Divided community 'concerns me deeply'

TRANSCRIPT & PHOTOS OF THE EVENT

I was looking through my Blackberry and thinking, "This is unbelievable. How divisive is this issue when I've got 100 people trying to communicate with me on this issue?" ... There are hundreds of opinions in this community on this man, and that's something that concerns me, and it concerns me deeply.

What troubles me deeply is that I've got ... two very passionate people [Commissioners] that don't want this city manager. I told George early in this process: If you get to three [Commissioners supporting you] you've got four with me — because then you have that buffer to move forward.

At 2-2, what happens? The City Manager spends a majority of his time making sure he always has those three votes. You do everything to make sure you have your three votes. Because if you lose your three votes, it just takes one motion, one night and you're done.

What happens when you spend all your time trying to bolster your three votes? You further alienate your two votes. And you spend your whole time with your 3-2, which is a very unhealthy process.

And to go a step further in that process — as you deal with a 3-2 — is it disrupts the synergy. We saw it tonight, just in this debate. You've got a Commission trying to move forward, and all of a sudden we're in a debate tonight, and we see these little rifts develop. And its the problem with a constant 3-2 tension on a City Commission. Instead of us focusing on the vision — the Centennial; where are we going in the next five years, or 10 years — we're focused on how to we constantly count to three. And you lose sight of your goals. And you lose site of your objectives.

And I've discussed this with George. Understand, going back to this whole issue about the delays [in voting on Gretsas' future], there were discussions with George and I about this. "George, you gotta get to four [votes]." If you want a long-term deal, you've got to get to four." Because the only way that we can ensure that you can survive is you gotta have four votes." Cause it just takes one Commissioner on a 3-2 and we're done.

And now, what you heard from Charlotte [Rodstrom], which doesn't su ... I mean, I was aware of these contracts. But if you lose the City Manager and then lose — 18? 18 personal contracts that are extended out years, you are now looking at severances in the millions.

So, it comes back to me. What does a fiscally conservative individual do? Do you sign a contract for three years, knowing that on a 3-2 vote, we're possibly not only looking at severance for the City Manager, we're looking at severance for 18 high-level people in the city? Does a fiscally conservative mayor do that?

It's where you've gotta come down to where I've been lookin' at this issue — and I like George. And I've told George this, and I've told him from Day One. I like him as a person. I like his character. I like his work ethic. I have no questions about his work ethic. I don't have any questions about his character.

But it comes down to what do you do when you're not looking out for what's best for Jack Seiler, but what's best for the City of Fort Lauderdale. And as you heard tonight, there's 59 people who spoke and 50 in support [of Gretsas]. I can tell you the emails coming in are probably 2-1 the other way. So, it's a very divided constituency. It really is.

And then it leaves me to make the decision: Do I commit to a three-year deal knowing that it all hangs by a thread, it all hangs by a decision each night. And I can't do that. And I've said this, and I've told George goin' in, so this is not a surprise to anybody. None of these commissioners know this, because I've never had this discussion with them. Never told the vice mayor this. Never told Charlotte or Romney or Bobby this.

But I can't commit to a three-year deal hanging on a 3-2 margin. And that's where I am with this. And I just want to make sure everybody's clear.

You know — look, it's a tough vote, a tough decision, but many of you out in the public have known this also, because you've called me and we've talked about this. And I discussed the fact that George needed to get better support from the Commission before I leave this thing hangin' on a 3-2, and two weeks from now, somebody gets upset — we're lookin' at a 18 employees or 19 employees severance package.

I can't commit to a three-year deal. So having said that, this is where we are, and I'll entertain any motions anyone wants to discuss.