Council Nixes Gomez’s Attempt To Circumvent Charter And Hire Interim Century Town Manager
September 7, 2023
The Century Town Council has put the brakes on newly appointed interim Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. and his immediate efforts to hire an interim town manager while apparently circumventing the requirements of the town’s charter. Last week, Gomez admitted that he was in over his head, and presented the council with his choice to help lead the town.
Tuesday night, the town council approved a two-page scope of work for an interim town manager or consultant to assist the town. The motion specified that the scope would be used in future requests for proposals for the position.
Gomez then immediately asked the council to allow him to enter into negotiations with Robert Thompson to serve in the position for three months. His request noted that $25,000 was available for consulting services in the town budget through September and over $40,000 was budgeted for consultants in the next fiscal year beginning October 1.
“I know that I am in over my head, but I don’t want the town of Century to suffer due to my lack of experience in this position,” Gomez told his town council a few minutes after he was sworn in on August 28. At that meeting, he asked the town council to consider contracting with consultant Thompson of DeFuniak Springs, who he said was recommended by the Florida League of Cities.
“A vote for this guy is a vote for Century,” Gomez said this week.
Council member Alicia Johnson questioned if the town needed to request proposals or accept applications.
Gomez said he was told by the Florida League of Cities and Johnson that a request for proposals or bids from other potentially interested persons was not needed.
“We just trying to get somebody in place interim, you skip all that,” Gomez said.
“No matter what Florida League of Cities says, no matter what Mr Johnson says, Century still has to abide by the charter. If we are required to get three bids, we must get three bids if he is to be interim,” council vice president Shelisa McCall said. “To then forgo our established charter and ignore it, it’s just not fair to everybody else. It’s like we wanted to hold these people to those standards, but now we want to skip them, and I don’t think that’s right.”
McCall said the town’s former interim town manager, Vernon Prather, was hired through an application process and vote, and she remembered reading the applications on NorthEscambia.com.
Then Gomez tried to rationalize that the town’s former interim town manager, Vernon Prather, was hired without a council vote.
“No, the council didn’t vote, council didn’t vote” Gomez interjected. “The order came from downtown Pensacola to the interim city manager that was in place, and they brought their guy and they scrapped five applications. If it’s a lie, then the blog told me. There was five applications that were scrapped. I can show you the article right now on the phone.”
While Gomez said the council did not vote to hire Prather, Gomez voted yes when Prather was hired in December 2019. In fact, Gomez actually made the motion to hire Prather, according to the town’s official meeting minutes (pictured left, click to enlarge).
And NorthEscambia.com never reported anything about any order from downtown Pensacola or that five applications were scrapped to hire Prather (there were only five applications including Prather). We did report that then Century interim city manager Buz Eddy recommended to scrap applications and hire Prather on an interim basis.
“The League (Florida League of Cities) is what we establish most of our rules by,” Gomez said. “I could care less what I look like in anybody’s paper…I’m doing this for Century.”
The Florida League of Cities (FLC) is an advocacy group serving over 400 municipalities in the state, according to their website. The FLC is not a government agency and has no governmental authority. Century’s rules are governed by a charter which established the town.
“If we want this guy, we can get him,” Gomez said. “And we’re not breaking anybody’s law, or stepping on anybody’s toes, or doing anything illegal.”
“If we do it this way, we are going against our charter, plain and simple” McCall interjected.
Town Clerk Leslie Howington clarified that the charter states anything costing over $500 must be bid. She called town attorney Matt Dannheisser and placed him on speakerphone.
“Ms. Howington, I need to talk to you tomorrow about that,” Gomez told her, motioning toward the phone with Dannheisser on the line.
“Five hundred dollars or more, the council is required to request and receive bids,” the attorney said.
The council voted 3-0 to advertise for an interim town manager or consultant through noon on September 19 with the Florida League of Cities, Florida League of Mayors and League of City Managers. The motion did not include advertising locally. The council plans to consider their choice seven hours after the deadline during a regular council meeting.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Charged After Drug Search Warrant Executed In Flomaton
September 7, 2023
The Flomaton Police Department and Alabama Drug Task Force arrested two people after a search warrant was executed Wednesday night.
According to Flomaton Police, the search warrant was executed at 904 Titi Street.
FPD said two people were charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), unlawful possession of paraphernalia, unlaw possession of prescription drugs and theft of services. The names of the individuals were not immediately released.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist To Hold Groundbreaking Sunday For New 300 Seat Sanctuary
September 7, 2023
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church will hold a groundbreaking Sunday for an expansion that includes a new sanctuary with seating for over 300 people.
The groundbreaking will follow a 10:30 a.m. service at the church at 140 West Bogia Road in McDavid. The public is invited.
Pictured: A conceptual drawing and plans for new sanctuary at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Bonus Photos: Tate Fans, Band And Cheerleaders
September 7, 2023
The Tate Aggies cruised past the Pensacola High Tigers last Friday night.
For a bonus photo gallery with the band, fans and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
The Aggies will host Northview at 7 p.m. Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Animal Rescue Deploys To Help After Hurricane Idalia
September 7, 2023
A disaster response team from the Escambia County Department of Animal welfare and members of the ASPCA deployed last week to Taylor County to assist animals and pen owners that were impacted by Hurricane Hadelia. They primarily worked with Taylor County Animal Shelter and disaster response teams, providing much needed support during the time.
Earlier this year, Escambia County received a $50,000 grant from the ASPCA to fund a disaster response team. Specialized animal search and rescue training with the Escambia County Fire Rescue Special Operations team took place from February to March, covering special skills you need to assist animals and the public following a disaster.
