John Bakas'
Objection & Rebuttal to Toni Leake's Grievance

 

Note:  Some of the attachments to the following did not format properly when I copied them directly into this thread, especially letters.  All of these attachments, including Toni Leake's resume, are contained in the link below though.  The file is large and it may take one or two minutes for it to open, please be patient. 

Below is my August 20, 2007 Objection and Rebuttal to District Manager Toni Leake's Grievance. 

John Bakas' August 20, 2007 Objection and Rebuttal to Toni Leake's Grievance

Objections and Rebuttal to Grievance

These objections and rebuttal are submitted by John Bakas, CDD board member, to the grievance dated June 6, 2007 by Antoinette Leake.

In Summary:

By filing this grievance District Manager Toni Leake seeks to take control of the CDD board and its attorneys by censorship of board-member comments and legal advice of CDD lawyers.

This board and district manager should focus on 1) rolling back special tax assessments to Lake St. Charles Homeowners from $1,120 for single family homes to $900 (and similarly for other assessment payers) 2) replacing current staff with a professional management firm, and 3) seeking greater Homeowner input into expenditures of CDD capital projects.

The CDD board should spend its time obtaining a professional management firm to manage the CDD so that LSC Homeowners receive much improved management of landscaping and community projects.

The grievance should be dismissed because the CDD board cannot legally grant either of the requested remedies [removal from office or seeking to have the board censor me]:

a. The Lake St. Charles Community Development District (the CDD) lacks the jurisdiction or authority to remove a CDD board member from office. Any attempts by the board would be in violation of law.

b. As a governmental entity the LSC CDD board would violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution if it sought to censor my exercise of free speech to comment on the performance of a public employee.  Governments cannot censor a board member. Further, it is improper that CDD staff or board should have the authority to censor comments made by lawyers hired by the CDD board.

c. The grievance is evidence that District Manager Toni Leake intends, expects, or seeks to control information the CDD auditors have access to.

d. The grievance is evidence that District Manager Toni Leake intends, expects, or seeks authority to censor and control the CDD board’s lawyers regarding what comments or legal advice the CDD board may receive.

Additional objections and rebuttal to the grievance:

1. The grievance filed by District Manager Toni Leake is frivolous on its face and serves to underscore my concerns about District Manager Toni Leake being ill prepared to serve in a government position authorized by chapter 190, Florida Statutes, requiring professionalism, skill, and knowledge of the law as it pertains to CDD operations. The grievance is unfounded.

2. The grievance serves to underscore my concerns that the Lake St. Charles CDD is not properly managed and that the CDD board should hire a professional district manager.

3. The CDD board has no jurisdiction to prevent, limit or control the comments of a board member regarding the poor job performance by CDD staff and the wasteful expenditures of special assessment funds collected from the CDD Homeowners ($1,120 annually from each single-family lot owner), and the poor condition of the community landscaping.

4. A great community like Lake St. Charles deserves much better management and residents deserve far better results from the huge amounts of money the CDD board collected from LSC Homeowners since fiscal year 2004/2005. Attempts by the CDD board to prevent, limit or control the free-speech of board members would violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution. It is poor government policy to consider such requests from government employees like District Manager Toni Leake to censor a board member and its lawyer, Sid Kilgore.

5. The grievance fails to allege that I violated any rule of the CDD or any law. Because the grievance fails to include any allegation of a rule or statute that has been violated, the grievance is frivolous and should be dismissed.

6. The CDD board has no jurisdiction over claims of defamation. In addition, all my comments about the conduct, fitness or role of Toni Leake are regarding her in her public capacity as CDD district manager under Section 190.007, Florida Statutes. She is a public official.

7. In addition, as a matter of law the allegations of defamation against a public official are insufficient.

8. As an affirmative defense, without admitting the validity of the grievance, all comments by me included in the grievance are privileged because they relate to the job performance and competence of Toni Leake as district manager.

9. The grievance’s allegations are insufficient and fail to allege matters with sufficient specificity to enable a response.

10. The grievance is untimely.

11. The CDD board is biased, has already voted on matters alleged in the grievance, and should appoint a group of three persons mutually agreeable to the board and to me to hear and decide the grievance. In addition, board members and LSC residents may be witnesses about their actions. They should not be allowed to serve as both witnesses in a hearing concerning their action regarding possible public records and Sunshine Law violations and then also serve as judge and jury on those actions. Such kangaroo courts are improper for any due process proceeding.

12. All of my previous correspondence and e-mails submitted in response to matters in the grievance are hereby incorporated by reference.

13. Allegations that I have taken improper actions, if any, are false and are denied.

14. A proper grievance process requires the CDD board to reverse its previous decisions that denied my motions and requests to have the CDD lawyer investigate possible Sunshine Law and Public Records law violations — such matters are a necessary prerequisite to consideration of the grievance. The CDD cannot consider the grievance without also reversing its previous decisions and allow for a review by the CDD lawyer of the concerns expressed by me and the previous CDD lawyer who was terminated by the CDD board immediately after he brought such matters to the board.  Actions by board members Lorelei Bowden and Ginny Gianakos, and District Manager Toni Leake are the subject of those motions and requests. The CDD board’s vote not to investigate those potential violations of the law by such individuals demonstrate that the CDD board cannot provide a fair and impartial due process grievance hearing.

15. I have a concern that possible business relationships between the CDD secretary/treasurer, Ginny Gianakos, and District Manager Toni Leake, will prevent Ginny Gianakos from being impartial. For example, were or are Ginny Gianakos and District Manager Toni Leake associated with the same company (the name may be Weekenders USA or similar company selling clothing), what was Ginny Gianakos’s involvement, if any, in Toni Leake beginning to work with such company, if she does; and did Ginny Gianakos receive any benefit or waive any benefit regarding Toni Leake joining such company or any sales or other activities of Toni Leake? The details of these relationships, if any, should be disclosed to the CDD board, prior to the board’s consideration of the grievance.

16. The CDD board needs to conduct the investigation of the possible Sunshine Law violations by Ginny Gianakos, CDD secretary/treasurer, and possible public-records law violations by CDD chairman Lorelei Bowden, to determine whether they should be disqualified to hear or take part in review of this grievance. Such matters were incorporated into the grievance by District Manager Toni Leake.

17. If the CDD board properly hired attorney Sid Kilgore to respond to the inquiries for the audit, then Sid Kilgore was properly retained to provide legal advice to the CDD board and was authorized to call me to obtain factual information about the response the CDD board requested him to provide. Sid Kilgore’s authorization by the CDD to respond to the audit inquiries prevents, as a matter of law, his response being unauthorized. The CDD board cannot have it both ways, if Sid Kilgore was properly hired by the CDD to respond to the audit inquiry, then the CDD District Manager Toni Leake cannot complain when Sid Kilgore responds.

18. If Sid Kilgore was properly rehired after being fired as CDD lawyer, Sid Kilgore was authorized to call me to ask me a question about his response which had been requested by the CDD and Sid Kilgore’s call to me cannot, as a matter of law, constitute collusion.

19. It may be that District Manager Toni Leake is claiming that the CDD had not properly retained Sid Kilgore to respond to the audit inquiry after the CDD board had voted to terminate him as district legal counsel and hire a new lawyer, Roland Santiago. If this is the claim, the failure of the CDD board to follow proper procedures in rehiring Sid Kilgore after he had been terminated by the CDD board shows poor management by those who requested the audit letter from Sid Kilgore.

20. District Manager Toni Leake and CDD chairwoman Lorelei Bowden violated CDD policy by placing District Manager Toni Leake’s grievance on the CDD August 7, 2007 CDD agenda contrary to the procedure for handling grievances. Such action was a misuse of the chairwoman’s and district manager’s positions.

21. The grievance should be dismissed.

22. My previous memos and e-mails regarding the matters discussed in the grievance are incorporated into this response.

23. In the alternative, and without admitting the validity of the grievance filed by District Manager Toni Leake, if I, John Bakas, am subject to any action by the CDD board because of the letter written by Sid Kilgore in response to an audit inquiry, and if that letter by Sid Kilgore had been authorized by the CDD board, then the CDD board members Lorelei Bowden, Chairman, David Nelson, Vice-Chair, Ginny Gianakos, Secretary/Treasurer and Rex Speer, Supervisor are also liable for the same remedy as sought in the grievance.

24. Sid Kilgore was terminated by the CDD board as its district counsel.  After he was terminated, Sid Kilgore was apparently rehired by the CDD to respond to an audit inquiry.

25. Sid Kilgore, newly rehired to provide legal services to the CDD board, then responded as requested by the CDD board.

26. As part of District Manager Toni Leake's grievance, she claims that it was not proper for attorney Sid Kilgore to call me as a CDD board member to ask a question while he was engaged to respond to the CDD's request.

27. As stated previously, in the grievance, District Manager Toni Leake seeks to censor what the CDD board’s lawyers may say regarding CDD staff.

