The strange gets stranger
Received this last night via e-mail, purporting to be from Shane Saputo. Route tracing reveals that it does come from an AOL account that Saputo has used in the past to communicate with the city. City Clerk Lori Stelzer confirmed that city hall did receive this message via e-mail. It is reprinted here, then, as a public record.
From: Ssaputo@aol.com
To: jandrews@venicegondolier.com, dcalama@ci.venice.fl.us, bwillso@ci.venice.fl.us, vtaylor@ci.venice.fl.us, jsimmon@ci.venice.fl.us, jmoore@ci.venice.fl.us, rtacy@ci.venice.fl.us, fhammet@ci.venice.fl.us, david.hackett@heraldtribune.com, afroman@sarasotafirm.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 10:20 AM
Subject: congratulations
Mr. Mayor,
Congratulations on your recent victory with the Ethics Committee. I know personally how it fills [sic] to be vindicated when frivolous charges are filed against you. I do not know, however, how it feels to be reimbursed attorneys fees for legal representation.
You may recall that Council directed the City Attorney on more than one occasion to research the feasibility for reimbursing myself and the other three supervisors for legal expenses we incurred while defending ourselves against bogus charges. He was to render his report as quickly as possible. I do not remember seeing that report.
I recall that you were in agreement with former City Manager Hunt, when he told the four of us we would be reimbursed if we were exonerated by the Court. You may recall that Judge Titus ruled in our favor and overturned the actions of the City Council.
I sincerely hope that you do not feel there is a difference in our situations. You must feel good knowing that the City you represent will back you, even when you have been accused of less than appropriate behavior. The Ethics Committee has done a great job in finding you not guilty of the charges by Mr. Anderson. I am sure the Committee finds you to be a competent Mayor. I would assume they see you as a stand up guy and a Mayor that wants to be fair to the employees of his City, both former and current.
Anyway, congrats again and I look forward to hearing from you.
