Kim Scott: Fox guarding hen house??

[sheclown]

Kimberly Scott, former chief of Municipal Code Compliance has been appointed as interim division chief for the newly created Regulatory Compliance Division.  A division which includes the Environmental Quality Department.  The EQD, ironically, is currently investigating Ms Scott's department -- there is an active enforcement case (AD-11-22).

Those employees of the city whose job it is to investigate (among other things) asbestos violations, now have to answer to Ms. Scott.

Not a pleasant position to be in for either the employees or the city.

Apparently the violations mentioned above are not the first time that Ms. Scott's department has been in trouble with the Environmental Quality Department.  Jax Unicorn's digging  brought this previous asbestos problem to light.

Back in 2010, the then Director of the Division, slapped MCCD's wrist for not following the federal regulations regarding asbestos demolitions.  At this time, the EQD basically said that code enforcement has learned its lesson and promises to do a better job.

A year later, they are cited again.

See the email below.



It is after this that they violated EPA guidelines once again forcing the city to take action on itself and exposing the citizens of this city to dangerous conditions.

[sheclown]

An additional public records request has turned up the following email from Dana Brown in the City's Environmental Quality Division apparently accusing Kim Scott and the Municipal Code Compliance Division of fudging EQD stamps.  How much more of this will be uncovered as we continue to dig???

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=21072.0

[strider]

We have always heard that Ms Scott runs her department with an iron fist.  So, it is hard not to believe that she knew exactly what her employees were doing (Youtube of a breaking and entering), that she willingly did not follow the requirements for using federal funds (requiring the payback of we believe a potential $500K from NSP1 & 3 alone), knew that her sub-contractors were not following procedures for asbestos (the violations mentioned above) and just had her people close out a public records request that ended up with the city paying lawyer fees.

Now the Mayor wants to promote her.  Is it time we started asking who the Mayor really works for?  It does not appear to be us tax payers.

[avs]

This is very disappointing and I agree, Strider, a complete let down by the Mayor.  Misuse of federal money and the Mayor promotes her??  He is again showing really poor leadership

[strider]

2014-0215    RESO Conf Appt of Kimberly Scott as Director of Regulatory Compliance Dept. (McCain) (Req of Mayor)    3/25/2014    Introduced

[sheclown]

Code chief criticized for demolitions in Springfield up for promotion

By Steve Patterson Thu, Mar 20, 2014 @ 1:22 pm

A veteran manager who has been praised and criticized as Jacksonville's code-enforcement chief is being picked to run the city's newly named Regulatory Compliance Department.

http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-03-20/story/code-chief-criticized-demolitions-springfield-promotion

[strider]

Another point to think about is her qualifications.  I do not believe her resume meets the qualifications of the job as presented in the new ordinance that reorganized the departments.

Also of interest, while the article stated that Ms Scott was "deeply versed in the city ordinances" it has been my personal experience that she is not, often arguing with both the Office of General Council and the various other departments, something often seen in her emails.  In fact, the entire Asbestos issue is because Ms. Scott refused to follow the ordinance as instructed.  Maybe that means she is well versed in what they say but feels she is above following them?  Not someone who should be running a department in my opinion.

[movedsouth]

It is the City of Jacksonville's way to tell honest investors who try to move this city forward to stay out of cow-town and look for a honest city to spend their money. This never ending cycle of corruption, inbreeding and incompetence has to stop if Jacksonville wants to be taken serious.

[iloveionia]

It's corrupt, totally agree. Scott doctored public documents and misused funds that the city will have to pay back. Doesn't matter whether you sing praises about preservation or champion for an old homes' demise, everyone's tax dollars are doing double and triple time here.

What's the reward for f-ing with people, properties, and funds? Promote and allow the scandal to ensue.

Not that is does any good in backass Jax, but we need to demand the council peeps shoot this down and demand Scott be removed.

[Noone]

Kimberly Scott, former chief of Municipal Code Compliance has been appointed as interim division chief for the newly created Regulatory Compliance Division.  A division which includes the Environmental Quality Department.  The EQD, ironically, is currently investigating Ms Scott's department -- there is an active enforcement case (AD-11-22).

