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More Letters

• Letter to the Editor: December 31
• Letter to the Editor: December 24
• Letters to the Editor: December 19

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Russ Colombo’s Letter to Editor (Oct.31) regarding a City Hall sexual harassment allegation being investigated by Fire Chief Murphy reads like a comedy theatre review found in the NY Times! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Does anyone seriously believe our fire chief has or should have the authority to investigate sexual harassment whenever alleged in our City Hall? Where is our Human Resources manager who should initiate such investigations and recommend courses of action by those legally assigned such tasks, i.e., our police, the sheriff, district attorney?

How come our City Council appears to represent obviously creepy bureaucrats and constituents who believe where there’s smoke and heat a hazardous fire will follow? Where is it sanctioned that Marco Island’s bravest should investigate such a tawdry incident as just another potential arson allegation?

Revealed by Mr. Colombo’s letter, of course, is an obviously growing cynicism and incredulity that surrounds our City Hall when it comes to its ability to manage our community affairs, our public purse and, now, even to enforce sound human behavior policies at City Hall. Thus, such incidents demand functional government analysis of causes and the application of reason under the civic and civil codes of Marco Island’s government led by our City Council and its chief executive called City Manager.

In truth, that’s what “forensic” means in government when applied to behaviors especially where public funding is used and suspiciously and/or allegedly abused as currently discussed by Vice-Chair Frank Recker and Charles Kiester of our City Council.

We, the people, appear unanimous today in seeking long-overdue, thoroughly professional analyses and stringent evaluation-oversight reviews covering all recent (since 2002 or even before?) contract procedures and awards; public works projects and expenditures; budget assignments, allocations and accounting procedures; and all operational decisions where public funding and employees have been required or assigned.

As suggested by Mr. Colombo’s letter, a good place to start the critical “forensic tour” of our government should be aimed at our busy fire chief’s recent harassment assignment. In reality, it’s not comedic. It’s absurd!

Sayre Uhler

Marco Island