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Florida Crown to make changes
No action taken against John Chastain
By JUSTIN LANG jlang@lakecityreporter.com
The Florida Crown Workforce Board decided Wednesday it would make procedural changes in the wake of an investigation into allegations of improprieties against Executive Director John Chastain, but not reprimand the man himself.
The Florida Crown Workforce Board and its Executive Committee met at its offices on South Main Boulevard solely to discuss the report released by James Matthews, Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation inspector general, regarding the allegations.
The board chairman and attorney both downplayed the significance of Matthews' report during the meetings and did not address what action - if any - should be taken against Chastain.
"The investigator (inspector) general made a wrong call on who he chose to do his investigations," said Ralph Tyre, board chairman.
For an issue of such importance, he said, "I'd have somebody besides a CPA doing the investigating."
After Matthews' report substantiated eight of 18 allegations (six of which were considered to be improprieties) against Chastain such as violation of Sunshine Law, the inspector general called for a response and "details related to any corrective actions already taken or anticipated as a result of the findings," by Saturday.
Matthews has said "I really don't have any specifics" and "that can be any form that they want to respond to."
"The only thing I can see is that I am leaving the response up to them and they can read and interpret that," he said Tuesday.
Matthews also said he didn't know what he would do after receiving the board's response.
Board Attorney Paul Silverman of Gainesville, who led Wednesday's meetings, said he didn't believe Matthews' request meant corrective actions regarding Chastain personally and told board members the reports findings shouldn't be taken as "gospel."
"I think they are looking for procedurally what actions are we going to take," he told the Lake City Reporter. "Not are we going fire the executive director."
The allegations against Chastain investigated by Matthews' were made in August by Frankie Law, former Florida Crown account technician.
Though Law was told by Tyre she would be able to speak at the end of the meeting, when trying, she was told to bring the issue before the board at its next meeting.
Law had handed a letter to every member of the board and many in the audience asking for not only for Chastain's resignation, but that of Tyre and Alonzo Philmore (board vice-chairman).
She said it was the "corrective action" she expected.
"People sometimes choose to do things that they know are wrong and later regret, however, when they try to cover up these actions by lying, this only compounds the problem," the letter says. "They need to be held responsible for their actions."
But as Law broke into tears while attempting to speak, telling Tyre "I am so tired of hearing you speak in half-truths all day long," the chairman called for adjournment.
No board member called for the resignation.
As people filed out of the room after the meeting, Law told the Lake City Reporter she would continue to pursue her cause.
"No, I'm not planning to give up," she said. "I will contact the inspector general's office and let them know how they presented the report to the board."
During an Executive Committee meeting at 1 p.m., members received a draft copy of itemized corrective actions the board should take for each allegation that was substantiated and/or ones Matthews' office made recommendations on.
Silverman said Chastain participated in meetings with the attorney and other staff members to develop the corrective actions.
When asked if Chastain's doing so was a conflict of interest, Silverman said "no, not at all," because the document went before the Executive Committee and full board, who were able to make any revisions or additions.
But during the meetings, changes to the draft copy were few, though the committee and board did decide Chastain's spending authority should be changed back to $25,000 from $100,000. Matthews' report found Chastain to have changed his authority to $100,000 without board approval.
During both meetings Wednesday, Tyre, Chastain and Silverman all sat at the head of the meeting room table.
At the full board meeting at 4 p.m., Chastain gave the invocation for the 12 board members attending in person and two over the phone.
Because allegations substantiated by Matthews' report included Sunshine Law violations, that matter was referred to Jerry Blair's office, state attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit, for review.
According to Matthews' report, "evidence provided by both the complainant (Law) and the Executive Director (Chastain) strongly indicates that meetings have been held that did not comply with Florida Statutes governing public meetings."
E-mails submitted by Law, according to the report, show Chastain sent an e-mail about a meeting at 7:35 a.m. on July 17, 2002, to board and staff members.
The report says a staff member sent a message back to Chastain informing him the meeting would be subject to Sunshine Law and require advertisement.
According to the report, Chastain responded with an e-mail reading: "Right, how can we get around that since I need to get them all at once. I guess we will talk in generalities and change the name of each topic before it is ever presented to the Board. Give me your thoughts. JC."
On Tuesday, Assistant State Attorney made the decision to file a civil complaint against Chastain for aiding and abetting violation of Sunshine Law based on a July 17, 2002, meeting and e-mail.
At the most, the civil infraction can carry a fine of $500.
Silverman said it would be inappropriate to speak about the pending case Wednesday and did not allow discussion from board members on the issue.
He did say, however, Matthews' report was "very shallow" regarding the Sunshine Law violations because he was never contacted by the inspector general's office on the allegation.
Chastain said he was acting under the supervision of Silverman regarding Sunshine Law. Silverman said he still believes if any meetings were held on July 17, there was no violation.
Both men said Wednesday they believe the state's civil complaint will be dismissed.
Silverman said if he was in Blair's position, "I would have done the same thing," but added the facts he was given were "not accurate."
According to Blair, assistant state attorney Bob Dekle made the decision to file the complaint based on the evidence and Chastain is not eligible for criminal charges of Sunshine Law violation because he isn't a board member.
Chastain said Wednesday he believes nothing will come of the complaint.
"I will work that with the state attorney and will be exonerated on that issue."