28. In a July 11, 2007 letter to Rolando Santiago, Sid Kilgore wrote the following about Sid Kilgore's call to me:

These communications with Mr. Bakas were not
outside the scope of the District's directive. By
letter dated 22 February 2007, Lorelei Bowden,
Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors of the Lake
St. Charles Community Development District (the
'District'), requested that the undersigned furnish
certain information to the auditors for the District,
ValienteHernandez, P.A. in connection with their
examination of the financial statements of the
District as of 30 September 2006, as well as matters
during the period from that date to the date of our
response. In accordance with that request, on 30
April 2007, we furnished the auditors with a letter
providing that information.

In order to ensure the accuracy of that information,
approximately .40 hours were expended to
telephone Mr. Bakas and to take a return telephone
call from him regarding the substance of his prior
communications with us concerning certain practices
of the District during the relevant period. We took
no direction from Mr. Bakas, but only solicited
from Mr. Bakas information germane to the
fulfillment of our charge, pursuant to Mrs.
Bowden's letter to us of 22 February 2007.
(emphasis supplied)

29. In a July 11, 2007 letter to Rolando Santiago, Sid Kilgore wrote that if chairwoman Lorelei Bowden had been authorized by the CDD board to rehire Sid Kilgore after the CDD board had terminated him, then Sid Kilgore's call to me had been authorized by the CDD board.

30. If my actions in responding to a lawyer hired by the CDD board subject me to any action by the CDD board, then CDD board members Lorelei Bowden, Chairman, David Nelson, Vice-Chair, Ginny Gianakos, Secretary/Treasurer and Rex Speer, Supervisor are also liable for the same remedy as sought in the grievance.

31. I would not have talked with Sid Kilgore about CDD matters but for his call to me. He would not have called me but for the action of the chairwoman Lorelei Bowden in rehiring Sid Kilgore to provide legal services to the district.

32. If such actions amount to an offense subject to a grievance, the action was caused by CDD board members Lorelei Bowden, Chairman, David Nelson, Vice-Chair, Ginny Gianakos, Secretary/Treasurer and Rex Speer, Supervisor.

33. The action taken by chairwoman Lorelei Bowden to rehire Sid Kilgore was taken in the February 22, 2007, letter to Sid Kilgore.

34. Witnesses for this grievance are all CDD board members, Sid Kilgore, District Manager Toni Leake, representatives of ValienteHernandez, P.A. who performed the CDD audit, and CDD residents named in CDD minutes from August 2006 to the present.

____________________________

John W. Bakas, Jr.
August 20, 2007

Attachments incorporated into this response

Attachment 1 Resume of District Manager Toni Leake

Attachment 2 April 30, 2007 Letter from Sid Kilgore to Auditors

Attachment 3 July 11, 2007 Letter from Sid Kilgore

Attachment 4, 2007 October 20, 2006 Memo from John Bakas

Attachment 5 CDD Board Lawyer Advises Board re Potentially Serious Legal Concerns

Attachment 6 February 22, 2007 Letter from CDD chairwoman Lorelei Bowden to Sid Kilgore

ATTACHMENT 1

Toni Leake's Resume will be posted separately due to formatting problems.

ATTACHMENT 2

Attachment 2 will be reposted separately due to formatting problems.

Pennington Moore Wilkinson
Sidney W. Kilgore
Attorney at Law

30 April 2007

ValienteHernandez, P.A.
Suite 950
, 7 I5 North Westshore Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33607

Re: Lake St. Charles Community Development District - 30 September 2006 Audit

Our File No. 21411.21528

Gentlemen:

Lorelei Bowden, Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors of the Lake St. Charles
Community Development District (the 'District'), has requested that the undersigned
furnish you with certain information in connection with your examination of the
financial statements of the District as of 30 September 2006, as well as matters during
the period from that date to the date of this response. The undersigned provided
services to the District as its regular legal counsel during the one-year period since the
District's last audit, i.e., from I October 2005 through 30 September 2006, and from
the end of that period until 20 November 2006, at which time the Board of Supervisors
of the District voted to discontinue those services. The information provided herein has
been so limited.

This letter is solely for your information and assistance in connection with your audit
of, and report with respect to, the financial condition of the District. Nothing herein is
to be quoted or otherwise referred to in any financial statements of the District or in
any related documents without the prior written consent of this firm.

We have made no independent review of any of the District's transactions or
contractual arrangements for the purposes of this response; instead, we have
endeavored to determine from lawyers in our firm who have performed services for the
District during the applicable period whether such services involved the type described
in Ms. Bowden's letter, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of changes
which hereinafter may be brought to our attention.

With respect to matters contemplated by clauses (b) or (c) of Paragraph 5 of the
American Bar Association's Statement of Policy, we make no comment as no such
matters have been specifically identified by the District for comment. Subject to the
foregoing, and to the last paragraph of this letter, we advise you that we have not been
engaged to give substantive attention to, or represent the District in connection with
material loss contingencies within the scope of clause (a) of Paragraph 5 of the
Statement of Policy referred to in the above paragraph. More specifically:

1. Pending Litigation. We are unaware of any litigation that was pending or had
been threatened against the District as of 30 September 2006, or during the period from
that date to 20 November 2006 when the services of this firm were terminated by the
Board of Supervisors.

II. Judgments. To our knowledge, no judgments had been rendered against the
District as of 30 September 2006, or during the period from that date to 20 November
2006 when the services of this firm were terminated by the Board of Supervisors.

III. Other information. With regard to other information in connection with
pending or threatened litigation, claims, assessments, or other material loss
contingencies known as of 30 September 2006, and from that date through 20
November 2006, the undersigned became aware during the period from 1 October
2006 to 20 November 2006 of a number of potential material issues which may have a
bearing on the outcome of the instant audit of the District.

A. Fiscal controls. On or about 2 October 2006, certain concerns were
raised by Supervisor John Bakas regarding the management practices of the
District and in particular, the adequacy of its internal fiscal controls. He
suggested, among other things, that remarks about the inadequacy of the internal
fiscal controls of the District appearing in the last annual audit of the District
subsequently had not been addressed by the District.

B. Public records. In an effort to investigate his concerns regarding the
fiscal management of the District, on 4 October 2006, Mr. Bakas issued to
District staff a written request for public records of the District pursuant to
Florida Statutes Chapter 119. The requested records encompassed all data files
on the computers in the offices of the District, to wit, "all the document files of
the Microsoft programs including Word, Excel, Publisher, Project, PowerPoint,
Outlook, Access, Office, Notepad; any text files; any PDF files, and any pictures
files." Also requested was a copy of any backup of any of the office computers
of the District and name of the backup program used.

It is the understanding of the undersigned that the District had, in the past,
received public records requests and generally complied with the statutory
requirements for responding to, and meeting the substance of, those requests.
The above-referenced request of Mr. Bakas, however, was not immediately
honored. Allegations surfaced that staff had failed or refused to provide him
with the records he had requested, and that certain members of the Board of
Supervisors actively and intentionally directed staff not to comply with Mr.
Bakas' request, in derogation of Florida law. The mishandling of Mr. Bakas'
request by the District resulted in an arguable violation of Florida Statutes
Chapter 119 for which the District could face potential liability.
A number of potential problems surfaced as a result of this incident.
First, it exposed the failure of the District to have in place an established written
procedure for processing requests for public records pursuant to Florida Statutes
Chapter 119 that is to be adhered to by staff uniformly and consistently.
Second, it revealed that District staff, and even certain members of the Board of
Supervisors, either failed to appreciate fully the District's obligations under
Florida law with respect to public records, or were indifferent to those
obligations in this instance.

A third problem that became apparent following Mr. Bakas' request
relates to the adequacy of the systems used by the District for archiving and
retrieving electronic forms of public records. District staff appeared flummoxed
by the demand of Mr. Bakas for copies of the District's electronic files to be
provided to him on a CD-ROM or an external hard drive, and it remains unclear
whether District staff had adequate resources for backing up and retrieving on
demand its electronic public records. Without adequate hardware, software, and
trained personnel required to back up regularly its public records and to retrieve
them on demand, and in the absence of established controls and procedures to
protect those records from both inadvertent loss and from intentional tampering
or destruction, the District faces potentially substantial legal exposure.

c. Sunshine Law. Another area of concern raised by Mr. Bakas relates to
possible violations of the Florida Sunshine Act by members of the Board of
Supervisors of the District. Mr. Bakas and his wife operate and maintain an
internet-based threaded discussion board for the use of the District community
on a web site residing on a commercial server. Mr. Bakas reported that he
suspected anonymous posts regarding issues that were either before the Board of
Supervisors or likely to come before the it that had been made to the discussion
board, including specifically certain posts around the
i h and s" of October
2006, were being made by another member of the Board of Supervisors in
violation of the Florida Sunshine Act. By scrutinizing the IP address of the
otherwise anonymous source of the postings, Mr. Bakas indicated that he had
determined the IP address to be one accessible to, and likely to have been used
by fellow Supervisor Ginny Gianakos to post the anonymous message. If what
Mr. Bakas has concluded is true, it remains unclear whether this situation
reflects ignorance of, or actual indifference to, the requirements of Florida law
by an elected member of the Board of Supervisors. In any case, the situation
underscores the potential for serious legal exposure for the District.
 

