Did Hayes-Santos Break the Law?
BY JENNIFER CABRERA / JUNE 10, 2019
Gainesville’s municipal code (2.10.) states, “Except for the purpose of an inquiry, the commission and its members, including the mayor, must deal with employees of the city solely through their respective charter officers, and neither the commission nor any commissioner, including the mayor, may give orders to any subordinates of the charter officers either publicly or privately. Any commissioner, including the mayor, who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in section 775.082 or section 775.083, Florida Statutes.”
In the following email, Robin Baxley, an Office Coordinator at GRU, appears to be inviting the Utility Advisory Board to a meeting at the request of City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos:
It’s possible that Hayes-Santos made the request to Ed Bielarski, GRU’s General Manager, and Bielarski asked Baxley to send the email. If that is the case, Baxley should be more careful with her phrasing to avoid the appearance of illegal direction. Is there some reason why Hayes-Santos himself couldn’t have sent the invitation? At least Mayor Poe sent his own letter to invite the County Commission:
This meeting seems like quite a big deal… we’ve requested the report on the broadband study, but the city has not responded. Stay tuned.