Fernandina Beach City Commissioners sat stoically Tuesday night as six speakers peppered them with questions and comments regarding RYAM's proposal to build a bioethanol production plant just seven blocks from downtown.
It wasn't until commissioner comments that two Commissioners - James Antun and Darron Ayscue - decided to address the issue.
Corrine Garrett, representing No Ethanol Fernandina, asked the commission about their positions on the RYAM bioethanol project.
"I would like to know if Fenandina Beach City Commissioners are in line with the concept of the law?" Garrett asked.
After several seconds of silence, Mayor Bradley Bean told her "This is not a question and answer time."
"Do we agree the City Charter is the law?" she posed.
Bean again said "this is not a comment period."
Garrett, a retired commander with the Orange County Sheriff's office, persisted and concluded with "who here supports the RYAM initiative to build an ethanol refinery in the heart of the city?"
Faced with blank stares from commissioners, she said, "Anyone?"
There was no response and Garrett closed by saying "let the record show then that there were no answers to any of the questions I posed here today."
Christopher Bidwell, representing friends and neighbors, later asked commissioners directly their positions on the bioethanol plant.
He told them a couple of months ago a concerned citizen had asked the commission about the RYAM plan and that Commissioner Chip Ross commented that his position was that the proposal violated the city's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
Bidwell said that since Ross had given his opinion about RYAM, that the other commissioners should state publicly their positions on the plans as well.
"Commissioner Ross is the one of you that has made a public statement concerning support of or opposition to the RYAM facility," Bidwell said. "I formally request you make a clear and unambiguous public statement detailing your support or opposition to this RYAM refinery. Election season is upon us and for obvious reasons many are more than curious. Silence or no timely response to your constituents on their more than reasonable requests can only be interpreted as you are 100 percent supportive of the RYAM ethanol refinery."
During Bidwell's comments, Bean and Vice Mayor David Sturges could be seen frequently looking down, possibly reading their cellphones.
No commissioners responded.
About 15 minutes later, during commissioner comments, Antun said he shared the same concerns those made by the speakers.
"I don't appreciate accusations that a lack of saying an opinion at this point means we are complicit with that agenda," he said. "I think there's a lot more to be found out. Beyond that I don't love the idea of it either. I'm also not willing to jump the gun. We've had the city engineer tell us that RYAM not ready to share some of that information. On that note, I don't love the idea, I have doubts how I could find a way of proving it, but that being said we haven't heard everything yet."
Ayscue said his position is simple. If outside attorneys advise that the bioethanol plant violates city laws, the commission will not allow the proposal to go forward. If the attorneys advise it's allowable, then the city will issue permits for the plant.
"It's really that simple," Ayscue said.
He also said RYAM is welcome to address the city commission any time it seeks an audience.
Previous comments included four other speakers.
Joyce Tuten told commissioners the bioethanol proposal should be discussed as a city commission workshop or meeting agenda item.
"A large majority of the city believes it does not belong in the city limits and you all have some power to protect the citizens' desires and our safety," she said.
But efforts to have RYAM discuss the bioethanol plant at a city commission meeting have been stymied by a split city commission deadlocked at 2-2 on whether to invite RYAM. Previously, Commissioners Ross and James Antun supported having RYAM make a presentation and Vice Mayor Sturges and Commissioner Darron Ayscue opposed it. Mayor Bean, a RYAM employee, recused himself.
Interim City Manager Charlie George said since the commission had no consensus on RYAM, he had not extended an invitation to the company to make a presentation.
Jack Imber, a staunch opponent of RYAM's plans, told city commissioners that by their silence on the issue "you're basically for it (bioethanol). I would like to challenge any human being on the city commission to step up and do the right thing. We would never vote (to allow) this. I hope you guys step up to the plate and do the right thing."
Sandy Kerry spoke about Mayor Bean's responsibility to the Fernandina citizens.
"You took an oath of office as mayor to preserve and protect the citizens of Fernandina Beach. Your duties as mayor come before your job at RYAM," she said. "This is a matter of life and death. When disaster and accidents occur and we have no preparedness and no way to react to it, it's going to be too late."
Those responsible for making decisions simply want someone or some entity to do it for them. Sad. Go home and leave local government to those who are responsible.
Why would we need an "outside" attorney to review what is already plainly and unequivocally stated in our city's comprehensive plan document. This whole thing is a "no-brainer".
Did you not watch until the end of the meeting when this was addressed? Public comment is reserved for the public to make comment, not for there to be an open discussion between citizens and commissioners. How did you make it 4 years on the commission and still cannot understand the rules of order? No one could possibly be that ignorant.