At 30 September 2006, the District had an outstanding billed balance for legal services
from the law firm of Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell
& Dunbar, P.A. of $820.00
in attorneys' fees and $0.00 in costs, all since paid in full. Also as of 30 September
2006, the District had no money in any trust account with this law firm.

At 20 November 2006, the date of termination of the services of this firm by the Board
of Supervisors, the District had an outstanding billed balance for legal services from
this firm of $3,240.00 in attorneys' fees and $20.25 in costs. This balance and all other
sums owed by the District to the firm were paid sometime in April of 2007. As of 20
November 2006, the District had no money in any trust account with this law firm.

This response is limited by, and in accordance with, the American Bar Association's Statement of Policy Regarding Lawyers' Responses to Auditors' Requests for Information (December 1975); without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the limitations set forth in such Statement on the scope and use of this response (Paragraphs 2 and 7) are specifically incorporated herein by reference, and any description herein of any "loss contingencies" is qualified in its entirety by Paragraph 5
of the Statement and the accompanying Commentary (which is an integral part of the
Statement). Consistent with the last sentence of Paragraph 6 of the American Bar
Association's Statement of Policy, this will confirm as correct the District's
understanding that whenever, in the course of performing legal services for the District
with respect to a matter recognized to involve an unasserted possible claim or
assessment that may call for financial disclosure, the undersigned has formed a
professional conclusion that the District must disclose or consider disclosure
concerning such possible claim or assessment, the undersigned, as a matter of
professional responsibility to the District, will so advise the District and will consult
with the District concerning the question of such disclosure and the applicable
requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.5.
 

Yours sincerely,

cc: Board of Supervisors, Lake St. Charles Community Development District (through Toni Leake, District Manager)

ATTACHMENT 3

Dunbarp.A.

wAwTwT.Op(R.nNniEn~Yl.S-.ill;}wA.{T"o LAWnl

1.1 July 2007

Rolando J. Satltiago

10028 Water Works Lane

Riverview, Florida 33569

Re: Dispute of Bill No. 81013 - $1.,360.00

Lake St. Charles Community Development District

Our File No. 21411.21528

Deat Mr. Santiago:

Sidney W. Kilgore

Attorney at Law

(813) 639-9599

skilgore@penningtonlaw.com

We are in receipt of your letter of 29 June 2007, disputing certain charges included in

the above-referenced statement for professional services from our firm. We believe the

charges in dispute, relating to our communications with Supervisor John Bakas

incident to the provision to the District auditors of accurate information concerning

allegations brought to the attention of the undersigned by Mr. Bakas during the

relevant examination period, to be reasonable and appropriate.

Contrary to the assertions in your letter, these communications with Mr. Bakas were

not outside the scope of the District's directive. By letter dated 22 February 2007,

Lorelei Bowden, Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors of the Lake St. Charles

Community Development District (the 'District'), requested that the undersigned

furnish certain information to the auditors for the District, Valientd"Iemalldez, P.A" in

connection with their examination of the financial statements of the District as of 30

September 2006, as well as matters during the period from that date to the date of our

response. In accordance with that request, on 30 April 2007, we furnished the auditors

with a letter providing that information.

In order to ensure the accuracy of that information, .approximately AO hours were

expended to telephone Mr. Bakas and to take a return telephone call from him

regarding the substance of his prior communications with us concerning certain

2701 North Rocky Point Drive, SIJil:e 900

TALLl\l"rl\~sEE

TI1lTIpll.. PL 33607

TII M 1·>11

(ll 13) 639-9599 • (ll 13) fi39-1488 fax

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CLEA~WI\'tr:.R

Rolando J. Santiago

Re: Lake St. Charles Community Development District

11 July 2007

Page 2 of2

practices of the Distl'ict during the relevant period. We took no direction fiom Mr.

Bakas, but only solicited from Mr. Bakas information germane to the fulfillment of our

charge, pursuant to Mrs. Bowden's letter to us of22 February 2007.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a courtesy to the District, we will issue a revised

billing statement crediting the District for the .40 hours of time expended by us in

communicating with Mr. Bakas in connection with the preparation of our letter to the

District's auditors. Following the issuance of that revised statement, we anticipate tl1e

cooperation of the District in paying the revised statement without delay .

• 1

Yours Sincerely,

~~ .·d .Ki ore

cc: Board of Supervisors, Lake S1. Charles Community Development District

(through Toni Leake, District Manager)

ATTACHMENT 4

M E M o R A N D u M

To:

From:

Subject:

Date:

SUMMARY:

Toni Leake, District Manager

John W. Bakas, Jr.

Violations of the Florida Public Records Law by the Lake S1. Charles Community

Development District

October 20, 2006

The Chairman of the Lake S1. Charles Community Development District, Lorelei

Bowden, CDD Secretary/Treasurer Ginny Gianakos, District Manager Toni Leake, and the District

violated the Florida Public Records Law in the following ways:

1. Lorelei Bowden directed District Manager Toni Leake not to comply with my

e-mail of October 4, 2006 sent at 10:06 a.m. in which I requested copies of public records.

Subsequently, when I made a more formal public records request, Lorelei Bowden again blocked

compliance with the law by placing an agenda item on the board's upcoming meeting that the board

of the Lake S1. Charles Community Development District would first have to approve responding

to public records requests at a board meeting. She wrote: "... such requests will be through our

regular Board meetings, the same way we manage all other areas of our operations. II These actions

are contrary to the public records law. Tribune Company v. Cannella, 458 So. 2d 1075 (Fla. 1984),

Michelv. Douglas, 464 So. 2d 545 (Fla. 1985), AGO 96-55, AGO Informal Op. dated December 16,

2003.

2. District Manager Toni Leake failed to respond to or to comply with my public

records requests other than to write an e-mail to me stating that my lie mails since the end of July

have been offensive and are personal attacks. II The job description for District Manager Toni Leake

prepared under Lorelei Bowden's guidance (although not adopted by the board) demonstrates that

both Lorelei Bowden and District Manager Toni Leake understood that District Manager Toni Leake

was required to comply with the Florida Public Records law:

From District Manager Toni Leake's draft job description:

"Define, implement and maintain a system of public

records for the District, including a concise and

accurate record of the official actions of the Board of

Page 1 of 10

Supervisors and any appointed boards or committees.

These responsibilities include:

o Custody of the District's seal

o Records custodian and records

management liaison with the State of Florida

overseeing the storage of inactive files and

the destruction of obsolete files.

o Maintaining and safeguarding the

minutes of public meetings, resolutions,

contracts and agreements.

o Responding to public records

requests." [This job description is at the end

of the attached Backup Materials.]

3. On Monday, October 16,2006, Secretary/Treasurer Ginny Gianakos threatened

CDD employee Silvia Hilliard with the loss of her job if Silvia Hilliard provided me copies of public

records I had requested from Silvia Hilliard. In addition, at the October 17, 2006 board meeting,

Lorelei Bowden would not let Silvia Hilliard present to the board the actions of Ginny Gianakos that

violated the Florida Public Records on October 16, 2006.

4. By the above actions, the Lake St. Charles Community Development District

violated the Florida Public Records Law.

DISCUSSION:

1. On October 4, 2006, at 10:06 a.m. I sent a request to District Manager Toni Leake and the

Community Development Liaison, Silvia Hilliard, requesting copies of various public records. A

copy of my request is attached as backup material.

2. On October 4,2006, Lorelei Bowden, Chairman ofthe LSC CDD, directed Staffto not honor my

request to obtain information on the operations ofthe CDD. A copy ofthe Chairman's instructions

to Staff is attached as backup material.

3. Later on October 4, 2006, I submitted another e-mail to District Manager Toni Leake and the

Community Development Liaison, Silvia Hilliard, which was a more formal Public Records request

under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. A copy of my request is attached as backup material. My more

formal public records request included the following requests:

a. A request to inspect public records

b. A request for copies of public records on CD or an

external hard drive I would provide

c. A request for a copy of any computer backup and a

Page 2 of 10

name of the backup program

d. A copy of the audio tape of the October 3, 2006

meeting

4. On October 11,2006, District Manager Toni Leake sent me an e-mail stating that my "e-mails

since the end of July have been offensive and are personal attacks. I am asking you to stop." A copy

of this October 11, 2006 e-mail from the District Manager is attached as backup material.

5. On October 12, 2006, I responded bye-mail to District Manager Toni Leake's October 11,2006

e-mail and stated that her claims are false. In addition, I requested that District Manager Toni Leake

immediately send to Sid Kilgore all e-mails I sent to the CDD's District office since July 25,2006.

A copy of my October 12, 2006 e-mail is attached as backup material.

6. Except for statements District Manager Toni Leake made in the October 17, 2006 board meeting

and District Manager Toni Leake's e-mail stating that my e-mails are offensive, District Manager

Toni Leake did not respond to my public records requests of October 4, 2006.

7. District Manager Toni Leake has not complied with my public records requests of October 4,

2006.

