Letters

MY VIEW

Planning for growth ... or not

FRED COSTELLO

FORMER MAYOR

(Editor’s Note: The following was submitted in response to former City Commissioner Jeff Boyle’s response in the April 7 edition.)

It is imperative to note that Consolidated Tomoka gained the ability to negotiate the future of their 3,000 acres between Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach in 2002 due to Boyle’s opposition to a proposed negotiated settlement between Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach regarding the “utility service line” between Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach. Said proposed negotiated settlement would have completed the “trade” across the utility service line initiated at Ormond Beach’s request when the landowner for what became Aberdeen wanted to have all of Aberdeen (which crossed the utility service line) annexed into Ormond Beach and be serviced by a single utility. Obviously, a reasonable request.

All agreed with the stipulation that Daytona Beach would be made whole in the future. Once a proposal came, Boyle did not support the proposal, even though he was advised that opposition to the proposed settlement would allow Consolidated Tomoka (and other landowners along the line) to shop both municipalities for their best deal. Boyle ignored the obvious and assured all that it would never happen. His obstinance was concurrent with Consolidated Tomoka telling everybody who would listen that if the utility service line was abandoned, they would annex into Daytona Beach if Ormond Beach refused to negotiate their more restrictive wetland standards. And that is exactly what happened.

Consolidated Tomoka told the city it would annex into Ormond Beach if it would abandon its more “restrictive” (but, in the opinion of many scientists, not “better”) wetland standards and go with the St. Johns River Water Management District science-based wetland standards that were used by Daytona Beach and essentially every other jurisdiction.

Basically, Ormond Beach’s wetland standards included protection of isolated and nonfunctioning wetlands based solely on the vegetation found on site. Such standards had no significant impact on the aquifer, and thus, nobody who valued science was shocked that Consolidated Tomoka chose to annex into Daytona Beach in spite of the higher taxes in Daytona.

Regarding Ormond Crossings, Boyle’s letter is the first time I have heard him or anybody else relate that the business park was Boyle’s idea. However, it is easy to check the City Commission minutes to find that the first thing I did as mayor was to request a meeting of the Volusia County Council with the new Ormond Beach City Commission to request that the county adopt Ormond Beach standards for the (then) 3,000 acres of county land that became known as Ormond Crossings. And it will be easy to find the multiple times Boyle wanted to abandon Ormond Crossings.

One of the highlights of my tenure as mayor was when former Economic Development Director Joe Mannarino was honored by the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce as he planned to retire. The presenter thanked Joe for his tireless advocacy for Ormond Crossings. As Mannarino accepted the award, he pointed to me in the audience and related that without Mayor Costello’s continuing insistence that we maintain course, Ormond Crossings would never have happened. Yes, that was a proud moment.

As for the hospital — to say they asked for concessions is a bunch of manure. Ormond Memorial Hospital worked hard to stay in Ormond Beach. They even proposed to build at the corner of Hand Avenue and Clyde Morris Boulevard after the necessary adjustments to expand and stay at their original site were shot down with Boyle leading the opposition. As a result of the lack of compromise, Ormond Beach is now one of very few communities of its size with no hospital and no high school.

As mentioned relative to Ormond Crossings, it will be easy for somebody to check the City Commission minutes to find that Boyle opposed the initial funding to support Pop Warner using Ormond Middle School facilities. To the best of my memory, we all supported subsequent funding after seeing the huge success of the program. By the way, Boyle even apologized to me and the commission after this initial vote. I accepted his apology. But let’s not rewrite history.

Regarding the beach: Yes, I supported a vertical transfer of density along our beach. There would have been no additional density/people. No additional traffic. No additional water use. But yes, we would have had several additional buildings as tall as the current tallest building in Ormond Beach, and the only way the developers would have been able to build higher than 75 feet would have been to transfer density from one site to another site, thus creating open space from the donor site and a higher building as the receptor site along our beach, thus creating beachfront parks at no cost to taxpayers. Prior to any building permits being issued, the open space for parks would have been deeded to Ormond Beach.

Boyle is correct that I stated there were multiple misrepresentations being made by the opposition — such as showing buildings with increased height but not showing the open space created by moving the density from one site to the top of another site. Although Boyle brought this up, it is actually a good example of the (hopefully unintended) consequences of many of his positions. Because Ormond Beach voters did not support the vertical transfer of density to create open space at no cost to taxpayers, my wife and I (along with others) contributed $1,000 to a fund to promote passage of a $5 million bond issue. Ormond Beach used the $5 million as our share along with a $3.5 million Volusia County ECHO grant to create the beautiful Ormond Beach Andy Romano Beachfront Park. I remain very proud of that amazing beachfront park!

In closing, my issue was and is not with Boyle or his positions. I only have a problem with his attempts to rewrite history and to blame others for the predictable results due to his opposition. I get frustrated with Boyle claiming he supported parks and other amenities when he voted against funding them. I am tired of him blaming others for the cost of growth after he voted against opportunities to guide growth.

Lastly, it is important to note that the largely extraterritorial growth pains facing Ormond Beach today are not due to decisions made by the current Ormond Beach City Commission. The problems stem from decisions made years and in some cases decades ago.

Fred Costello was mayor of Ormond Beach 2002 to 2010.

LETTERS

Reply to Fred Costello

Dear Editor:

Fred Costello seems to me to offer private opinion disguised as fact. His allegation that Boyle “attempted to stifle growth” serves as only one of many examples of Costello’s disguised opinions. Perhaps if Costello offered an example of “financial benefits” that did not result from growth we could better judge “fact or opinion.” As far as I can determine, growth has consistently resulted in anything but “benefits.”

