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Before we make wild leaps into changing forms of government, firing people, spending huge sums of monies and having trials in the press, would it be prudent to use what lawyers call “discovery?”

Are we at the stage where it is “guilty, until proven innocent” or do some citizens of Marco Island still believe “innocent until proven guilty?”

Instead of making negative comments, giving threats and perhaps creating an environment of misunderstanding; here are some questions that might have been asked prior to the City Council meeting Oct. 20; remembering of course that next day quarterbacking always has better results.

Did the new city manager fully investigate the alleged irregularities cited in the transition report as presented by the interim city manager?

If so, what were the findings?

If the findings were that the alleged irregularities were baseless, did the transition report have any useful value to City Council?

Would bringing that transition report to City Council, which was now considered baseless, be of any value to City Council?

Would naming the names of staff that were cited in the baseless transition report be useful?

Could the reputations of staff be damaged by the mis-understandings of the interim city manager?

Did the transition report unnecessarily damage the accountability of the finance director? Utilities director? City clerk?

Did the interim city manager have a responsibility to report the alleged irregularities to City Council as they were discovered?

Was there a reason why the interim city manager did not notify City Council of the alleged irregularities?

Was it the responsibility of the interim city manager to bring problems to the City Council?

Is there a reason why the alleged irregularities surfaced only in the transition report?

How much money will this now baseless transition report cost?

Since taking over the position of City Manager has he made the operation of city government more transparent?

Is this issue an issue of attempting to tell the city manager who to hire and who to fire?

Is City Council overstepping its role under the city charter?

A form e-mail to City Council stated: “If the City Council does not have the visibility and control of the city’s purse strings, how can you meet the obligations of your office! Then it was suggested that the e-mail recipient request City Council:

Institute an immediate investigation of the city manager for not bringing the irregularities cited in the report to the City Council’s attention!

Institute a complete financial audit of the city’s books to insure the taxpayer’s dollars are being accounted for properly!

A reply stated, “This audit is a must not a maybe Don’t let anyone talk you out of doing this audit. If you want to bring the city back together, this could do just that. We need the truth!” This reply seems to assume that:

You want the audit at any cost.

That the city of Marco Island is not together.

That you have not been getting the truth.

Questions

Are you aware that the cost of the audit requested could cost nearly $250,000-plus/minus?

If that is near accurate, would you then be willing to suggest that we should do the full audit only on the Collier Boulevard Project, first?

Would you then be willing to suggest, only if there are any serious problems with the Collier Boulevard Project, to proceed with the remainder of the full audit?

Who is suggesting that you have not been getting the truth?

It is my belief that the city of Marco Island financial statements are in order and that the taxpayer’s dollars are being accounted for properly.

It is also my belief that the city manager of Marco Island handled the transition report properly and there is/was no need to bring inaccurate assumptions to City Council.