8. On October 13,2006, I requested an agenda item (called the "Request for Public Records Inquiry"

herein) for the October 17, 2006, board meeting as follows:

Request Sid Kilgore, lawyer for the District, to

determine whether the District Manager of the Lake

St. Charles Community Development District violated

the Florida Public Records Law by failing to respond

to or comply with my public records requests of

October 4, 2006.

9. District Manager Toni Leake failed to include my Request for Public Records Inquiry on the

October 17,2006 agenda. I request that District Manager Toni Leake write to me and advise me

whether she decided to omit my agenda item or whether a board member directed her not to include

my agenda item.

10. Subsequently, chairman Lorelei Bowden wrote the following e-mail to District Manager Toni

Leake on October 14, 2006:

Ton, place the following items on the next agenda:

A re-affirmation by the Board LSC staff that staff

work is directed by the LSC Board of Supervisors as

a body, and not through the direction of anyone

Page 3 of 10

Supervisor.

An official recognition that the Board complies with

all Sunshine Law public records requests, and that the

Board's method of managing, directing and ensuring

compliance with such requests will be through our

regular Board meetings, the same way we manage all

other areas of our operations.

thank you.

********************

11. Lorelei Bowden stated that my public records requests would be considered and acted upon by

the board. Placing the condition that public records' requests will first be considered by the board

rather than the custodian, District Manager Toni Leake violated the Florida Public Records law. See

AGOs 96-55:

Section l19.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes, provides in

part that the custodian of a public record

"shall permit the record to be

inspected and examined by any person

desiring to do so, at any reasonable

time, underreasonable conditions, and

under supervision by the custodian of

the public record or the custodian's

designee."

Thus, the statute establishes an individual's right of

access in plain and unequivocal terms. [5] Only those

records that are made confidential or exempt from

disclosure by statute are removed from this legislative

mandate.

This office has stated that a custodian of public

records may not impose a rule or condition of

inspection that operates to restrict or circumvent a

person's right of access.[6] Thus, the "reasonable

conditions" referred to in section 119.07(1 )(a), Florida

Statutes, do not include anything that would hamper

or frustrate, either directly or indirectly, a person's

right of inspection and copying; rather the term refers

Page 4 of 10

to the custodian's duty to ensure that the records are

safely maintained. [7] The legislative scheme of

Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, preempts any local

enactment or policy that purports to impose additional

conditions or restrictions on access to public

records. [8]

The courts have stated that the only delay in

producing records permitted under the Public Records

Law is the reasonable time for the custodian to

retrieve the record and delete those portions of the

record the custodian asserts are confidential or

exempt, if any. [9] A procedure that provides for an

automatic delay in the production of records therefore

is impermissible.[IO]

Accordingly, a procedure whereby access to public

records is delayed until the board of trustees meets to

vote on whether or not to release the records appears

to be contrary to the provisions of Chapter 119,

Florida Statutes. I am, therefore, of the opinion that

the board of trustees of the police pension board may

not delay release of its records until such a time as the

request is submitted to the board for a vote. [footnotes

omitted].

12. Silvia Hilliard, the CDD's Community Development Liaison, also received my public records

requests. She called me immediately and said she would make copies of the public records for me.

She subsequently left on vacation, but on her return again talked with me about providing copies

either on CD or with an external drive I would provide. She provided copies of virtually all of the

requested records on CDs on October 13, 2006. She needed to make a copy of an additional folder

and told me she would do so on October 16, 2006 during her work shift and drop the CD off at my

house when she finished working at 8:00 pm (my house is directly on her way home). At about 8:30

pm on October 16, 2006, when I had not heard from Silvia Hilliard, I called her at the LSC office.

She said that she was meeting with CDD supervisor Ginny Gianakos who is the CDD

secretary/treasurer. At about 9:30 pm, Silvia Hilliard called me and her voice was shaking. She told

me she had the CD, but that supervisor Ginny Gianakos said her job would not be protected if she

gave me the requested records. Silvia Hilliard said she was afraid she would be fired by the board

and that she wanted to leave the CD in her desk. She asked in minded that, and I told her that it was

OK. I felt it was unfair to place a Staff member who was seeking to comply with the Public Records

law in the middle between one board member who requested public records and another who told

the Staff member her job would not be protected if she provided the public records to me.

Page 5 of 10

13. During the day on October 17, 2006, Silvia Hilliard called me and said that she had read

chapter 119 and that she would give me the CD she had made.

14. During the October 17, 2006 board meeting, Lorelei Bowden began addressing my request that

I had made to District Manager Toni Leake for public records even though I had not asked that my

public records request be placed on the agenda. Thus it was clear that the CDD was establishing a

condition to my access to public records of the District.

The agenda for the October 17, 2006 meeting was prepared to make it appear that one of my agenda

items was a request for public records. I never requested such an agenda item be placed under my

name on the October 17, 2006 agenda. A copy of the agenda is attached as backup material.

On the other hand, my Request for Public Records Inquiry was not placed on the agenda. This is

troubling. This is not the first time I have had problems with how District Manager Toni Leake

places my items on the agenda and in getting information about CDD operations from District

Manager Toni Leake. At the October 3, 2006 board meeting, my recollection is that, when I obj ected

to the manner in which District Manager Toni Leake had placed several of my items on the agenda,

Lorelei Bowden stated in substance that my agenda items would be placed on the agendas exactly

as I requested in the future. District Manager Toni Leake did not honor this assurance I received

from the chairman ofthe Lake St. Charles Community Development District at the October 3,2006

meeting.

The stone wall created by District Manager Toni Leake to my requests for information (setting aside

the matter of requesting public records) went so high that she has not provided me with the name of

the backup program I requested in my October 4, 2006, 6:00 p.m. e-mail. This was a simple

information request that still has not been complied with by District Manager Toni Leake.

15. In addition to violations ofthe Florida Public Records Law, there is also evidence indicating

Ginny Gianakos (CDD board Secretary/Treasurer) may have violated the Florida Sunshine Law.

When I spoke to District legal counsel Sid Kilgore about both matters (Public Records and Sunshine

Law) he said that these were "potentially serious legal concerns that I believe should be presented

to the Board as a whole, and which likely will require a fuller evaluation for a recommended course

of action by the Board." A copy of Sid Kilgore's October 14, 2006 e-mail is attached as backup

material at page 10.

By two October 13, 2006 e-mails to District Manager Toni Leake I requested that these matters be

placed on the agenda for the October 17,2006 meeting and that these matters be referred to District

legal counsel Sid Kilgore. My e-mail regarding the public records inquiry is included in the backup

materials at page 9.

During the board meeting on October 17, 2006 I made a motion that the board request Sid Kilgore,

board attorney, to investigate possible sunshine law and public records law violations on the part of

board members and the Staff. The board refused to take up my motion even though the chairman

Page 6 of 10

said that emergency items are placed earlier on the agenda. Board members' and Staffs

noncompliance with the Florida Public Records law and Sunshine Law is of sufficient importance

that it should have been considered near the beginning of the agenda as potentially serious legal

concerns involving the operations of the District.

The board is delaying and avoiding having its legal counsel review these matters. In addition, it

appears that CDD chairman Lorelei Bowden is scouting for new legal counsel based on this phone

message received by the LSC office on October 18, 2006, and reported by Silvia Hilliard:

1. A phone call from 'a Perspective District Council'

(that's how he introduced himself) -- Mr. John

Vericker (spell?). He would like to get a copy ofLSC

CDD budget in order to submit a proposal. He said he

spoke to Lorelei on Oct 17th. He would like you to to

call him back on 813-901-4945.

16. At the October 17, 2006 board meeting I believe District Manager Toni Leake stated that there

are problems with making backups or copies of the public records on Toni Leake's office computer

and that District Manager Toni Leake had called a computer company to see if they could make a

copy of the public records on her computer. I believe District Manager Toni Leake stated the cost

by such outside service would be over $200 to make the copies.

During the October 17, 2006 meeting, Lorelei Bowden said that I or any board member could make

our own copies ofrecords at any time. With regard to records on District Manager Toni Leake's

computer, Lorelei Bowden's suggestion for me to copy is inconsistent with District Manager Toni

Leake's statement that she could not make the copies because of a computer problem. Either we

both should be able to perform the copying functions or neither of us can.

In other words, Lorelei Bowden suggested a solution that District Manager Toni Leake had told the

board she could not perform herself.

But a person making copies of public records is exercising a right under the Public Records law

(Section 119.07(3), Florida Statutes, and this is applicable to making copies by photographic means)

and it was clear that Lorelei Bowden sought to have all public records' requests first approved by

the board. Further, Lorelei Bowden had previously directed staff not to honor any requests (for

public records or anything else) from board members that would take more than 15 minutes:

From Lorelei Bowden's e-mail sent October 4,2006 [attached as part of backup materials]:

Any board member who wishes to task our staff

should bring their request to the CDD board meetings,

and the Board as a whole will decide if that tasking is

a good use of limited staff resource time and help

Page 7 of 10

place the assignment within the existing priority work

list. In some instances, it may be that the Board as a

whole, does agree with an Board member's individual

tasking, but does not wish staff to divert time away

from current priorities. In instances such as these, the

Board may approve contracting with a vendor to

accomplish the tasking. These decisions should be

make by the Board as a whole. This has been our

operations since our inception, their have been many

instance in which one Board member has exceeded

his individual authority to make decisions for the

Board as a whole, and in each of these instances, the

Board has publicly corrected that one Board member

for unilateral action and restated our commitment to

make decisions as a whole. Staff, please know that

you are affirmed, and directed, to not take action

requested by any Board member for time consuming

work. Your tasking comes from the Board, not any

one Board member, and you are instructed as follows:

You are prohibited from stopping the work the Board

has a whole has authorized you to do, to do work

assigned by anyone Board member.

