By John Pacenti
Under the guise of protocol and civility, Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney and Commissioner Angela Burns are seeking to curtail Vice Mayor Juli Casale’s public criticism of City Manager Terrence Moore.
Burns suggested a gag order to keep some of Casale’s criticism from the public and the press on issues.
Carney, who held a Feb. 18 workshop on Robert’s Rules of Order regarding protocol at meetings, has declared Casale out of order for speaking up on issues recently.
And Moore stated he would not entertain questions about agenda items at meetings unless notified 24 hours in advance.
Casale said all of it was “synchronized.”
“Shutting down meaningful conversations defeats the purpose of representative government,” she said.
Casale at public meetings has pressed Moore on the investigations into the Code Enforcement Division, Finance Department and the fallout over the Brightline crash with a city fire truck.
She has demanded answers from Moore in private, pressing him on issues before commission meetings. She has also had numerous conversations with department heads and staff on any number of topics.
“There have also been instances where commissioners have bypassed the City Manager’s Office and gone directly to department heads,” Burns said at the Feb. 4 meeting.
Burns’ statements come after City Attorney Lynn Gelin advised commissioners to keep their statements about the Dec. 28 train crash limited since the city is facing litigation.
“Some commissioners have made public statements to the press regarding sensitive matters, even though it is understood that such statements should come from our Communications Department,” Burns said.
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