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Under discussion, Commissioner Bird stated he would not vote <br />for the Motion, because he did not feel that Mr. Wright has done <br />anything wrong and has seen no proof other than hearing some <br />allegations and innuendos that he has done something wrong. He <br />believed Mr. Wright has done a good job for the County and has <br />put together a very strong management team and that the County is <br />functioning at its smoothest even though we are experiencing <br />tremendous growing pains. Further, the timing is very bad <br />because we have so many major projects in the works and are <br />getting ready to go into budget workshop sessions and need our <br />team intact with as much experience on board as possible. He <br />believed this is a very black day for Indian River County and if <br />there were any personality conflicts with any individual <br />Commissioners or if anyone felt uncomfortable with Mr. Wright's <br />private investments, etc., those could have been worked out, <br />because he did not see where that interferred with his job as <br />County Administrator. Commissioner Bird noted that this morning's <br />newspaper had written that Mr. Wright is pro development, but <br />pointed out that he himself had friends who were developers, as <br />did most of the other Commissioners. If that title was hung on <br />him because it appears that our planning staff is expediting site <br />plans and zoning approvals faster than they used to, that direction <br />has come from this Board. It was not something Mr. Wright took <br />on through his own initiative. Further, he understood that 9 <br />month's severance pay would amount to $43,000, and, therefore, he <br />would not vote to accept Mr. Wright's resignation and certainly <br />would not vote to terminate him based on the information that has <br />been presented up to this time. If some members of this Commission <br />feel that the payment of $43,000 in severance pay is necessary to <br />satisfy their conscience about what is going on here this morning, <br />his conscience is clear and he was not voting to spend that kind <br />of money. <br />Commissioner Wodtke felt it was very difficult to serve as <br />Commissioner in situations such as this, and noted that when <br />3 BOOK 64 FAGS 583 <br />