By Joseph Wiedeman, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
In Summary:
Anderson accused Nesta’s administration of using a dispute over a proposed ticketed event to undermine her community involvement and divert attention from other city decisions. She also alleged that the mayor plans to hire a campaign associate for a reclassified position and restructure city government, but she did not provide documentation to support her claims.
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Apopka City Commissioner Nadia Anderson said a contentious debate over the use of city discretionary funds was part of a broader effort by Mayor Nick Nesta’s administration to undermine her community involvement and divert attention from other city decisions.
The dispute erupted during last Wednesday’s meeting as members of the city commission discussed proposed guidelines governing city spending connected to commissioner-sponsored events. The discussion included references to a ticketed event that could cost the city approximately $13,000 through waived fees or city-provided services.
Related: Commission meeting spirals into accusations and threats of legal action.
Anderson described the controversy as “smoke and mirrors” and did not identify the event or nonprofit organization when asked for additional information.
“Media needs to understand they’re being played and once again you are,” Anderson told The Apopka Voice in a phone interview. “The only item on the agenda was an obscure discretionary policy while the mayor is preparing to hire his campaign manager for over $300,000 a year into a reclassified position.”
Anderson alleges this is part of a coordinated effort to attack her because she has continually challenged the mayor's agenda and also has remained active in the community. She did not provide documentation supporting her allegations.
The Apopka Voice contacted Public Information Director Steve Montiero for a response from Nesta, but did not receive one at the time of publication.
“Half the council knows what's going on; they’re just behind the scenes,” Anderson said. “The mayor we have is using the position to steal taxpayer dollars and pimp the media on inaccurate information.”
Anderson also alleged that more than $2 million had originally been included in the city budget for positions the mayor intended to give to political allies, and that this funding was removed only after her challenges. She further alleges that Nesta intends to add legal counsel and reorganize the city government. Anderson did not provide details about the proposed restructuring or evidence that the positions were intended for the mayor’s friends.
At the center of the discussion was a proposed event at the Apopka Amphitheater. Anderson said this was the mechanism the nonprofit uses to raise money, not a private, profit-seeking promoter.
“This is not promoters just out having a concert just to bring in funds; they use these funds for their nonprofit,” Anderson said. “The only reason he (Nesta) is attacking it is that I am the only commissioner that is trying to do something in the community; this ticketed event that they’re talking about, it’s a non-profit that puts it on."
Anderson did not provide responses to follow-up questions from The Apopka Voice about identifying the nonprofit, describing the event, or providing additional details about the alleged effort against her.
City Attorney Cliff Shepard, who is set to retire at the end of the month, confirmed Anderson was within her rights to hold the event.
“In reviewing the policy, it appears that the Commissioner followed the policy as written in making her request to use the amphitheater," Shepard said. "Whether the policy will be revised in the future is solely up to the Commission.”
Shepard said he thinks the event involved music and would benefit a charitable organization; however, he was not aware of the organization's identity or the event's full details.
“I think they’re supposed to hold it at the amphitheater and I think it’s music involved,” Shepard said. “But that’s about all I know; some sort of charitable organization is putting it on.”
Shepard also addressed questions about positions discussed during the city's budget process. He said he knew funding had been considered for a chief of staff position but wasn't familiar with the final decisions.
“I don’t know what they funded or ultimately funded and agreed to,” Shepard explained. “I had heard that there is some amount set aside for something called the ‘chief of staff’ which I guess the mayor wants to establish, but I don’t know the details of that.”
Key Points:
- The dispute involves a proposed amphitheater event that could cost the city approximately $13,000 in waived fees or services.
- Anderson said the event would raise money for a nonprofit but did not identify the organization.
- She alleged that the controversy is part of a coordinated political effort against her.
- Nesta and Montiero did not respond to requests for comment.
- Shepard said hiring someone who worked on the mayor’s campaign would not inherently constitute a conflict of interest.
