Comments on: Century In Depth: Stolen Documents, Council President’s Loan

By: M in Bratt

M in Bratt — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 22:20:46 +0000

@Referendum, I’m not sure what statute you are quoting, but the chapter on dissolving a municipality is 165.051. There are two ways to dissolve a city, none of them being by petition. The ways as spelled out; 165.051 Dissolution procedures.—
(1) The charter of any existing municipality may be revoked and the municipal corporation dissolved by either:
(a) A special act of the Legislature; or
(b) An ordinance of the governing body of the municipality, approved by a vote of the qualified voters. I doubt that a petition drive would move the town council, but it could encourage the Legislative delegation to take action. Maybe a group of citizens should sit down with Mr. Hill and talk about the possibilities, and pick a direction.

By: Referendum

Referendum — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 15:00:26 +0000

Chapter 165.061 Florida Statutes clearly shows the means to unincorporate (dissolve) the Town of Century. A petition needs to get a referendum on the ballot.

Clearly, the services provided by the Town can be merged into the utilities and public services already administered by Escambia County, ECUA, and Pensacola Energy. Or, they might be privatized. Existing municipal workers are protected under the statute by a merging clause.

Century residents need to make a big decision about their future when it comes to governance. Keep in mind, Century only has 1,602 residents (of all ages) as of April 1,2018 (U of F BEBR estimate). That would fill just under 33% of the seats at Blue Wahoos Stadium, or 1.7% of Bryant-Denny Stadium, if every man, woman and child attended! In a county with Escambia’s population, a minimum of 5,000 people are needed in order to even consider BECOMING a municipality. In fact, Century only has 102 more people than needed to incorporate even for a small Florida county.

Is having a municipal governmental layer in Century really worth all of the hassle and expenditures? Both from an economic and time perspective, such resources could be directed towards community improvement, not investigations.

What will Century be in 5, 10, 30, and 50 years? Is a municipal government a part of a better future? If so, how? Citizens need to engage and make some tough decisions.

By: Curious

Curious — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 22:46:35 +0000

Why don’t the citizens of Century recall the Mayor?

By: John

John — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 18:59:42 +0000

Yet, all we ever hear about is how no good and evil the City of PNS is. Seems that Century is out doing Chicago these days.

By: Cuz Danny

Cuz Danny — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 15:51:55 +0000

You can’t find/see stuff like this on TV or The Movies – IS THIS TOWN FOR REAL or WHAT ? Call in the FDLE to investigate !

By: Shay

Shay — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 14:00:57 +0000

@native

Exactly and why just September’s notes? Not October’s or November’s. Just September’s. So someone wants us to believe a thief found her notes and audio recordings and took the time to just take September’s. Someone wanted those minutes and those minutes only. The Governor needs to come in and get rid of everybody and set new people in place for the good of Century.

By: Native

Native — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 11:09:29 +0000

How can the minutes actually be lost unless they were never prepared in the first place or intentionally hidden. I’m sure the minutes would be created and stored on some sort of computer and could be recovered. It’s not like we live in the 18th century when official documents were created using paper and quill.

By: NE Resident.

NE Resident. — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 22:16:38 +0000

EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. We see a article on Century, When is enough enough?

By: No Drama keep the water running in and out.

No Drama keep the water running in and out. — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:41:10 +0000

Contact FL Representative and ask for a full non criminal operational audit and/or recommendation to dissolve the charter and set up other providers for municipal services. The longer this draws out the more it costs the taxpayers in and out of the boundaries of the municipality.

To actually delve into and prosecute misfeasance, sunshine and public record violations and mismanagement would be interesting for an audience but the best outcome would be to dissolve the incorporation.

The council will not see the value in doing that nor most of the citizens.

There are not enough residents to replace these positions on the council or mayor and the pay there is only a pittance.

They are approaching financial emergency from past practices of using the special fund to prop up the general fund. It will never be repaid and the gas department collapsed.

The accountant and town attorney (we see you) also let it get to this point. Imo a great deal of incompetence and greed has led to the demise but if a resident tries to point this out, due to an apparent lack of understanding of the rest of the electorate, they will blame and call racism and other uncivil unnecessary responses.

So rather than stir the pot and comment, pick up the phone and be part of the solution or email this link to the Fl legislature or auditor general and JLAC, ECUA D5 and Commissioner D5.

Be on alert for a peaceful transition of services. Simple as that.

Council if you want to avoid embarrassment. Call for this yourself.

By: Chelleepea

Chelleepea — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:28:09 +0000

Must agree with Ms. Brooks…..no matter if the minutes were really stolen or misplaced it’s the town clerk’s responsibility. It’s seems right that the mayor is siding with his employees but this looks bad for both of them. And again bad PR for Century.