Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/102968
Sarasota News Leader January 11, 2013 or resolutions indicating what cause would be," DeMarsh pointed out. ed to see your insight, if there is a process … that should it not work itself out," the commission could act. Moreover, he said, he and his staff had not undertaken legal research to determine standards for such cause. Still, generally, he said, he thought the commission could make a finding of cause "and it would be upheld." Page 40 Hines added, "I don't know if anyone else thinks we need to look any further." No one else offered a comment. Robert Waechter/Photo courtesy of Sheriff's Office If the commission directed him to do so, DeMarsh added, he and his staff would research how such matters are handled in other jurisdictions. "I would also say I'm coming up on my 21st year in Sarasota County," DeMarsh pointed out, "and I've actually never had this issue arise before. … One of your potential actions is to say, 'Well, this has only happened once in 20-some years, so is [a new policy] necessary?'" WAECHTER'S LETTER In his resignation letter, Waechter wrote, "Over the past 35 plus years I have invested thousands of volunteer hours on multiple boards and community organizations. If I had to make a list I doubt I would recall them all." He added, "In all of that time, I don't believe I have ever appeared before the Board of County Commissioners in my own behalf and I do not propose to do so now — despite the apparent willingness to forego due process and the rush to judgment by some in our commuNonetheless, he said, the County Commission nity. had removed people from advisory boards in the past because of poor attendance records. "Questions have been raised by a few individuals as to whether I should continue my While he also did not mention Waechter by service on two county boards: the Tourist Dename, DeMarsh noted Waechter had submit- velopment Council; and the Board of Zoning ted a letter of resignation and the commission Appeals. already had instructed staff to fill the positions "It has always been my intention that when on the BZA and the TDC. my term on the Airport Authority expires, "I guess I'm glad to hear that this doesn't come upon the appointment by the Governor of the up very often," Hines said, adding that he just new Board, to concurrently resign from the wanted to inquire about whether a process for TDC as that appointment was initially prediremoval was available. cated on my involvement with the airport as "Unfortunately, a situation like this will come a representative of the tourism industry," he up in the future," Hines said, "and I just want- wrote. %