Palacios Pitches Gem in Pensacola’s 1-0 Win
September 7, 2023
Luis Palacios was masterful in a matinee performance, twirling 8.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Rocket City Trash Pandas 1-0 in a combined three-hit shutout on Wednesday afternoon.
Palacios (W, 9-7) became the first Pensacola pitcher since 2019 to complete 8.0 innings, and did so on only 79 pitches, in the best outing of his Double-A career.
The Blue Wahoos were only 1-for-10 with men in scoring position, but strung together three singles from Cody Morissette, Josh Zamora and Tanner Allen to scratch across a run against Rocket City long reliever Cole Percival (L, 1-4). It proved to be the only run of the game, marking Pensacola’s first 1-0 win since their victory over Montgomery in Game Three of the 2022 Southern League Division Series.
Palacios was perfect through 4.0 innings, and allowed only three hits over his 8.0 innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. He was lifted in the ninth for Matt Pushard (S, 2), who worked around a two-out walk to lock down the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Thursday night.
No Charges Filed After Woman’s Brother Kills Her Ex-boyfriend After He Broke Into Her Trailer
September 6, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says no charges are being filed after a deadly shooting Tuesday night at an Escambia County mobile home park.
Deputies arrived about 9:30 p.m. at the Silver Lake Mobile Home Park on Pine Forest Road to find the 26-year old deceased from a gunshot wound inside the residence.
The ECSO said the man went to his 47 year old ex-girlfriend’s residence. He broke the door down and forced his way into the trailer. Once inside, he hit the female several times. She texted her family for assistance, and her 23 year old brother, along with others, responded to the house to help.
During the argument, the ex-boyfriend pulled a gun, cocked it and aimed it at the brother. The brother then shot the man twice, and he died from his wounds, the ECSO said.
The investigation is continuing, but at this point the ECSO said no charges will be filed.
Convicted Sexual Predator Exposed Himself To 10-15 Children In Nine Mile Home Depot, ECSO Says
September 6, 2023
A convicted sexual predator from Cantonment was arrested Saturday after allegedly exposing himself to a group of children attending a craft workshop Saturday at Home Depot on Nine Mile Road.
Lloyd Russell Allen, 74, was charged with exposure of sexual organs second or subsequent offense and being sex offender loitering within 300 feet of children. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $12,500.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Allen exposed his penis and fondled himself about 20 feet away from 10-15 children ranging in age from 5-12 inside the Home Depot.
The grandfather of one of the children witnessed the incident, grabbed Allen, walked him outside and detained him until deputies arrived. A Home Depot employee told deputies that there were no cameras on the aisle where the incident happened.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Allen is a registered sexual predator and was convicted in 2001, 2005, 2014 and 2020 of lewd and lascivious exhibition. All of the victims were under 16-years old.
During a 2013 incident, Allen was wearing transparent shorts that exposed his genitals to a child inside a Gulf Breeze Walmart, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office news release.
His last known address, according to the FDLE registry, was 1491 Chemstrand Road, Lot 4, in Cantonment. At the time of his arrest, he provided an address of 129 Elm Street in Pensacola.
Without Quorum, Century Can’t Act On 290% Tax Increase, 39% Higher Budget
September 6, 2023
The Century Town Council was unable to vote due to a lack of quorum Tuesday on a property tax increase of nearly 300% and an $8 million budget proposed by interim Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr.
Because the tax increase is so high, the state required approval by a unanimous vote of all four council members. Council president Dynette Lewis was absent from the meeting with the town clerk explaining that she was “very sick”.
The council was set to tentatively approve a property tax increase with a millage rate of .9204, which is 290.66% greater than the rolled-back rate of .2356 mills. The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and the law says it must be advertised as such. The .9204 millage rate has been constant for several years.
Property values in Century have increased from approximately $49.5 million to $54.5 million over the last year, according to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office. Last year, property taxes generated $45,518 for Century; this year is expected to be $50,307.
The $8,169,564 tentative budget is up more than $2 million (39%) over last year’s $5,828,525, mostly due to grant funds.
The budget includes a 3% cost of living raise for employees, an increased cost of about $100 per basic employee for insurance and a 150% rate increase for general liability and property insurance. The town pays 99% of employee health insurance and 50% of family cost.
All capital outlay expenses will be funded from American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds.
Tuesday evening’s meeting was recessed and is set to be reconvened September 19 for a vote. A second vote for a final approval will follow at another meeting on September 26.
Pictured top: Century Town Clerk Leslie Howington discusses a budget item with interim Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. during a Tuesday night meeting of the Century Town Council. Pictured inset: Only three of four council members attended the meeting; a unanimous vote of four was required to approve a tax increase. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Rifle And Shotgun From Construction Business
September 6, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of stealing firearms from a Chemstrand Road business.
Brandon Abernathy Brown, 36, was charged with armed burglary of an unoccupied business, criminal mischief, two counts of grand theft of a firearm and violation of a domestic violence injunction by being in possession of a firearm..
Last Saturday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported suspicious person armed with a firearm in the area of Chemstrand Road and Junction Drive. Deputies then responded to the reported burglary of a construction contractor in the 1200 block of Chemstrand Road.
The victim, who is Brown’s father, told the ECSO that Brown was standing near the front gate of the business with a shotgun and a rifle and telling people that “people” kidnapped his son while armed with two firearms. Brown refused requests to return the firearms before he fled on foot, according to an arrest report.
The victim said Brown did not have permission to enter the business or take the guns, and that he caused about $400 in damage while forcing his way inside, the report states. The ECSO recovered both guns at the scene. Deputies said they were unloaded, and Brown never actually threatened to use them.
A permanent domestic violence injunction issued in December 2021 prohibited Brown from possessing any firearms.
Brown was booked in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $55,000.