Unforced error? Worse than that

Good morning! First things first, make sure to please follow the Helene information today. A lot of uncertainty and anxiety out there, especially in Crystal River, so let’s be smart and safe.

Now.

I rarely have to pause before writing the blog. I tend not to get too emotionally attached to any issue to avoid saying things I shouldn’t say. 

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So, I’m going to try to keep this above board. It won’t be easy.

Because I’m angry. You should be too.

What three Citrus County commissioners did to County Attorney Denise Dymond Lyn on Tuesday was so far off the charts of logic and common decency I just don’t know where to begin.

The quick hit: With no warning, Commissioner Rebecca Bays made a motion to ask Lyn to resign. Commissioner Diana Finegan quickly seconded the motion. It passed 3-2, with Chairman Holly Davis joining the other two.

When Denise said she wouldn’t resign, Bays made a motion to fire her. It failed, but only because Davis didn’t know how much it’ll cost us.

I am totally stunned by this move. It sets us back as a respectable county government to the Scott Adams glory days, when sneak attacks on top staffers were the norm.

Before I break it down, know that this isn’t in defense of Denise Lyn. We’ve known one another for decades. We’re friends, and we argue all the time. I consider her a little too much of a stickler on most things, though, thinking about it Tuesday night, I can’t remember the last time anyone sued the county or the county sued anyone.

That means Denise is keeping the County Commission — and us — out of trouble. Last I checked, that’s the lawyer’s job. If there’s other stuff we don’t know about, it should come out publicly.

With that, here we go.

— No warning. Rebecca Bays knows better than to introduce a motion with no public notice, so I’m going to guess this cheap shot was done on purpose. That is so disappointing. Everything else pretty much falls apart after that. It’s wrong. Simple as that.

— Not on the agenda. Similar to my first point. This is where the chairman should step in. Instead, Holly Davis seemed shocked at first. Speechless. Instead of doing her job, which should have been to remind Commissioner Bays that this isn’t how things are done.

I mean, do we have rules on conducting public business, or do we not? Or are they only suggestions that can be ignored when commissioners feel like it? Sheesh!

— No specifics from Bays on why she was doing this. Kept saying we need to move the county in a new direction, like she’s firing the manager of a losing baseball team. Later, she complained about Denise leaving a meeting early. And something about County Administrator Steve Howard — who missed the meeting due to attending a conference out of state — having trouble getting help from Denise.

Bays said she wanted to avoid embarrassing Denise. Um…that horse left the barn when she made the motion.

— If anything, this seems like three individual commissioners with a personality issue.

Diana Finegan was just plain nasty, upset that Denise wouldn’t accompany her on a visit to Inverness Villages 4. That’s a great reason to fire the attorney. 

Davis tossed Denise under the bus over some IV 4 issue, pretty much blaming her for the lack of progress there. And the two of them mixed it up Monday morning during a storm briefing over posting information online.

See the problem? Three commissioners, three issues, none are the same. Denise works for the board, not five individuals. Commissioners sometimes have a difficult time with that.

— No opportunity for Denise to correct whatever it is these commissioners are complaining about. Fire an 8-year employee without giving her a chance to improve? Call her on the carpet publicly with only vague criticism? Guess what message that sends to county employees.

(I heard from a few. They were horrified at what took place.)

— No plan on moving forward. When Bays later tried to fire Denise outright, Davis voted no because we don’t know how much that move will cost the taxpayers. Too bad she didn’t bring that up before the first vote. No idea what happens now.

— A perception killer. I’ve seen these things before. They NEVER go well with the public. I mean…never. When citizens are caught so off guard on something of such significance, it gives the impression that commissioners know something we don’t. 

Commissioner Jeff Kinnard, attempting to be a voice of reason, put it this way:

“This is truly not our finest hour. In tennis, they call this an unforced error. This one takes the cake. It’s absolutely the wrong direction.”

I realize this county politics isn't today's conversation, that there are far more important immediate issues to deal with. But I couldn't let this go one extra day. Not even for a hurricane.

I’m totally floored. And that is saying something.

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