Hefty raises, budget woes, public dissension – Recall petitions filed against two Quincy commissioners

Hefty raises, budget woes, public dissension - those are just a few reasons why some citizens are saying they want Quincy commissioners removed from office.

Recall petitions have been filed with Quincy’s city clerk to oust two commissioners.

The documents filed by Yvette Bittle on November 22 say registered and qualified voters of District 1 and District 5 seek the removal and recall of Commissioner Keith Dowdell and Commissioner Annessa Albritton-Canidate.

Bittle said she is leading the recall because she believes it’s time for a change in Quincy.

“They voted to give themselves a 122 percent raise, and I don’t see none of them in their communities,” Bittle said.

In September, Albritton-Canidate and Dowdell voted along with Mayor Ronte Harris to increase their salaries from $16,666 to $37,000.

Bittle said after the commission voted on the raises, many citizens reached out to her voicing their disapproval, as Bittle has a reputation around Quincy for her community activism and strong political opinions.

In the petitions, Bittle accuses Albritton-Canidate and Dowdell of “incompetency, malfeasance, or misfeasance.”

On November 9, Dowdell, Albritton-Canidate, and Harris voted to freeze future employee raises and stop employee hiring (including fire and police officers) unless the city commission approved, prompting City Manager Jack McLean to sue the city, stating that the commission violated his rights as city manager.

“These actions violated the City Charter, Florida Law, and Chapter 112,” the documents state.

Bittle also criticized the commissioners’ conduct in public.

“They looked like a bunch of clowns up there,” Bittle added, referring to the November 16 commission meeting, during which Dowdell and Albritton-Canidate and Harris voted to fire City Manager Jack McLean.

Before the vote to terminate McLean’s contract took place, the city’s attorney Gary Roberts warned of possible grounds on which McLean could sue, including breach of contract, retaliation and wrongful termination.

During that meeting, former-Gadsden County and City of Quincy Commissioner Sherrie Taylor urged the commissioners not to fire McLean because of what it could cost the city if McLean does decide to sue, especially since McLean’s contract was set to expire in March.

Taylor told the commissioners if they voted to fire McLean, she would support a recall.

Taylor lives in Quincy, and she says she is concerned for herself and other residents.

Taylor said recent decisions made by the three commissioners could cause utility bills to increase.

“That is how the city may have to pay for the lawsuits and increase in salaries, through utility bills,” Taylor said.

Utilities are the city’s main source of revenue.

Taylor also noted that the city has not yet set aside funds for the police department, fire department, or nonprofit organizations in this year’s budget.

“There is poor representation and no transparency in the city government,” Taylor. “It’s evident through the budgeting, increase in salaries and interference with day-to-day.”

Taylor also said the commissioners have shown aggression towards one another and the city manager during the commission meetings, which she said is counterproductive.

Taylor said Harris’ seat cannot be recalled at this time because he is not far enough into his term.

Harris was re-elected in April, and he must be in office for 14 months before he can be recalled.

Dowdell said he and the other commissioners did not violate the city charter or any laws.

He argued that the charter does not state they can’t give themselves raises.

Dowdell said he believes Quincy commissioners should be paid the same amount county commissioners are paid.

“We do the same thing the county commissioners do,” Dowdell said.

He also said the commission rescinded the decision to freeze hiring and giving raises to avoid attorney fees and taking the case to court.

Dowdell said he still does not believe the commission interfered with day-to-day operations.

The case has since been dismissed.

Members of the commission were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury last month.

McLean confirmed that the grand jury’s investigation is related to the raises the commissioners gave themselves.

Dowdell said he provided a written and in-person testimony.

The state has not announced whether the grand jury will issue any indictments in relation to the matter.

Albritton-Canidate could not be reached for comment.

Although there isn’t a recall against Harris, he did weigh-in on the issue.

“I think it’s Jack McLean orchestrated,” Harris said.

Bittle said McLean did not have any influence on her decision to file the recall petitions.

“Nobody can tell me what to do,” Bittle said. “I told Ronte [Harris], if Jack [McLean] is so bad, why would ya’ll rehire him after they fired him the last time and he sued the city?”

Bittle said the recall is not personal.

“I like Ronte [Harris], I like Keith [Dowdell], and I like Annessa [Albritton-Canidate], but I want better for Gadsden County,” Bittle said. “We have to stop voting for these people ‘because I went to school with him, or I know him.’’’

Now that the petitions have been filed with the clerk, the recall committee must get signatures from 10 percent of the voters in both District 1 and District 5.

The signed petitions will be submitted to the clerk. The clerk must then submit them to Gadsden County’s Supervisor of Elections Office.

The Supervisor of Elections Office will validate the names on the petitions.

Dowdell and Albritton-Canidate will have an opportunity to submit a statement.

Once the statements are submitted, they will be added to the petitions.

Members of the recall committee will have to back out and get 15 percent of the voters’ signatures.

Erin Hill - erin@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Hefty raises, budget woes, public dissension – Recall petitions filed against two Quincy commissioners

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Greensboro hosts Christmas Bazaar

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