Florence Historical Commission: Part IV - Putting Lessers in Their Place

 

Returning to the last meeting of the Florence Historical Preservation Commission, those who listened to the video carefully were met with two rude bombshells. It seems there will be changes/additions to the current preservation standards now in place. These will be considered and approved by the board without public input.

That brings us to David Carson, a constant critic of commission chair Brian W. Murphy. Florence resident Carson makes it a point to attend both FHPC meetings and city council meetings, while offering questions and comments at appropriate times. It was during this August meeting that Carson asked if the public would have a chance to review these guideline changes before they were adopted.

The woman sitting to Murphy's left (name unknown to us) then replied that the public wasn't qualified to offer comments. How to be a Sleazy Politician 101 teaches wanna-be leaders at least to give lip service to citizens/voters/critics. This was a nuclear fail at every level.

Things then went downhill at an alarming rate when it was stated the planning sessions for the guideline changes were private. When Carson asked for the law concerning that policy, a male commission member (whom we believe to be attorney Doug Evans) told Carson to look it up himself. Little man syndrome at its best?

Instead Carson went to the Lauderdale County District Attorney's office to report a violation of the open meetings act. We understand that Chairman Murphy was instructed to follow the law and to keep his commission members on the straight and narrow also. 

Meanwhile back at Florence City Hall, rumor has it that Handy Dandy Andy was oblivious to this brouhaha due to his time consuming efforts to compose a new dress code for upper level male employees. We can't honestly say that it isn't needed...