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the Board consider an agenda procedures manual to provide guidelines for everyone and the <br />parameters desired relative to the public discussion items can be included. She hoped to hear <br />the Commissioners' comments on this suggestion after hearing from the public. <br />Frank Zorc, 2044 DeLeon Avenue, submitted a motto concerning "truth" and <br />postulated that some elected officials get the jitters when the public speaks the truth about <br />them, especially on television, because they fear it and call it "negative" or "attacks". He <br />opined that fear pushes them toward controlling and muzzling the public's freedom of <br />speech. He advised the contents of an article in Florida Today entitled "Is negative negative <br />if it's positive" which he stated was a good comparison to a major issue in Indian River <br />County of the "yet -pending (the State) Dodger Deal". Last week, he related that <br />Commissioner Macht sought Democratic votes saying he favored a vote of the people on the <br />Dodger Deal, but then gave excuses, such as not enough time and lack of public education, <br />for not having one. Further, he stated that Commissioner Macht portrayed "truth" as <br />negative attacks. This Dodger issue is still alive; the Commission can still support a vote on <br />it and the results would tell the State if our taxpayers support or oppose it. He asked the <br />Board to support the City of Vero Beach in holding such a vote. <br />Commissioner Macht wished to respond to Mr. Zorc's assertions because some things <br />he said were not true. Commissioner Macht stated he had no role as a negotiator with the <br />Dodgers, had nothing to do with timing or anything of that sort. The negotiations were <br />handled by County Administrator Chandler, our then -County Attorney and Assistant <br />Administrator Baird, and the Dodgers required the negotiations be kept confidential. He <br />was unaware of the progress until reports were made public. When asked, Commissioner <br />Macht had told people that he did not care whether or not a referendum was held. He did <br />nothing to prevent it; he was neither a opponent nor an advocate. He thought a referendum <br />was not appropriate at that time because there was no time to inform the people of specifics. <br />October 17, 2000 <br />47 <br />B11 1 15 PG 5 2 3 <br />