Thus, the suggestion by Lorelei Bowden that I could have e-mailed District Manager Toni Leake

and asked her to stop working on her computer and to give up her computer so that I could try to

make copies of records for 30 minutes would have violated Lorelei Bowden's directive set out above

if! sought to make copies during business hours when District Manager Toni Leake was working.

Further, District Manager Toni Leake has claimed in writing [see her October 11, 200612:17 p.m.

e-mail - not included as part of the backup materials] that she did not receive an e-mail I sent to

her containing an invoice for payment by the board and that she did not receive minutes of the

August 1, 2006 board meeting that had been e-mailed by Silvia Hilliard to District Manager Toni

Leake. Both e-mails were important - payment of an invoice and minutes containing board action

involving District Manager Toni Leake's responsibilities. When the issue arose regarding whether

District Manager Toni Leake knew of the content of e-mails, District Manager Toni Leake said she

did not receive them. Thus, it is prudent to have District Manager Toni Leake, as custodian of the

records, present while I use the computer in her office.

17. I renew my original requests of October 4, 2006 to inspect public records and for District

Manager Toni Leake to provide copies ofthe requested public records, but not with the services of

an outside professional service and I decline the suggestion to make the copies myself because, in

part, District Manager Toni Leake said during the October 17, 2006 meeting that problems with her

Page 8 of 10

computer prevented her from making copies of the public records.

18. I am reluctant to operate the CDD's computer, even with District Manager Toni Leake present,

to make copies if there are problems that have prevented her from making copies. I am concerned

about operating such a computer after hours without her present when District Manager Toni Leake

claims there are problems with the computer.

I request District Manager Toni Leake describe whether any part of the over $200 costs she quoted

in the October 17, 2006 board meeting to have copies made by an outside professional service

involve repairing the computer. I request District Manager Toni Leake describe whether she told

the outside professional service that they would need to repair the computer before they could make

the copies or backup.

19. I request that District Manager Toni Leake describe whether the outside professional service

gave her an estimate of the costs to repair or the rates for repairing the computer when she talked

with them about making copies or a backup.

20. I request District Manager Toni Leake describe how long the District's computer has had the

copying and backup problems she described in the October 17 meeting and what steps have been

taken to repair them. Who has the District talked with? What symptoms were described? I request

that District Manager Toni Leake describe whether the computer has been examined by an outside

professional service to determine what the problems are, and if not, why not. I request District

Manager Toni Leake describe why she has not had the computer problem repaired under the board's

authorization to repair items that are broken.

21. I request that District Manager Toni Leake describe whether it would be appropriate for the

District to repair her CDD office computer so that she can comply with the Florida Public Records

Law, if she claims that a faulty computer is the reason for her violation of the law. Further, CDD

staff member Silvia Hilliard said providing copies ofthe public records on her CDD office computer

(another computer in the CDD's offices at 6801 Colonial Lake Drive, Riverview, FL 33569) was

easy and quick - taking about 30 minutes.

22. District Manager Toni Leake did not communicate with me regarding when I could inspect the

records. No faulty computer justifies this violation of the Florida Public Records law.

23. District Manager Toni Leake has not told me the name of the backup software used by the

District. No faulty computer justifies her failure to honor this simple request for information.

24. I request District Manager Toni Leake describe whether she is making daily backups of the

District's computer. I request District Manager Toni Leake state the last date the CDD's computer

was backed up successfully.

25. District Manager Toni Leake has not provided me with a copy of the audio tape from the

Page 9 of 10

October 3,2006 meeting. No faulty computer justifies this violation of the Florida Public Records

law.

26. Please respond in writing.

Page 10 of 10

**BACKUP MATERIAL **

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Subject: LSC CDD - Copies

10:05 AM

Date: 10/4/2006 10:06:54 A.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: JBakas

To: candiad@verizon.net, 1scdistrictoffice@verizon.net, LSCOffice@verizon.net,

DavenSha@tampabay.rr.com, dlbowden@verizon.net, VMuelle 1@tampabay.rr.com,

jsvacak@verizon.net, sphilliard@yahoo.com, tdavis17@tampabay.rr.com,

cindysha02003@yahoo.com

Toni and Silvia:

Please provide me with copies on CDs, or an external hard drive I will provide, of all the data

files on the computers in the CDD offices. By data files I mean all the document files of the

Microsoft programs including Word, Excel, Publisher, Project, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access,

Office, Notepad; any text files; any PDF files, and any pictures files.

Please make a copy of the audio tape of the October 3,2006 meeting for me.

Thank you very much. Let me know if you would like me to provide the external hard drive.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John W. Bakas, Jr.

7218 Colonial Lake Drive

Riverview, FL 33569-8350

Fax: 813-228-8208

Telephone: 813-677-2599

JBakas@ao1.com I

[Sent 10/4/2006 10:05 AM]

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****************************************

Subject: last night's vote of confidence for Chair and appeal by committee for more effective

management by BoardEveryEv

Date: 10/4/20065:13:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: dlbowden@verizon.net

To: DavenSha@tampabay.rr.com, lscoffice@verizon.net, cindysha02003@yahoo.com,

candiad@verizon.net, VMuelle l@tampabay.rr.com, jbakas@aol.com,

lscdistrictoffice@verizon.net

Everyone,

I would like to thank you for the unanimous vote of confidence the Board gave me last night

and also acknowledge the plea by the Board and the Community that certain Board members

work more cooperatively with me as the Chair.

Most painful to me last night, was the opinion, shared by every single person at that meeting

besides Mr. and Mrs. Bakas, that Supervisor Bakas' actions are perceived by all persons present

last night as personal attacks rather than, as he stated, "policy making." I would sincerely

implore Supervisor Bakas' to contemplate the unanimous vote by homeowners on how his

performance is received by our community. The absolute most upsetting element ofMr. Bakas'

obstructionism and filibustering is that 1.) It prevent the Board from doing the essential work our

community expects of us; and 2.) It creates an uncomfortable environment for homeowners, and

discourages homeowner attendance at Board meetings. If anyone questions my assessment of the

situation last night, I would refer them to the tape ofthe meeting. I sincerely ask the remaining

Board members to continue to support me in ending the witch hunt atmosphere and help me

return our Board to productivity and professionalism.

Given the support and appeal I received as Chair last night, it is now my intention to try to find

a way to help return the Board to productivity. For one, I direct staff to recognize that they are

not the employees of anyone Board member or Board member spouse. No one member of the

Board has the right to direct action by the staff, most notably, to direct action by the staffthat

takes time away from the legitimate work the Board has directed the staff to take at our Board

meetings. Currently, job descriptions are being developed for each staff member. Additionally,

staff has knowledge of their existing taskings, given to them by the Board as a body. On behalf

e board, I hereby direct staff to disregard any tasking, work assignments, or orders that come

1 anyone Board member, for work that will take more than 15 minutes of work. I make this

ction based on the multitude of previous meetings during which this was decided by the

lrd. Time and time again, the Board has stated that no one Board member has the right to

.::ctstaff. We serve as a body and make assignments and determine priorities as a body.

If staff is to take orders from all of us as individuals, our staff will have no ability to complete

e priority assignments that are given to them by the Board proper at our bi-monthly meetings,

Id to maintain their ongoing operational responsibilities. Any board member who wishes to

1sk our staff should bring their request to the CDD board meetings, and the Board as a whole

vill decide if that tasking is a good use of limited staff resource time and help place the

1ssignment within the existing priority work list. In some instances, it may be that the Board as a

whole, does agree with an Board member's individual tasking, but does not wish staff to divert

time away from current priorities. In instances such as these, the Board may approve contracting

with a vendor to accomplish the tasking. These decisions should be make by the Board as a

whole. This has been our operations since our inception, their have been many instance in which

one Board member has exceeded his individual authority to make decisions for the Board as a

whole, and in each of these instances, the Board has publicly corrected that one Board member

for unilateral action and restated our commitment to make decisions as a whole. Staff, please

know that you are affirmed, and directed, to not take action requested by any Board member for

time-consuming work. Your tasking comes from the Board, not anyone Board member, and you

are instructed as follows: You are prohibited from stopping the work the Board has a whole has

authorized you to do, to do work assigned by anyone Board member. I will place this

re-affirmation of Board operations on the next Board agenda.