By JUSTIN LANG jlang@lakecityreporter.com
The Florida Crown Workforce Board decided Wednesday it would make procedural changes in the wake of an investigation into allegations of improprieties against Executive Director John Chastain, but not reprimand the man himself.
The Florida Crown Workforce Board and its Executive Committee met at its offices on South Main Boulevard solely to discuss the report released by James Matthews, Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation inspector general, regarding the allegations.
The board chairman and attorney both downplayed the significance of Matthews' report during the meetings and did not address what action - if any - should be taken against Chastain.
"The investigator (inspector) general made a wrong call on who he chose to do his investigations," said Ralph Tyre, board chairman.
For an issue of such importance, he said, "I'd have somebody besides a CPA doing the investigating."
After Matthews' report substantiated eight of 18 allegations (six of which were considered to be improprieties) against Chastain such as violation of Sunshine Law, the inspector general called for a response and "details related to any corrective actions already taken or anticipated as a result of the findings," by Saturday.
Matthews has said "I really don't have any specifics" and "that can be any form that they want to respond to."
"The only thing I can see is that I am leaving the response up to them and they can read and interpret that," he said Tuesday.
Matthews also said he didn't know what he would do after receiving the board's response.
Board Attorney Paul Silverman of Gainesville, who led Wednesday's meetings, said he didn't believe Matthews' request meant corrective actions regarding Chastain personally and told board members the reports findings shouldn't be taken as "gospel."
"I think they are looking for procedurally what actions are we going to take," he told the Lake City Reporter. "Not are we going fire the executive director."
The allegations against Chastain investigated by Matthews' were made in August by Frankie Law, former Florida Crown account technician.
Though Law was told by Tyre she would be able to speak at the end of the meeting, when trying, she was told to bring the issue before the board at its next meeting.
Law had handed a letter to every member of the board and many in the audience asking for not only for Chastain's resignation, but that of Tyre and Alonzo Philmore (board vice-chairman).
She said it was the "corrective action" she expected.
"People sometimes choose to do things that they know are wrong and later regret, however, when they try to cover up these actions by lying, this only compounds the problem," the letter says. "They need to be held responsible for their actions."
But as Law broke into tears while attempting to speak, telling Tyre "I am so tired of hearing you speak in half-truths all day long," the chairman called for adjournment.
No board member called for the resignation.
As people filed out of the room after the meeting, Law told the Lake City Reporter she would continue to pursue her cause.
"No, I'm not planning to give up," she said. "I will contact the inspector general's office and let them know how they presented the report to the board."
During an Executive Committee meeting at 1 p.m., members received a draft copy of itemized corrective actions the board should take for each allegation that was substantiated and/or ones Matthews' office made recommendations on.
Silverman said Chastain participated in meetings with the attorney and other staff members to develop the corrective actions.
When asked if Chastain's doing so was a conflict of interest, Silverman said "no, not at all," because the document went before the Executive Committee and full board, who were able to make any revisions or additions.
But during the meetings, changes to the draft copy were few, though the committee and board did decide Chastain's spending authority should be changed back to $25,000 from $100,000. Matthews' report found Chastain to have changed his authority to $100,000 without board approval.
During both meetings Wednesday, Tyre, Chastain and Silverman all sat at the head of the meeting room table.
At the full board meeting at 4 p.m., Chastain gave the invocation for the 12 board members attending in person and two over the phone.
Because allegations substantiated by Matthews' report included Sunshine Law violations, that matter was referred to Jerry Blair's office, state attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit, for review.
According to Matthews' report, "evidence provided by both the complainant (Law) and the Executive Director (Chastain) strongly indicates that meetings have been held that did not comply with Florida Statutes governing public meetings."
E-mails submitted by Law, according to the report, show Chastain sent an e-mail about a meeting at 7:35 a.m. on July 17, 2002, to board and staff members.
The report says a staff member sent a message back to Chastain informing him the meeting would be subject to Sunshine Law and require advertisement.
According to the report, Chastain responded with an e-mail reading: "Right, how can we get around that since I need to get them all at once. I guess we will talk in generalities and change the name of each topic before it is ever presented to the Board. Give me your thoughts. JC."
On Tuesday, Assistant State Attorney made the decision to file a civil complaint against Chastain for aiding and abetting violation of Sunshine Law based on a July 17, 2002, meeting and e-mail.
At the most, the civil infraction can carry a fine of $500.
Silverman said it would be inappropriate to speak about the pending case Wednesday and did not allow discussion from board members on the issue.
He did say, however, Matthews' report was "very shallow" regarding the Sunshine Law violations because he was never contacted by the inspector general's office on the allegation.
Chastain said he was acting under the supervision of Silverman regarding Sunshine Law. Silverman said he still believes if any meetings were held on July 17, there was no violation.
Both men said Wednesday they believe the state's civil complaint will be dismissed.
Silverman said if he was in Blair's position, "I would have done the same thing," but added the facts he was given were "not accurate."
According to Blair, assistant state attorney Bob Dekle made the decision to file the complaint based on the evidence and Chastain is not eligible for criminal charges of Sunshine Law violation because he isn't a board member.
Chastain said Wednesday he believes nothing will come of the complaint.
"I will work that with the state attorney and will be exonerated on that issue."
. wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:01 AM: