Where else but Hillsborough County could the following take place in one "emergency" county commission meeting?
County Attorney Renee Lee, all lawyered up with a Barry Cohen attorney and accompanied by a large contingent of supporters, declares her innocence in E-mailgate and practically dares commissioners to lay a glove on her.
County Administrator Pat Bean admits that she ordered a bunch of e-mails on the sneak but claims she didn't read them. She then hands out copies of a polygraph test to prove she "didn't inhale." She complains that if she had known Lee was bringing a lawyer, she would have brought hers, too.
Commissioners learn it would cost the county about $700,000 in severance for the privilege of ridding themselves of Bean and Lee. (Note to commissioners: Never again award such sweetheart employment contracts. Please.)
Commissioners vote to find and hire their own outside lawyer to tell them how they can offload Bean and Lee without spending $700K. (And tell them how to prevent Bean and Lee from suing them.)
Commissioner Rose Ferlita reveals that Lee was the one who gave her some of the e-mails, but then no one has the nerve to follow up on that to ask Lee the what, why, when, how on that.
Commissioner Ken Hagan, strangely, calls for the resignation of Internal Auditor Jim Barnes, the man who brought E-mailgate to light. And brought Bean's and Lee's illicit 1 percent raises to light. And brought Bean's secret humongous raises to her top staffers to light. Yeah, right - this guy really needs to go. He might uncover more bad stuff that we need to know about.
All that in one meeting. And it's just the beginning.
MARCELLA O'STEEN
Balm
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