In other news, as we all know, the Board has not completed our agenda for many Board

meetings. Last night, homeowner Terri Bakas put the suggestion out that from now on, the

agenda should be created exclusively as requests to be placed on the agenda are received. For

example, Ms. Bakas' suggestion would result as follows: if 10 agenda items are received from

Ms. Bakas on the first day that the agenda is being created, her 10 agenda items would be the first

items discussed at the Board meeting. I object to this loss oftotal control of Board meetings

strenuously. I challenge Ms. Bakas to name any Board that creates it's agenda using this method.

The Board ourselves should determine our agenda and prioritize the order of our meeting

discussions. The Board has the responsibility for the outcomes of our work, we have an

obligation to take our Board meetings for the opportunity that they are, to discuss together the

priority projects and operational responsibilities we have. As Mr. Bakas' has said many times,

the Board cannot delegate to any other persons that which is our responsibility. As a Board that

is responsible for the use of considerable funds, we should not delegate control of our meetings,

and selection of all topics that we discuss, to outside parties. Due to the Sunshine law, the only

opportunities we have to do our important work is at our meeting. If is for this reason, we move'

from meeting once a month, to twice a month. If we don't ensure that adequate time is devoted t

our operational mandates at our meetings, what hope do we have of ensuring effective, efficient

operations. It is not our perrogative, in my opinion, to merely discuss personnel issues each am 3

every meeting. This is irresponsible, and I won't, as chair, allow this to continue, without doing

everything I can to protest this, and return us to productive, professional operations and

management.

To that end, I request that we, at our next Board meeting, discuss the management of our

Agendas. Currently, we do not manage our agenda in a way that ensures we meet our operational

mandates. For example, last night our District Manager and our Community Liaison had to rush

in very critical issues at the very end of the meetings, as the meeting was being adjourned and

people were walking out. This prevented any discussion of these issues, the Board heard the

request and voted on each staff request in a matter of rushed minutes.

To insure that the Board has the proper time to address key homeowner and staff action items, I

submit the following template for our agenda:

I. Introduction of Board, Staff and Homeowners: 5 minutes

II. Homeowner-brought issues: 1 - 1.5 hours

A limit of six homeowner-brought issues will be placed on each agenda. Each topic will be

limited to 10-15 minutes. Exceptions to the five-issue limit will be made for emergency,

time-sensitive and staff complaint issues. For ongoing homeowner issues, if the request comes

in, and six issues are already selected for the agenda, the homeowner will have the option to:

place their item on the next Board meeting agenda; and/or wait until the end of the meeting, to

see if time remains to take on their issue during the current meeting.

III. Staff updates: 1 hour

District Manager: 20 minutes

Property Maintenance staff: 20 minutes

Community Events staff: 20 minutes

IV. Board member Issues: 75 minutes

Each Board member will have 15 minutes to address topics of interest/concern to them. The

order of Board member issues will rotate. If Board members wish to introduce issues that will

take more than 15 minutes, they may:

1.) Request that other Board members give their minutes to them. For example, if Supervisor

Candia had topics that he anticipated would take 30 minutes, and he wanted all issues discussed

in on meeting, Supervisor Bowden could give him her 15 minutes for that meeting.; and/or

2.) Place issues that exceed 15 minutes of discussion on the next agenda; and/or

3.) Request a special meeting be called for the topic of interest to the Supervisor. For

example, if Supervisor Bakas' has extensive staffing issues with a staff member, and he feels that

it will take more than 15 minutes to detail the history of the issues, he may call for a special

meeting to be set to exclusively discuss those issues. To take this example a little further, it is

my current impression that Supervisor Bakas' has extensive issues with our District Manager.

lave heard some of those issues last night. If Supervisor Bakas wishes to take significant

rd time to discuss these issues in a very time-consuming, detail oriented manner, he should

~a summary of this request during his 15 minutes of time at the next Board meeting. The

ird can then determine if this is a topic we wish to devote significant time and attention to. If

Board decides the topic is frivolous, a pointless witch hunt, or a non-productive line of

luiry, the Board can decline to establish a special meeting to explore the topic. If the Board

termines that the topic is worthy of our time and attention, the Board can establish a special

eeting devoted to that topic.

'he above-agenda will take 3 hours and 20 minutes, in the most extreme circumstance, that

,eing we have 6 homeowners who speak for 15 minutes each, all our 3 staff members take all 20

.ninutes of their allocated time and every Board member takes their full 15 minutes. In this

extreme circumstance, we still have 10 minutes for Mark Cooper and/or Ameriscape. I anticipate

that we will be speaking with Mark Cooper on a weekly basis, and for meetings in which we

need updates from him that would take longer than 10 minutes, I would be willing to donate my

15 minutes of time or seek if staff can each donate 5 minutes, to give him additional time.

I believe the above agenda will serve many important needs that the Board has:

1.) it will ensure that the Board maintains the ability to manage our community.

2.) it will ensure that the Board maintains the ability to manage our staff;

3.) it will ensure that our staff has a consistent, and guaranteed, ability to speak with the Board

as a whole, at least twice a month.

4.) it will prevent our meetings from being hi-jacked by people with an axe to grind, or who

wish to impair the ability of the Board to meet our commitments of service.

5.) it will create a less contentious environment. Currently, homeowners who attend our

meeting witness the Board, time and time again, be drawn into arguments, that can go on without

limit. Anyone who wishes to take the floor, and speak on their complaints, holds the entire

Board hostage, sometimes for hours at end. The above agenda ensures that all parties have a

chance to speak, but limits any on parties' ability to take over Board meetings, and prevent us

from doing the work we should.

I look forward to receiving Board input on this proposed agenda. See you in two weeks!

5

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Subject: LSC CDD - Public Records Request

05:59 PM

Date: 10/4/20066:00:10 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: JBakas

To: sphilliard@yahoo.com, lscdistrictoffice@verizon.net, LSCOffice@verizon.net

Toni and Silvia:

This is a request pursuant to the Florida Public Records Law, chapter 119, Florida Statutes, to

inspect and copy the public records described in this e-mail.

I wish to inspect and request that you please provide me with copies on CDs, or an external hard

drive I will provide, of all the data files on the computers in the CDD offices. By data files I

mean all the document files of the Microsoft programs including Word, Excel, Publisher, Project,

PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Office, Notepad; any text files; any PDF files, and any pictures

files.

I wish to inspect and please provide a copy of any backup of any of the LSC CDD office

computers and the name of the backup program by which the backup was taken.

Please make a copy of the audio tape of the October 3,2006 meeting for me.

Pursuant to chapter 119, Florida Statutes, if the nature or volume of public records requested to

be inspected or copied pursuant to this request is such as to require extensive use of information

technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by personnel of the district,

or both, I agree to pay in addition to the actual cost of duplication, a special service charge, and

other charges pursuant to chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

Thank you very much. Let me know if you would like me to provide the external hard drive.

I request that you allow the inspections and provide me the copies as soon as possible in

accordance with chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John W. Bakas, Jr.

7218 Colonial Lake Drive

Riverview, FL 33569-8350

Fax: 813-228-8208

Telephone: 813-677-2599

JBakas@ao1.com

[Sent 10/4/200605:59 PM]

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Subject: FW: last night's vote of confidence for Chair and appeal by committee for more

effective management by BoardEveryEv

Date: 10/11/2006 12:17:07 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: 1scdistrictoffice@verizon.net

Reply To:

To: JBakas@ao1.com

CC: LSCOffice@verizon.net, jsvacak@verizon.net, tdavis17@tampabay.rr.com,

sphilliard@yahoo.com, cindysha02003@yahoo.com, candiad@verizon.net,

DavenSha@tampabay.rr.com, Vmuelle l@tampabay.rr.com, d1bowden@verizon.net,

David.N e1son3@macdill.af.mi1

Dear Supervisor Bakas,

I have asked you on several occasions in person and on the phone to talk about the conflict

between us. You did not respond. I feel that your behavior and conduct towards me at board

meetings and e-mai1s since the end of July have been offensive and are personal attacks. I am

asking you to stop.

Toni Leake, District Manager

Lake St. Charles Community

Development District

6801 Colonial Lake Drive

Riverview, FL 33569

(813) 741-9768

(813) 234-9516 (fax)

7

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****************************************

Subject: LSC CDD - Job Performance of District Manager

09:02AM

Date: 10/12120069:02:57 A.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: JBakas

To: candiad@verizon.net, lscdistrictoffice@verizon.net, LSCOffice@verizon.net,

DavenSha@tampabay.rr.com, dlbowden@verizon.net, VMuelle l@tampabay.rr.com,

jsvacak@verizon.net, sphilliard@yahoo.com, tdavisI7@tampabay.rr.com,

cindysha02003@yahoo.com, skilgore@penningtonlawfirm.com

Board members do not respond

Toni and Sid:

This e-mail is an initial response to Toni's two e-mails of October 11,2006 sent about 12:17 pm.

Toni, your claims are false. In your e-mails you cite e-mails I sent and request a review by the

CDD's lawyer. I request that you immediately send to Sid Kilgore all e-mails I sent to the CDD's

district office since July 25, 2006.

Toni, I request that you request Sid Kilgore to attend the LSC CDD meeting October 17,2006, at

7:00 pm in the community center.

