State & City Attorneys’ Joint Filing on Library Bond Validation Suit
State Attorney Can Argue Motions at October 20 Hearing
Mayor Leary immediately followed with remarks directed to “media who eagerly reported about the State Attorney [filing] those motions . . . [we are] eagerly anticipating covering dismissal of those motions as well.”
City Seeks to Include Site Language in Bond Validation Complaint
The State Attorney’s motions, filed September 21, challenged the City’s request for validation of up to $30 million in bonds “for the purpose of building a municipal facility in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park” on grounds that the ballot referendum made no reference to the location. “The inclusion of the site is not a proper subject for determination by this court,” reads the State Attorney’s Motion to Strike.
State Attorney Objects to Language, Wants Separate Hearing
As part of his filing, State Attorney Wallsh requested his motions be heard at a separate hearing prior to the October 20 bond validation hearing.
City & State Attorneys Agree to Consolidate Hearings
In a subsequent meeting September 30 between State Attorney Wallsh and City Attorney Ardaman, the two attorneys agreed, in a “Joint Stipulation Regarding the State of Florida’s Motion to Vacate Order to Show Cause and Motion to Strike,” that Wallsh would withdraw his motions and his request for a separate hearing, with the stipulation that he can still make the motions at the October 20 hearing.See Document.
Motions Cannot Be ‘Dismissed’
Motions in court cannot be dismissed. They are either granted or denied, actions only a judge can take. The State Attorney’s motions and his request for a separate hearing have been withdrawn – for now. The substantive arguments of the motions can still be heard at the October 20 hearing.
In other words, nothing has changed except the schedule.
The greatest damage is not the building of the library in MLK park. It is the perception that our government, in Winter Park, misled and continues to ignore the feelings of about 50% of the citizens. We will all be proud of the new event center, the parking garage that benefits Trader Joes, and the library. But many will not forget a government that is certainly not of, by, or for the people.
Mr. Thompson do you really believe that folks will park in a parking garage off of Harper in MLK Park and then shop at Trader Joes? If so, you can’t be a WP resident or at least not one for any length of time! The typical WP resident won’t even shop on Park Ave unless they can park on the street within a block of the store they intend to shop at! And further, assuming that they could, why would they park in the Library Parking garage when they could park in the parking garage across the street to the west one block closer to the store?
It must be hard to be a City Attorney in Winter Park. If you’re completely candid at a City Commission meeting, you risk being fired by three of the Commissioners. And if you’re not, you end up looking like an idiot in the local media.
I disagree with both comments above. Majority gov’t is not easy.On the outside it looks easy. I’d suggest if you’re really concerned about local gov’t and not merely interested in scoring political points, make an appointment to meet with city manager. Ask him the questions. He won’t duck or dodge. Who knows? You may want to get involved.