Mayor Eddie Lim may have received erroneous legal advice from Robert Switkes but the mayor did not mention that she herself filed that complaint against the Vice Mayor.
  
  Robert Switkes in turn objected to the dismissal stating publicly that two of the Yes votes - Mayor Kreps and Commissioner Alvarez - should have recused themselves as they are "subjects of interest" in a criminal investigation brought to the state and federal authorities by Switkes.   Switkes further stated that he believed the dismissal to be retaliation for his bringing the information forward that led to the federal and state investigations.  

CHECKPOINT - ARE WE ALL CLEAR SO FAR?

If you find what I wrote above hopelessly confusing and enraging, I refer you back to the puppy videos.   It's okay.  We'll carry on without you.  

THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION - EXTORTION

Douglas Hornsby's discussion of his conviction, incarceration and a short discussion of his life this far was motivated by a series of anonymous letters and texts sent to him and his wife in a clear attempt to pressure him to do something.  I know how vague "something" sounds but the letters and texts are not public knowledge and I certainly haven't seen them.  But it's not too far a jump to believe that the writer(s) of the poison pen letters expected that Hornsby would either resign rather than face public disclosure of this public information (you read that right) or attempt to placate the extortionists by agreeing to do something they wanted him to do.  I have no idea what and you don't either unless you wrote them, in which case, please share.  

Now extortion of a public official is considered a very serious crime and is covered under many applications of the federal Hobbs Act.  In the political sense, the act makes it a federal crime to threaten a public official to use their public power for the extortionist's gain.   Again, it's not clear what the extortionist wanted from Hornsby but at a minimum, the assumption that it would be a resignation is not a fanciful leap of thought. 

As part of Hornsby's discussion to the commission, the Village Attorney Robert Switkes informed the commission that he had turned the relevant information over to the FDLE and the FBI for their investigation and suggested that the commission take a vote affirming Hornsby's appointment, which they did.

ENTER THE PRESS

The Mayor decided that she would give a series of interviews to NBC 6 Miami to discuss her concerns that perhaps nothing the commission voted on this year was legal because of the situation, to complain publicly that she felt she was not given all the information she needed to make a decision while never specifying what information she wanted, and wonder about it all.  

For his part, Willard Shepherd dug into Hornsby's voting records and uncovered some apparent irregularities, specifically it looks like the box that asks if you have been convicted of a felony was not checked when it should have.  Further investigation by Willard Shepherd uncovered that Hornsby's voting rights were restored in 2005 and confirmed again in 2017 but the Miami-Dade Elections bureau simultaneously declared that Hornsby was ineligible to vote in July 2017 and then issued him a new elegible voter registration three days later.   

All confusing and by now the whole eligibility should have been resolved.  If Hornsby was not eligible at the time of his appointment, he should leave.   If he was, then the issue about whether or not the village's decisions were valid go away.  If there are further legal issues on previous registrations, he should face the issue in the appropriate venues and clearly a decision should be made about his continued presence on the dais.

The appropriate venue is not in the press.

WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED?

Miami-Dade Department of Elections - Their role in this is to investigate if Douglas Hornsby was an eligible voter at the time of his appointment to the commission.  They have not made a public statement but they did tell him that in July of this year they did not believe him to be eligible but then immediately re-registered him as eligible, but have not made a definitive public statement as to Hornsby's eligibility when he was appointed.  

The State Authorities, the FDLE according to former Village Attorney Robert Switkes, is investigating the anonymous letters and texts sent to Hornsby and trying to determine who sent them and with what purpose.  

The Federal Authorities, the FBI according to former Village Attorney Robert Switkes, is working with the FDLE to determine who sent the anonymous letters and texts to Hornsby and once identified to determine if the intent was to extort a public official, thereby the violating the Federal Hobbs Act.

The State and Federal District Attorneys, who will decide based on the investigation if there is sufficient evidence to bring identified suspects to trial for the extortion attempts.  

The Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Village - They are seeking a judicial order to remove Hornsby from the commission and allege that the Village Manager and Attorney colluded to put Hornsby on the dais and to keep him there while knowing that he was ineligible.  They also allege that Commissioner Andreana Jackson deliberately absented herself from a May commission meeting at the suggestion of Village Manager Frank Rollason and Village Attorney Robert Switkes so as to preclude discussion of the Hornsby status at the meeting.   The hearing is now set for January 2018.  

Persons of Interest - according to former Village Attorney Robert Switkes, two "persons of interest" in the state and federal investigations are Mayor Kreps and the wife of Commissioner Jose Alvarez, Mary Kramer.   "Person of Interest" is a broad term used to describe people that the investigators want to speak to in relation to a crime.  A "Person of Interest" can be suspected of the crime, or may be believed to have information that could lead to the identification of a suspect or other key information.   

