The Intrigue Continues

The Mayor has called for an investigation of the City Manager's use of sick time and other benefits. Meanwhile the State Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) has been investigating the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy for the Rum Barrel Restaurant back in February 2006 that was apparently signed by Assistant City Manager, John Jones when the City's head of the Building Department and chief building official, Joe April, declined to sign.

Now, it has been reported that the DBPR would charge Assistant City Manager, John Jones, with a violation of State law for not being authorized to sign the (then temporary) Certificate of Occupancy. And, as reported in The Citizen, April 21, 2007 (Page 1), Jones has surrendered (and been released on his own recognizance) to face two misdemeanor charges for allegedly impersonating a state licensed building inspector.

While this brewing scandle may come close to Avael, close only counts in horseshoes, not hardball Key West politics. So far, the Mayor, who has made no secret he'd like to terminate the City Manager for cause, doesn't seem to have the solid amunition he may need to avoid the City having to buy out the rest of Manager Avael's contract if the City wants him gone immediately.

Avael is a survivor. The reality may be that the City will wind up having to pay Mr. Avael regardless of what happens. Before the Moguls in City Hall burn their bridges to Avael, they better take stock of what he may have on them. Now Avael has applied to be hired as the City Manager, perhaps throwing a monkey wrench into the hiring process, forcing the City to consider who may be the best qualified individual to hire, and requiring the City to reject him again if it doesent want to consider him. Is he giving himself political leverage or setting the City up for a lawsuit? It is no secret that at the game of political intrigue, Avael is one of the masters.