Sid, I also request that you attend the October 17, 2006 meeting.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John W. Bakas, Jr.

7218 Colonial Lake Drive

Riverview, FL 33569-8350

Fax: 813-228-8208

Telephone: 813-677-2599

JBakas@ao1.com

[Sent 10/12/200609:02 AM]

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Subject: LSC CDD - Agenda Item - Public Records Inquiry 08:45 PM

Date: 10/13120068:46:48 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: JBakas

To: candiad@verizon.net, Iscdistrictoffice@verizon.net, LSCOffice@verizon.net,

DavenSha@tampabay.rr.com, dlbowden@verizon.net, VMuelle l@tampabay.rr.com,

jsvacak@verizon.net, sphilliard@yahoo.com, tdavisI7@tampabay.rr.com,

cindysha02003@yahoo.com, skilgore@penningtonlawfirm.com

LSC CDD Agenda Item - Public Records Inquiry

Toni:

Please place the following on the next agenda:

Request by John Bakas for the board to:

Request Sid Kilgore, lawyer for the district, to determine whether the District Manager of the

Lake St. Charles Community Development District violated the Florida Public Records Law by

failing to respond to or comply with my public records requests of October 4, 2006.

Background Information:

1. I have a growing concern about the management operations of the Lake St. Charles

Community Development District. When I met with the auditors for the LSC CDD in their work

on the last audit, I expressed my concern about the need for improved internal controls. More

recently in my article in the October 2006 LSC CDD newsletter I expressed the need for a

transparent CDD government.

2. On October 4, 2006, I sent a request to the District Manager and the Community Development

Liaison requesting copies of various public records. A copy of my request is attached to this

agenda item as backup material.

3. On October 4,2006, the Chairman of the LSC CDD, I believe, directed Staff to not honor my

request to obtain information on the operations of the CDD. A copy of the Chairman's

instructions to Staff is attached to this agenda item as backup material.

4. Later on October 4, 2006, I submitted another e-mail to the District Manager and the

Community Development Liaison which was a more formal Public Records request under

Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. A copy of my request is attached to this agenda item as backup

material.

5. On October 11, 2006, the District Manager sent me an e-mail stating that my "e-mails since the

end of July have been offensive and are personal attacks. I am asking you to stop." A copy of

this October 11, 2006 e-mail from the District Manager is attached to this agenda item as backup

material.

6. On October 12, 2006, I responded to the District Manager's October 11, 2006 e-mail by an

e-mail stating that the District Manager's claims are false. In addition, I requested that the

District Manager immediately send to Sid Kilgore all e-mails I sent to the CDD's district office

since July 25,2006. A copy of my October 12, 2006 e-mail is attached to this agenda item as

backup material.

7. The District Manager has not responded to my public records requests of October 4, 2006.

8. The District Manager has not complied with my public records requests of October 4, 2006.

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Subject: Re: LSC CDD - Agenda Item - Public Records Inquiry 08:45 PM

Date: 10/14/20068:08:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: dlbowden@verizon.net

Reply To:

To: lscdistrictoffice@verizon.net

CC: candiad@verizon.net, lscdistrictoffice@verizon.net, LSCOffice@verizon.net,

DavenSha@tampabay.rr.com, VMuelle l@tampabay.rr.com, jsvacak@verizon.net,

sphilliard@yahoo.com, tdavis 17@tampabay.rr.com, cindysha02003@yahoo.com,

skilgore@penningtonlawfirm.com, JBakas@aol.com

Ton, place the following items on the next agenda:

A re-affirmation by the Board LSC staff that staff work is directed by the LSC Board of

Supervisors as a body, and not through the direction of anyone Supervisor.

An official recognition that the Board complies with all Sunshine Law public records requests, and

/0

that the Board's method of managing, directing and ensuring compliance with such requests will be

through our regular Board meetings, the same way we manage all other areas of our operations.

thank you.

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Subject: 17 October Regular Meeting of the Board of Supervisors

Date: 10/14/20062:15:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

From: skilgore@Penningtonlawfirm.com

To: dlbowden@verizon.net, lbowden@hcso.tampa.fl.us

CC: JBakas@aol.com

Lorelei:

Throughout my representation of the Lake St. Charles Community Development District, I have

always made myself reasonably available to any District Supervisor who may have legal questions

or concerns pertaining to the operation of the District or to his or her duties as a public official, and

to the District Administrator. My client, however, remains the District, and not any individual

member of the Board of Supervisors or any member of the District staff.

For this reason, from the beginning of my representation of the District, I have insisted that the

Board designate one member to be my primary contact to provide direction to me in carrying out

my legal responsibilities as District Counsel. The designated primary contact has always been the

Chair of the Board. Therefore, I ultimately look to you for guidance as the authorized

spokesperson for the Board.

In the past, the Board has operated in a fairly cohesive manner, and I have felt comfortable taking

directions from individuals - be they individual Board members or the District Administrator when

they have indicated that specific legal action, including attendance at meetings, has been

approved by the Board or requested by you as the Chair of the Board. I have growing concerns,

however, given the tensions that appear to have developed recently between members of the

Board, between District staff members, and between members of the Board and District staff

members, that the Board's directions are not always being fully and accurately communicated to

me, and that my own communications regarding the legal affairs of the Board are perhaps being

misconstrued, taken out of context, miscommunicated or not communicated at all. This situation

has been exacerbated by the fact that until the 3 October 2006 Board meeting, many months had

gone by in which I was not asked to attend a meeting, so I had no opportunity to communicate

directly with the Board as a whole.

As I discussed with the Board when I interviewed for the position of District Counsel early last

year, one of the most difficult tasks faced by local government attorneys who represent collegial

bodies is to avoid the perception that the attorney is taking sides with one faction or another when

/1

differences of opinion develop between members of that body. Such differences, unfortunately,

can become so highly charged that they become personal in nature. I want you and the other

members of the Board to know that I am committed, as I have always been so, to the interests of

the District and the Board as a whole, and that I will continue to strive to provide the most

objective advice I can to the Board, its individual members, and District staff. Your help in getting

this message across to the Board and staff would be most appreciated.

John Bakas has recently brought to my attention certain potentially serious legal concerns that I

believe should be presented to the Board as a whole, and which likely will require a fuller

evaluation for a recommended course of action by the Board. He has asked that I attend the 17

October 2006 regular meeting of the Board, and I have tentatively reserved that evening on my

calendar so that I may attend; however, I am reticent to do so without your approval as Chair.

Please advise me then, at your earliest opportunity, whether I should attend the meeting, and if so,

please see that I am provided with a copy of the agenda.

Thank you,

Sidney W. Kilgore

District Counsel

Sidney W. Kilgore

Registered Patent Attorney

Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, P.A.

2701 North Rocky Point Drive

Suite 900

Tampa, Florida 33607

Tel: 813.639.9599

Fax: 813.639.1488

E-mail: skilgore@penningtonlawfirm.com

Web: http://www.penningtonlaw.com/attorney_ detail. cfm? attorney _id=52

I~

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Lake St. Charles Community Development District

Board of Supervisors' Meeting

7:00 p.m., October 17, 2006

Lake St. Charles Clubhouse, 6801 Colonial Lake Dr., Riverview, Florida 33569

Board of Supervisors

Lorelei Bowden, Chairman, 363-0375

John Bakas, Vice Chair, 677-2599

Dave Nelson, Treasurer, 741-9891

Dave Candia, Supervisor, 672-0640

Ginny Gianakos, Supervisor, 293-4728

Office Staff

Toni Leake, District Manager, 741-9768

Silvia Hilliard, Community Development Liaison, 671-8339

Toni-Marie Davis, Clubhouse Admin, 671-8339

Cindy Shao, Admin Support Staff, 671-8339

Steve Svacak, Maintenance Staff, 990-7555

Greg Gianakos, Maintenance Staff, 695-1995

1. Call to Order/ Introduction of Supervisors (5 minutes)

2. FiOS Project - Brian Lantz from Verizon (10 Minutes)

3. Annual Board Report (Chair Bowden)

a. Adoption of New Agenda Format and Process (Lorelei Bowden)

b. Re-affirmation by Board LSC staff that staff work is directed by the LSC

Board of Supervisors as a body.

