VIERA, Fla. – County commissioners approved a gameplan for the agency seeking to boost North Brevard's economy. But not before Commissioner Trudie Infantini, an opponent of the plan, stormed out of the meeting, saying she was insulted by personal attacks made by other commissioners. She did not return for the remainder of the meeting.
Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported that the firestorm began as Infantini, a certified public accountant, was commenting on what she saw as the financial implications of the recently formed North Brevard Economic Development Zone, which is designed to target a large portion of property-tax revenue from new commercial and industrial development within North Brevard for use in job-creation efforts there.
Commission Chairman Chuck Nelson said Infantini's analogy of North Brevard getting a free lunch out of the deal "absolutely makes no sense and it is inaccurate."
Then, Commission Vice Chairman Andy Anderson asked for a certified public accountant in the audience to come before the board to give his take on the issue.
"A real CPA?" asked Commissioner Robin Fisher, who championed the economic development zone plan and has been at odds with Infantini on the issue.
That upset Infantini, who said: "Ah, that's good. You know, it's funny. People say I'm argumentative. You're the only one who name-calls. You and Mr. Nelson are the only ones who even do any name-calling."
Infantini asked whether anyone was supposed to monitor the decorum of the County Commission, and got no response. She then said if the name-calling was to continue, "I'm going to walk out. Frankly, I've had enough of this. You know what? You can have the meeting, Robin. Your calls are out of line. You are out of line. He is out of order. He has no duty to be on this board."
After Infantini left and after the commission heard from 27 speakers, the four remaining commissioners unanimously approved the economic development plan for the board.
The plan includes strategies for high-wage business attraction and retention; redevelopment of commercial and industrial sites; development of pad-ready/spec building sites; and efforts aimed at small-business attraction, creation, retention and expansion.
Property-tax revenue generated from new construction in North Brevard would pay for those efforts, with taxes from a Florida Power & Light Co. plant in Port St. John now under construction likely to be a major source of the money.
Separately, the commission earlier in the meeting approved extending the North Brevard Economic Development Zone to include the Exploration Park area at Kennedy Space Center. That vote was 4-1, with Infantini voting no.
The majority of the 27 speakers during the public comment time spoke in favor of economic development plan, with 11 clearly opposed to it. Some of those opponents also criticized the commissioners for their behavior as it related to Infantini.
"I am appalled at the behavior I have seen today," said Melbourne Beach resident Pat Pasley, who was critical of Fisher for his remarks and of Nelson for not asking Fisher to apologize. "If I were a school teacher, I'd put you all in a corner. It's terrible. It's terrible what I've seen. Shame on you, Mr. Fisher. Shame on you for what you did."
Nelson said he was troubled by Infintini's own comments in an email she sent to constituents, which he felt was misleading, was disrespectful to other commissioners and "not civil as well." He said he wanted to address that email with her during Tuesday's commission meeting and was disappointed she left.
In that email, Infantini questioned the wisdom of what she termed a diversion of money that otherwise would have been in the county's general fund for use in the North Brevard economic zone. Infantini wrote: "How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb. … How much money should we blow, and how many agencies, special districts, zones and commissioners are needed to promote Brevard County at the expense of the taxpayers."
Fisher also said Infantini insults the commission during her radio talk show appearances, then offered an apology near the end of a two-hour discussion of the item, saying: "If my comment offended her, OK, I apologize."
Following the meeting, Fisher said, he remains upset by Infantini's comments on this and other issues during her radio appearances.
"At the end of the day, she is the lone vote, and she has not gained the respect of other commissioners," Fisher said.
Infantini said in an email sent after the meeting that she is "incensed by constant personal attacks from commissioners Robin Fisher and Chuck Nelson." Infantini said she "is noted for being a fiscal conservative who questions the county commissions' spending plans, taxing plans or budgets to increase taxes on Brevard citizens. In response, her detractors on the board refuse to discuss the issues and deride her for her opposing point of view."
In a later interview, Infantini said she left Tuesday's meeting to make a point that the behavior of the other commissioners has to stop. She said leaving a commission meeting in a huff was something she never did before and does not plan to do again.