DeLand, FL - Some Volusia County officials get into an argument on the dais after an item dealing with 911 dispatchers is left off the agenda.
Earlier today (April 2nd), Councilwoman Heather Post wanted to discuss Florida House Bill 511 and Florida Senate Bill 744, both of which reclassify 911 dispatchers as public safety personnel, just like police officers, deputies or firefighters.
However, the item never made it to the agenda, despite a request she made during another county council meeting in March to do that during
"I've requested over and over for us to bring it back to discussion and to have it on the agenda," said Post. "For whatever reason, it was not on the agenda for today."
This ended up sparking an argument between her and County Chair Ed Kelley.
Kelley's reasoning was that it wasn't adopted as a law.
"The bill had not been filed as of March the 21st," said Kelley. "So, I could not put it on there. It was filed on March 27th."
Kelley also went on to say that the council needed all the information on the bill before the bill could be discussed and took Post to task for allegedly violating a county ordinance requiring council members to seek approval before going on taxpayer-funded business trips out of the area.
The District 4 representative noted that she wasn't aware of such a policy and that she had gone to Washington, DC recently as part of her service on a public safety committee for the National Association of Counties, not specifically for her job on the VCC.
Post also mentioned that she had invited the Volusia County Sheriff's Office Director of Communications to give the council a brief presentation on the bill and county dispatchers. But Kelley refused to hear the presentation, saying it wasn't on the agenda.
Arguing between the two would continue until Councilman Fred Lowry ended the argument, suggesting that the item be put on the next agenda.
Not long after the meeting, however, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood posted to his Facebook, saying that Kelley deliberately pushed the item of the agenda and ignored his staff.
"Councilwoman Post just wanted the council to issue a resolution saying 'Hey, we support our dispatchers and we support this endeavor'," said Sheriff Chitwood. "Obviously, Ed Kelley and his group of minions don't support it."
Sheriff Chitwood said that he was approached by Post asking if anyone from his staff could come and speak about the item. That's when Chitwood allowed his Director of Communications to give a presentation in front of the council.
"He had a two-minute presentation," said Chitwood. "But (Ed Kelley) wouldn't allow Heather Post to have her say or let the dispatch director at least speak on behalf of our employees."
Sheriff Chitwood went on to say that he's thinking of inviting dispatchers and their families to the next county council meeting.
The Florida Senate website says that the effective date for both bills would be July 1st, 2019. It's not clear if the item will be added to the county's next agenda.
Other topics also sparked some tense words during the meeting, notably a proposed $5,000 donation for a banquet as part of renaming the DeLand Community Spring Hill Center in honor of former VCC member Joyce Cusack.
Post and District 1's Barbara Girtman were the only ones who voted for donating that money, with Kelley and District 3's Billie Wheeler expressing political concerns over the involvement of the Minority Elected Officials of Volusia County, which is hosting the banquet.