THE FIRING OF ROBERT SWITKES

In our municipal system of government of North Bay Village, there are only three employees who report to the Commission - the Village Clerk, the Village Manager, and the Village Attorney.   The role of the Village Attorney is to oversee all legal matters that might affect the village, represent the village in legal conflicts and to provide advice to the Commission on legal procedures.   The position is hired and fired by majority vote.  

Normally, since these are key positions, the procedures around the hiring and firing are done in a Commission Meeting with public notice and public discussion.  While it is not legally required to notice the public on the specific matter, it is an absolute tenet of Good Government Practice that important decisions be noticed to the public and the public disclosure of the reasons why the change is being made.  

THERE WAS NO PUBLIC NOTICE

The motion to fire was introduced late in the evening with no prior notice to the citizens or the administration.  None of the three commissioners gave their reasoning for firing Robert Switkes.  Switkes himself said that there is an inherent conflict since the Mayor and the wife of Commissioner Alvarez are "persons of interest" in the criminal investigation.  Per Switkes, they should have recused themselves from such a vote and that he believes the firing was in retaliation for his reports of possible criminal action.  

Additionally, a new village attorney, Norman Powell, was hired, again with no discussion on the dais or input from the public.  Norman Powell has served as our coding magistrate but there is nothing on public record as to why he is the best candidate to take over as Village Attorney and again, no commissioner shared their reasoning on his appointment.  

MY VIEW

The whole business stinks.  

I make no bones about how poorly our mayor has performed as the titular head of our commission.  The Mayor has no ability to build consensus and at the first hint of disagreement, uses every tool at her disposal to destroy the person who has displeased her.   Richard Chervony, Jorge Gonzalez, Frank Rollason, Eddie Lim, Robert Switkes, and dozens of others were once her close friends and allies but she used underhanded and questionably legal methods to attack each of them when they asked questions or disagreed in public.   Just last year, in a filed police report, the mayor admitted to slapping Commissioner Andreana Jackson at a children's event sponsored by the village.  Her instability and lack of discipline make even routine matters difficult and her behavior in the press and on the dais raise deep suspicions about her concern regarding extortion.

Click here for the police report on the slapping incident.  

Commissioner Alvarez has shown all the initiative of a sock puppet.  He only speaks to announce that he has no report to make and vote the way the mayor has indicated she wants him to.   

Commissioner Jackson disappointed me.   She has been an independent voice on the commission, constructive and often innovative in her approach, but her silence on the matter of the firing is disturbing and her refusal to disclose her reasoning on why Robert Switkes should be dismissed is a cavalier disregard of the norms of public service.  

The commission should meet publicly in special session and bring the  question back.  This time it should be done openly, in Sunshine, with facts good, bad, ugly and dull laid out.  The commission works for the public and while they have authority to act as they see fit, the clearest analogy I can draw is to other employee/employer relationships.  Think of the Commissioners as public employees.  That they have the authority to take an action is crystal clear.  But when their employers, the public, raise questions as to why, they have an absolute ethical and professional obligation to explain their reasoning.  

As of Friday, only Vice Mayor Eddie Lim had called for a special meeting.  He needs another commissioner to do so and one of the three who voted for this measure should step up to the plate and do so.   

Hiding is not an option.  

Kevin Vericker

November 20, 2017

Open Letter To The North Bay Village and Administration

November 17, 2017

To:  All North Bay Village Commissioners, Village Manager Frank Rollason

Subject:  Request for a Special Meeting

The vote taken on Tuesday, November 14, to fire Village Attorney Robert Switkes has had a chilling effect on the residents and citizens of North Bay Village.   The Attorney is one of three positions to report directly to the Commission as the attorney is critical to ensure the Village runs correctly and smoothly.  

That this decision was made without public notice or any discussion from the dais undermines the very confidence in the Village government and its transparency that was spoken of by resident Laura Hughes Cattabriga during Good & Welfare and risks the Village's credit rating as presented that same evening.   

Further, the revelations that Mayor Kreps and the wife of Commissioner Alvarez are persons of interest in the ongoing FDLE and FBI investigations regarding the extortion attempts of another commissioner deepens the dark cloud of suspicion hanging over our municipal government.   

Therefore, I am requesting that under Section 30.03 that either our village manager, or two of the commissioners, call a special meeting to reconsider the precipitous and dangerous action taken on Tuesday night.   

I offer no defense of Mr. Switkes as I claim no special knowledge of his competency or abilities.  That is for the commission to decide in open and frank discussions.   But I make this demand as a citizen of North Bay Village who is entitled to see the light of the reasoning in this dark cloud of suspicious obfuscation.  

I am publishing this message publicly and expect a favorable response and a date for the meeting by close of business, today, Friday, November 17, 2017.   

Kevin Vericker

November 17, 2017