Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/273295
there was no violation," he said. "This is not an issue of financial responsibility. You need to go after this and stop this. It is a cottage industry to bully people and make money." DEAFENING SILENCE After the public comments concluded, Vice Mayor Willie Shaw made a motion to extend the payment of Chapman's attorney's fees for another 60 days. The motion failed to attract a second and therefore died. City Attorney Bob Fournier quickly inter- vened to fill the void. When a motion fails for lack of a second, it is normally followed by another motion. In this case, the expected action was a call to deny any further payment. Instead, Fournier offered to return in two weeks with an update on the case. "Let me talk with her counsel," he said, "rather than denying [the continued payment] this eve- ning." Shaw turned that into a motion, which Atwell seconded. Commissioner Caragiulo noted, "So we're not extending the payment." Chapman replied, "We have offered media- tion. We've offered to dismiss if they dismiss [the lawsuit]. They've either refused or we've heard nothing." She concluded, "We were met with obstruction at every turn." Caragiulo phrased his earlier comment a different way. "No authorization for further payment." The motion passed 4-0. Because Chapman has a financial interest in the out- come, she is banned from voting on the matter. % Sarasota News Leader March 7, 2014 Page 40