Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/144898
Sarasota News Leader July 19, 2013 Page 18 said; it needs new cameras and a switcher. "We're praying everything will keep working," she noted. All totaled, the "strategic plan funding needs" added nearly $816,000 to the new budget. THE FATE OF ONE WOMAN One issue kept popping up during the budget discussions — the fate of Jan Thornburg. She is the city's public information officer, an eight-year veteran on the job and a former news reporter from Tampa. She has won multiple awards for her work with the city, but her boss decided she was not needed any more. "My intention was to eliminate the position and reallocate those funds for a new internal Vice Mayor Willie Shaw. Photo by Norman auditor and repairs to the audio-visual sysSchimmel tem," said Nadalini. At issue was the $116,000 The "legal issue" revolves around a letter in pay and benefits for Thornburg. Thornburg sent to all five city commissioners Nadalini wanted to keep the money in her bud- earlier this month. At press time, the city atget. At least two city commissioners thought torney had not completed the redaction of leotherwise. And Barwin wanted Thornburg to gal and medical issues from the letter to make work in his office. It became a white-gloved it public. Thornburg herself is out of the office battle of charter officers in front of their mas- until August. ters, the city commissioners. Then the gloves The tug-of-war over who controls city public came off. relations has been going on quietly for years. Did the city need a public information offi- It eventually emerged into a public referencer? "This is an extravagant budget [item]. We dum on last November's ballot to change the don't need spin doctors," said Mayor Shannon city charter, including stripping Nadalini's Snyder. office of the public information and information technology responsibilities. The initiative "I'm thinking of the taxpayers — to cut the failed at the polls. position and keep the money, with no justification to keep the money," said Commission- However, by a 4-1 vote (Snyder in the minorier Chapman. "And we have an unresolved ty) the commissioners agreed to shift the publegal issue." lic information position to Barwin's office, but