"Keep your nose out of Venice's business"
Mayor Fred Hammett wants the county commission to know that there are no scrub jays at Venice Airport and that the county commission needs to stay out of Venice's business. That's according to an account of a recent confrontation between Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta and the mayor.

Venice Florida! dot com contacted Barbetta after hearing about the dialog.

According to Barbetta, he approached the mayor at a recent school function to greet him and shake his hand. Hammett had a copy of a recent news article in which a consultant had told the county that steps needed to be taken to protect scrub jays at Venice Airport.

According to Barbetta, the mayor snubbed the handshake attempt and instead showed Barbetta the article, followed by a verbal warning: "Keep your nose out of Venice's business."

When Barbetta showed surprise at the mayor's behavior, Hammett continued: "I've walked the airport property and there are no scrub jays out there."

Barbetta reportedly responded, "That's not what our consultant reported..."

According to Barbetta, Hammett cut him off angrily, asking, "Are you calling me a liar?"

Barbetta stated that the conversation escalated from there, with Hammett accusing Barbetta and Commissioner Jon Thaxton of cooking up the scrub jay controversy.

The news item in question is this article from the May 27, 2007, Venice Gondolier. In the article, Barbetta is quoted as stating "We may want to put Venice on notice quickly," this after listening to a presentation from Cornell University ornithologist John Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick had warned the Sarasota County Commission that development in some areas of the county, including the Venice Airport, would jeopardize the endangered bird. He was quoted by the Gondo as being adamant that immediate steps need to be taken to protect already negative aspects of the bird's habitat at the airport: "Protect its habitat actively and get going on it soon. I mean, like Monday."

Hammett responds
In an email to Venice Florida! dot com, Hammett confirmed the confrontation. Hammett took exception to Fitzpatrick's conclusions, Barbetta's statements as quoted in the article, and the Gondolier's coverage of the story.

Hammett's response, in full:

     The article said that Barbetta said something to the effect "to put Venice on notice." I took exception to that statement. Commissioner Barabetta's duty, as far as I know, is with the County, not the City. I believe, also, that the City has the authority at the airport and Commissioner Barbetta indicated that the County also had some authority on the Venice Airport. I do not think that is the case, and I so said. That has been subsequently confirmed by [the] City Attorney.
     On the discussion of the scrub jays, he said that there were a lot of scrub jays at the airport. I said that if that was the case, they have recently moved there because I walked with the consultant that did the survey that was required when the segment of the Venetian Waterway Park was being constructed by the airport and there was only, maybe, one family of scrub jays. He argued with me, and I did say that then he is calling me a liar.
     I still find it troubling that any Commissioner feels the need to "put Venice on notice." Commissioner Barbetta did not take kindly to being challenged. Unless, on the other hand, the newspaper is wrong. Imagine that.
-- Mayor Fred Hammett, email to Venice Florida! dot com, 06/12/07

 

John Patten is the editor and publisher of Venice Florida! dot com and had previously worked in broadcasting for over 12 years. He can also be incredibly rude at times.