1. How staff is to respond to direction from supervisors outside of Board

Meetings

2. Board Direction of Staff

c. Official Recognition that the LSC Board complies with all Sunshine Law public

records requests. (Lorelei Bowden)

d. LSC Board of Supervisors Process Implementation and Clarification

1. LSC CDD Business Conduct for staff and supervisors to include who is

authorized and under what conditions: 1.3

1. contact CDD attorney via emai1 or phone and incur legal fees on

behalf of the CDD

2. LSC CDD staff reporting updates - authorization for staff to conduct

operations of Board approved tasks without apprising Board of

detailed status

3. Personnel policies and issues resolution

4. Board and staff conduct during and outside of meetings

4. Reading of Minutes of previous meetings and their approval

a. August 29,2006 * No tape on file

b. September 5, 2006 * No tape on file

c. September 8, 2006

d. September 19,2006

e. October 3, 2006

5. Reports of Officers, Boards and Standing Committees (Staff)

a. District Manager

1. Approval of Board Meeting Schedule for fiscal year 2006 - 2007

2. Clubhouse Rental during Business Hours

1. Facility Rental Alternatives

2. Sound Proofing Alternatives

3. Work From Home Alternatives

3. Approval of August 2006 Treasurer's Report and Disbursement

Authorization Report

4. Approval of September 2006 Treasurer's Report and Disbursement

Authorization Report

b. Clubhouse Staff Update - Staff (20 minutes)

1. Halloween Event - T. Davis

2. Clubhouse Rental Policies - T. Davis & S. Hilliard

3. Staff Hours

4. May Graduation Party rental request from a resident - S. Hilliard

5. Magician Contract- S. Hilliard

6. CDL Incident Report from Sept 30th- S. Hilliard

7. Pilates Class Schedule - S. Hilliard

8. Contracts for Business Expo - S. Hilliard

9. Halloween Event (Children) - Silvia Hilliard

c. Property Maintenance

1. Hampton Entrance - M. Cooper

2. Canoe Launch - D. Nelson

3. SWFMD Tree Trimming - T. Leake

4. Remington Irrigation - D. Nelson

5. Villa Walls - T. Leake

6. Unfinished Business and General Orders

a. Property Management AD - Dave Candia & Toni Leake (15 minutes)

1. Review of revised ads and placement in newspaper and Monster1.Com

2. Ca21n.didMDaataevrskidCfoWoorpepellrreorperty management position I~ ,

Exercise Equipment on Trails

Purchase Pressure Washer

Renovate Pool Bathroom

7. John Bakas E-Mails - Board of Supervisors (Continued from Previous Agenda)

a. LSC CDD Lake-side Plant Trimming

b. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Minutes

c. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Calendar & Meetings, Other

d. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Projects & Agenda/Meeting

e. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Attendance/Job Performance

f. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Landscaping - Weeds and Mulch

8. New Business

a. Resident Issues

1. Playground Proposal- Christine Robbins (15 Minutes)

b. Supervisor Bakas Agenda Items

1. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Public Records Request

2. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Incident Report re Pepsi machine

3. LSC CDD Agenda Item - Sunshine Law Inquiry

9. Adjourn

..............................................................................................................................

Planned Projects for FY 2006 and Proposed Projects for Consideration: (On1!:oin1!:Discussion & Update)

Priority 1: Landscaping at entrances of all Community Entrances and landscaping general

Priority 2: Homeowner Access and Identification Proximity Cards for Pool/Tennis Court

Other Priorities:

Heater for Clubhouse Pool

Backboard for Tennis Courts

Playground equipment for younger children and toddlers

Pool

Slide for Pool

Awning for Kiddies Pool

Misting Machine & Fans under Pool Awning

Boat launch (small, non-gasoline powered)

2 Palm Trees in Pool Area (Mark Cooper)

Upgrade Clubhouse Interior

All-shaded Picnic Area (18 votes @ .org)

Doggie Park

Major Completed Projects: FY 2005

Refund Bond ($60,000 Annual Savings)Directory Landscaping

Select/Employ On-site Property and Fence around Pool

District Management Staff Lighting around Pool

(S

/G

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LAKE ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: District Manager

Mission Statement: To administer the highest standard of service to the Board of Supervisors

regarding the stewardship of the economic well-being of the Community Development District

and to maintain and insure the integrity of the all business proceedings of Lake St. Charles

Community Development District.

Administrative Relationship: Accountable to the Board of Supervisors

Salary: Range of $20.00 - $25.00 per hour; increase contingent on additional duties

Work Hours: As authorized by the Board - up to 40 hours per week

Responsibilities

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Fulfill all responsibilities and general duties as designated by Florida Statue 190.008,

including having charge and supervision of the financial works of the District.

• Consult with and advise the Board on matters related to the operation and maintenance of

the District's administration works

• Help develop and implement a Disaster/Recovery Plan for the Lake St. Charles

Community Development District

• Develop and implement all procedures and policies regarding the administration of the

CDD as directed by the Board of Supervisors

• Provide consultation to the board regarding Auditor's field letter to management

• Initiate and implement all changes from the Auditor's field letter to management as

directed by the Board of Supervisors

• Responsible for the coordination of personnel activities

• Provide all services necessary to effectively manage the operation of the District

• Prepare on or before each July 15th a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year an

estimate of all necessary expenditures and an estimate of income

• Administer the adopted budget of the District

• Insure that all public hearings, meeting and workshops are legally and correctly

advertised

• Provide administrative coverage and support for workshops, hearings, projects and other

District interests

• Provide administrative coverage for regular and special meetings of the Board of

Supervisors to include:

o Developing and distributing meeting agenda

o Recording of meeting minutes

o Drafting/updating meeting minutes

o Distributing meeting minutes

o Maintaining public records of meeting minutes

• Work with legal council and public agencies to ensure that the CDD is in compliance

with proper state, county, and local government statues and regulations

• Provide consultation and representation work with pertinent public agencies and private

individuals in connection with the interests of the District. These services shall include:

o Planning

o Scheduling

o Coordination

o Administration

• Prepare, develop and administer RFP's

• Review, assist and aid in the finalization of new contracts as requested by the Chair of

the Board of Supervisors or the Board of Supervisors

• Define, implement and maintain a system of public records for the District, including a

concise and accurate record of the official actions of the Board of Supervisors and any

appointed boards or committees. These responsibilities include:

o Custody of the District's seal

o Records custodian and records management liaison with the State of Florida

overseeing the storage of inactive files and the destruction of obsolete files.

o Maintaining and safeguarding the minutes of public meetings, resolutions,

contracts and agreements.

o Responding to public records requests

• Research any topic pertaining to the economics of the CDD, including past, present and

future purchases of any items or services.

• Complete Weekly Timesheet form daily in sufficient detail to apprise Board of work

activities, project statuses and use of work hours

• Maintain work schedule submitted to the Board and notify Board of any changes

Accounting Responsibilities:

• Define and implement an integrated financial management reporting system to will allow

the District to present fairly and with full disclosure the financial position and results of

financial operations of the funds and account groups in conformity with generally

accepted accounting principals and GASB34

• Determine and demonstrate compliance with finance-related legal and contractual

prOVIsIOns

17

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• Provide budget management for the accounting, reporting and control of revenues and

expenditures in accordance with the District needs and in compliance with GASB34

• Prepare and report on a monthly basis a budget versus actual statement

• Ensure the general ledger is in balance and accurate for all District accounts

• Ensure that all general ledger accounts and journal entries are recorded in accordance

with federal, state, and local requirements.

• Ensure the payment of all invoices in accordance with District requirements including

the preparation of reports.

• To provide information in accordance with legal and District management requirements.

o Financial information is reported at any level organizationally or functionally.

o Cash Management. This function allows for daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly

reporting of cash balances by fund.

o Revenue Reporting. This function accounts for all revenues of the District.

o Financial information by organization and project, including revenue sources.

This is shown in an estimate versus actual format.

o Revenues are reported in compliance with the requirements and are recorded at

the appropriate time for cash, full accrual or modified accrual basis of accounting.

o Reconcile all bank statements.

o Review and insure that the capital investment accounts are administered by the

trustee per the bond indenture

o Review time sheets and prepare payroll

o Call or contact vendors as needed

o Make bank deposits

Special Assessment Responsibilities:

• Special Assessment Financings (Non-Ad Valorem Assessments) Part One

o Assist the District in formulating its financial goals and implementing the

financial strategies required in order to meet those goals.

o Formulate the District's assessment methodology.

o Assist to the District in developing the financing plan for the District's funding of

its infrastructure.

o Recommend the appropriate financial structures for the proposed financings.

o Advise with the terms and features of the bonds, the timing of marketing of bond

Issues .

• Special Assessment Financings (Non-Ad Valorem Assessments) Part Two

o Assist the District in coordinating the financing process.

o Assist Bond Council, Underwriter, and all other professionals in the issuance of

long-term bonds.

o Coordinate the financing process. Assist in the preparation, review, adoption and

execution of the authorizing bond proceedings, including assisting in the

preparation of and review of all resolutions of the District pertaining to the bond

financing.

o Assist Bond Counsel in the validation proceedings for the District's bonds,

including any testimony required in Circuit Court.

/<6

• Prepare the Tax Assessment

Responsibilities of the District Manager to the Property Manager:

• Provide to the Property Manager number assignments for all tasks of Board approved

projects and updates to the project after the tasks have been identified and given to the

District Manager

• The CDD acknowledges the fiduciary accountability in exclusively purchasing from preapproved

vendors purchasing policies in the normal course of business. To that end, the

District Manager and Property Manager will work together to have all potential vendors

placed on the LSC approved vendor list before placing orders in the normal course of

business.

• Insure that all purchase orders are made to vendors certified as approved in the normal

course of business.

• Insure that exceptions made to using pre-approved vendors have Board of Supervisor

approval, barring extraordinary curcumstances.

• Insure that all copies of bids, contracts and other documentation, including e-mails

between the Property Manager and vendors that are received from the Property Manager