The transcripts for the secret attorney-city meetings disclosed Commissioner Beth Ramsay-Vickrey's and Commissioner Tom Harding's plans and disdain. Here's what contempt of your own citizens looks like in black and white:

Commissioner Beth Ramsay-Vickrey demanded, "These people are, you know, interfering with our city businesses, and we may have damages losing the contract bid and costs incurred in this, particularly if they turn around and then appeal it and drag this out longer for us and incur these damages, what kind of legal fees and damages can we in turn go back on them for?" City attorney Dirk Smits told her "there is a measurable amount of damage to seek."

These people?

On financing, the city must disclose any potential risks to the lenders. Commissioner Tom Harding tried to avoid telling the lender about the litigation because "we don't need a loan for 9 or 10 months after the building goes down." He also discussed that finances will become an issue for Concerned in KCB because "the city has resources to defend much more than the average person" and that Concerned "will probably run out of money." He also worried a bit about the legal bills appearing on the public record.

Commissioner Harding and Commissioner Vickrey pushed hard to change the city code of ordinances in order to eliminate the public referendum or initiative vote.

Other Illegal Acts

KCB has undergone public scrutiny for its handling of the City Hall bids, its building department surplus funds, the FEMA investigation into potential fraud, and the overall shroud of secrecy that's denied residents clear city direction.

Although the State's Attorney says Commissioner Tom Harding's Michigan domicile is not a violation, this story is far from over.

The city's code and building departments ramped up fines and penalties while Commissioner Harding said "excess building department revenue has been traditionally rolled over to the following year to pay other city expenses..." Under Florida law, that can't be done...

KCB City Commission began a fraud investigation into fraud by the former mayor and city administrator for their actions after Hurricane Irma. The effort ended with little investigation and no conclusions.

FEMA began looking into former city administrator Chris Moonis and former Mayor John Deneale for allegedly ordering city staff to alter the condition of the City Hall floor after Hurricane Irma.

City Hall Debacle

Kept secret by the (now-former) city administrator and panned by a large majority of residents, the "LIVS" design finally went out for bid 67 months (2,034 days) after Hurricane Irma caused "cosmetic" damage.

The Post Office can't fit all our PO boxes in the "temporary" trailer the City rented. There were 1,580 boxes in our post office. There are now 944 boxes in the trailer. According to the final plans, the new LIVS-designed city hall post office can hold about 824 boxes of different sizes or less than half what we need, but "there will be PLENTY for all residents" according to the (now-former) city administrator.

A sales team pitched the city to buy their TV/Internet package for every house and condo in KCB. The (now-former) city administrator announced that one company will be paid through your taxes.

After the (now-former) city administrator opened two bids "in front of an agitated crowd" on the side of 7th Street and we became "the laughing stock of the state," and despite Commissioner Harding's statement that the cost would likely be out of reach, Harding, Trefry, and Vickrey ap proved a complete City Hall rebuild by a small, "residential builder."

264 voters and over 100 other property owners signed a petition asking for referendum vote on the City Hall contract. The commission denied the petition and refused to hold a public vote "the City will not be further processing your Referendum Petition." They filed a motion to dismiss the petition drive and the injunction.

Personnel Difficulties

In a surprise development hastened by resident outrage against the Key Colony Beach City Commission, as well as media scrutiny about the myriad investigations into the dealings of the commission, Mayor Patti Trefry abruptly resigned Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11, effective at midnight.

KCB installed long-time city volunteer Thomas DiFransico as the new commissioner to fill the seat previously occupied by Patti Trefry.

How many volunteers quit our City Committees and Boards under the (now-former) city administrator? How many city employees quit citing the toxic work environment? The (now-former) city administrator completed a "clean sweep" this year. Although it took more than just 12 months, the short list included a city clerk, the building official and at least one inspector, the utility clerk, the first code officer, and three other office employees. There's nobody left from before the current city regime. That's a lot of city history just thrown away.

Commissioner Freddie Foster accused the city and the (now-former) city administrator of attempting to defund the police. Key Colony cops begin the process of unionizing in May and ratified the move in a 5-0 vote. The (now-former) city administrator called his retaliation just a case of "bad timing."

KCB made a swift vote not to renew the contract of current administrator Dave Turner and to appoint a new mayor.

Follow the Money

The commission voted 3:2 to give the (now-former) city administrator a 28% raise on top of his 25% raise the prior year. The city hall rebuild was included in the budget. Gov. DeSantis vetoed the $1 million grant for the repair and hardening of City Hall.

"Draining city reserves to pay for the new City Hall, core to several of Harding's financial scenarios ... mean KCB will enter the new fiscal year without funds to cover unforeseen additional expenses, like cost overruns for the rebuild and any hurricane cleanup that could occur later this year or next."

Cheers and Jeers

"Jeers: To the Key Colony Beach City Commission for its lack of transparency regarding bids to rebuild its City Hall."

"Cheers: To the citizens of Key Colony Beach for their efforts to undo the decision to build a new City Hall. "