Costello’s pejorative claim about Boyle not needing a “well-paying job” does not amount to offering a fact.

Costello’s “quality of life” allegations could better emerge as “fact or fiction” with supporting documentation. I have no way to judge the legitimacy of either claim without useful documentation. As to “community enhancements,” the cost of “beautification of Granada Boulevard” remains open to dispute. I suspect that using native plants requiring less water and maintenance could also offer improvement of our quality of life.

I question if Boyle offered opposition or alternative options. Unfortunately, growth in and beyond our borders results in the same consequences. Living here for 19 years has shown me the consequences of growth — increased traffic, increased utility costs, flight school plane noise, and the passing of the community we moved here to enjoy. If Boyle’s actions make him responsible for Costello’s allegations, then perhaps Costello should admit that his support for multi-story condos would have resulted in a diminished view.

As to whom do we assign “responsibility” for our present city, perhaps Ormond Beach citizens should decide. I reject the view of the North Carolina ex-mayor.

CHARLES G. RUSSELL

Ormond Beach

State PACs influence Ormond Beach elections

Dear Editor:

Mayor Bill Partington amassed a campaign war chest of over $60,000 in the 2020 election. That total included $1,000 checks from six different Tallahassee political action committees. The six PAC websites reveal million-dollar donor bases and extensive contributions.

One PAC, Living Life With Purpose, which donated $1,000 to Mayor Partington in 2020, reports a working fund of $1,516,622 and disbursements of $529,902. Their website self-describes a “voluntary, nonprofit unincorporated committee of individuals not affiliated with any political party.” Their mission statement: “to do any and all things necessary or desirable for the attainment of committee purposes.” Local Ormond Beach resident, state representative district 25 and CLO at Foundation Risk Partners, Tom Leek, happens to be the chairperson for Living Life With Purpose.

Major donors to the PAC over the last few years: ICI Homes, $25,000; Brown and Brown Insurance, $25,000; Consolidated Tomoka, $5,000; Florida Blue, $36,500; Wallace Burt, $10,000; Disney, $5,000; Daytona Beverages, $8,988.

Living Life With Purpose paid Ormond Beach political consultant Michael Scudiero $2,000 on Oct. 12, 2020, and $3,000 on Dec. 29, 2021. Mr. Scudiero was paid separately as a campaign consultant for three winning Ormond Beach incumbents in the 2020 election and recently received a $3,000 campaign consulting fee from Lori Tolland, 2022 Zone 1 candidate for the seat vacated by Commissioner Dwight Selby. Lori Tolland’s campaign donations are now approaching $50,000 after three months.

Scudiero is the Police Benevolent Association union representative and currently serves on the Ormond Beach Planning Board as does his candidate/client Lori Tolland. Apparently, no conflict-of-interest rules apply where one Planning Board member is paying another board member for professional political consulting services, or when a union representative negotiates against the city while serving on an advisory board for the city.

Tolland’s campaign received a $1,000 contribution on Jan. 13 from Living Life With Purpose and another $1,000 from Foundation Risk Partners Corp. on March 8. The statewide network of outside money from PACs (heavily financed by corporate interests) clearly exerts an influence on election outcomes in Ormond Beach. This stream of outside money may be technically legal, but it is unacceptable and reduces trust in our officials.

TIM GRIGSBY Ormond Beach

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ADOPTABLE PETS

Blossom, an 8-year-old Boxer mix. Her adoption fee is $35.

Chikin Lil, a 5-year-old hound mix. Her adoption fee is $70.

To adopt any of these animals, or see others, visit the Halifax Humane Society’s main campus at 2364 LPGA Blvd. or call 274-4703.

YOUR TOWN

Courtesy photo/Dean Stewart Photography Matthew Monroe and Lauren Bowrosen.

ORMOND RESIDENT IS MR. SPRUCE CREEK

and Bowrosen, both juniors in the IB program, were crowned after judges cast their ballots, with votes based on the contestant interviews, poise on stage and a talent competition. Winners become school ambassadors during their senior year, representing Spruce Creek at various events.

Juniors during the talent portion showed off music, dance, singing and acting skills. Monroe choreographed and performed a tap dance to “Good Morning” from “Singin’ in the Rain.” In addition, Miss Spruce Creek 2022 Yara Nasr, of Ormond Beach, sang “Being Alive” from the Broadway musical “Company.”

Eleven Ormond Beach residents participated in the contest, as contestants, escorts or techs: Connor Barie, Isabella Chase, Mahek Patel, Avery Branch, Zeph Santiago, Julia Ambrose, Mayu Colombo, Morgan Gertis, Evan Jarvis, Christine Ngo, and Jadyn Stalzer. years, was recently named vice president of Institutional Advancement at Bethune-Cookman University, her alma mater.

In her new role, Paramore will be responsible for generating new financial income in support of student scholarship funds, faculty support, academic research, facilities, and other operational and infrastructure needs.

Sherry Paramore

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION OPENS

Courtesy photo Linda Caracushansky, human resource manager; Lenny Sanclemente, corporate purchasing and operations manager; Rickey LeBlanc, operations manager’; and Judi Winch, executive director of Food Brings Hope.

ICI HOMES IS FBH’S BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

Food Brings Hope recently recognized ICI Homes as its Business of the Month at the ICI Homes Holiday party held at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Mori Hosseini Student Union.

According to a press release, ICI partners with Food Brings Hope for events like the Tour of Homes, which showcases vocational careers to over 125 Teen Zone middle and high school students each year, and the annual Walk for Hope shoe drive held in December. ICI Homes employees also contributed over $12,000 in 2021 through the company’s payroll deductions program.