Tempers flare over budget item

At Monday night's Avon Park City Council meeting, Rene Green, finance director, stormed off after a heated debate with council members on code enforcement's budget for demolition.

During this year's budget meeting in July, council members mind-set was on people losing their jobs, not on demolition money.

So when Maria Sutherland, interim city manager, said that there was $30,000 for demolitions in the code enforcement's budget, council members were stunned.

"It was there all along," Sutherland said.

At the meeting, council members said they were told by former city manager Sarah Adelt that $7,000 was available for demolitions when there was $30,000.

Green said that the money was set aside from the city's general fund and put into the 2009-2010 budget. It was included in two budget folders given to council members, but simply put, it was overlooked.

Councilman Joe Wright agreed that the council just didn't see it because their concerns were elsewhere.

"Our mindset was on people and jobs," Wright said.

Before Green left the meeting, Hinson asked why they weren't informed about the $30,000 sooner.

"That was Sarah Adelt, former city manager and Donald Simmons (code enforcement officer). I can't help it if you don't read the budget," Green responded.

The council has not been able to move forward on the city's demolition list because they assumed they didn't have the funding.

The list provided to the council on Monday, included four pending demolitions and two that have already been completed.

Sutherland suggested the $30,000 get divided into three pots: the Main Street CRA, the Southside CRA and the non-CRA areas of the city. She asked the council for guidance on how to divide the funds.

The council opted to use the funds to demolish the homes on their existing list.

Before the meeting ended at about 9:30 p.m., Sutherland had some final words on how the situation unfolded.

"I would like you to realize how essential she Finance Director Rene Green is. I think that it is fair that she be recognized for the work that she does. I just have a feeling that she is not going to show up tomorrow. I don't think that it's fair to ridicule someone in public," Sutherland said.

On Tuesday, Green had a pre-planned day off and will return today, according to Sutherland.