Those employees of the city whose job it is to investigate (among other things) asbestos violations, now have to answer to Ms. Scott.

Not a pleasant position to be in for either the employees or the city.

Apparently the violations mentioned above are not the first time that Ms. Scott's department has been in trouble with the Environmental Quality Department.  Jax Unicorn's digging  brought this previous asbestos problem to light.

Back in 2010, the then Director of the Division, slapped MCCD's wrist for not following the federal regulations regarding asbestos demolitions.  At this time, the EQD basically said that code enforcement has learned its lesson and promises to do a better job.

A year later, they are cited again.

See the email below.



It is after this that they violated EPA guidelines once again forcing the city to take action on itself and exposing the citizens of this city to dangerous conditions.

Environmental Ethics- Vince Seibold

[strider]

This is the section of the new ordinance that sets the new department they wish to make Ms Scott Director of.  Note the requirements of the job.

Section 25.    Amending Part 1 (General), Chapter 35 (Neighborhoods Department), Ordinance Code, to rename Neighborhoods Department to Regulatory Compliance Department.
Chapter 35 (Neighborhoods Department), Part 1 (General), Ordinance Code, is hereby amended as follows:
Chapter 35. Neighborhoods Department Regulatory Compliance Department
Part 1. General
Section 35.101. Establishment; Director.
(a)   There is created an executive department to be known as the Neighborhoods Department Regulatory Compliance Department. The Department shall be responsible for:
   (1)   Administration, operation and enforcement of environmental, air and water resources management activities of the City;
   (2)   Administration and operation of Animal Care and Protective Services;
   (3)   Administration and operation of the Mosquito Control activities of the Consolidated Government;
   (4)   Administration and operation of municipal code compliance activities;
   (5)   Administration, operation, and implementation of affordable housing and community development activities; and
   (6)   Having a liaison relationship with the Jacksonville Public Library.
(b)   The Director of Neighborhoods shall be the head of the Department. The Director shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Director shall have a bachelor's degree or higher in an accredited college or university and at least five years of management experience in environmental regulation, affordable housing or community development, or in government. Experience in governmental environmental regulation is preferred. The Director shall be responsible for the regulation and enforcement of environmental, air and water quality matters, the operation of the Mosquito Control, Environmental Quality, Animal Care and Protective Services, Housing and Community Development, and the Municipal Code Compliance Divisions, and have a liaison relationship with the Jacksonville Public Library.

The only environmental management experience I can find is during Ms Scott's tenure as Chief of MCC and as she is currently under investigation for the management of the environmental issues, perhaps that experience should not and can not count.  In fact, I would think it would and should negate all of the other experience for any city job.

[sheclown]

Tuesday the 25th, the ordinance (2014-215) will be introduced to full council. 

The following Monday at 9am ( March 31st) it will go before Rules Committee.  Listed below are the members of the rules committee, their email and phone numbers.

Warren Jones 630-1395
Doyle Carter 630-1380
Bill Bishop 630-1392
Lori Boyer 630-1382
Richard Clark 630-1386
Denise Lee 630-1385
Don Redman 630-1394

The email cut and paste:

WAJones@coj.net, doylec@coj.net, WBishop@coj.net, LBoyer@coj.net, RClark@coj.net, EDLee@coj.net, Redman@coj.net

[sheclown]

At the end of it all is this:

to run a regulatory compliance division, one ought to have a track record of complying with regulations.

[ChriswUfGator]

[Overstreet]

..................................................

A year later, they are cited again.

See the email below.



It is after this that they violated EPA guidelines once again forcing the city to take action on itself and exposing the citizens of this city to dangerous conditions.

Good thing this wasn't me cause I really can't tell what the infraction was. It only speaks to a misinterpertation of the regulations. From this I cannot tell if the public was in danger.  Which may add to the probability of misreads cause it is so "buearucratic mumbo jumbo".  Must have been the governments ineffective writing course graduate.