Fernandina Beach Mayor Bradley Bean, who works for Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM), crossed the conflict of interest rubicon when he objected to a request to have Rayonier make a presentation regarding its plans to build a Bioenthanol plant at its current facility.
During the closing minutes of Tuesday's City Commission meeting, Commissioner Chip Ross asked for commission consensus to have RYAM make a presentation regarding the proposed Bioethanol facility.
"I believe they'll (RYAM) will be going through the normal process so I don't think we need to give any direction (to them)," Bean said. "Why are you going to ask this one particular business to make a presentation?"
Ross said according to RYAM's application the company plans to produce 7.5 million gallons of ethanol in the city.
"They've (RYAM) put in an air quality permit and they've asked for public comment," Ross said. "I think it's totally appropriate to ask them what they're putting into our city. They're also putting it in a 100-year flood plain. They're also putting over 1,000 more ethanol trucks on the road. How is that going to affect the community?"
Commissioner James Antun supported Ross' suggestion.
Vice Mayor David Sturges then suggested the matter be tabled and referred to City Manager Ty Ross.
"You need to talk about this in your own meeting (with the city manager)," Bean told Ross.
Ross explained that he had already asked the city manager about the RYAM presentation and was told he needed a city commission consensus to move forward.
"Listen, I don't want to hear that. There are plenty of public comments with the state, there's so many meetings with public comment, why would we add one more to the city," Bean said.
Ross told Bean, "I'll just point out that you work for this company and it's inappropriate of what you're saying right now."
Bean, Sturges and Commissioner Darron Asycue did not voice support for the proposal.
But that didn't end the friction between Bean and Ross.
About 10 minutes later in his closing comments, Bean took a final shot at Ross.
"I want to end with this just a response to Commissioner Ross. I'm been sitting here thinking about this. I know the mill has actually invited Commissioner Ross to go before and visit the mill and take a tour. And Commissioner Ross did not come on that day," Bean said. "So I want to put that out there in the public and give that response to everybody."
Ross immediately shot back "I want to respond to that and I've never been invited (to RYAM) and I don't know why you did that. It was unneccessary."
Oh, Rayonier will have another open house where they can control the message......lie to the community. As a retiree from the U.S. EPA, this project seriously affects our air, water and vehicle proliferation. This surely deserved a presentation before the commission and the residents. Bean should have some ethics and remove himself from this issue and all votes. What does he do at Rayonier anyway? Did daddy get him a cushy jib?
This stinks on so many levels and is about to stink on many more. 1000 more trucks (great idea) and a nice north breeze should bring everything into perspective.
Bean works for Rayonier? How many hands all total are in this sock puppet? The entire city administration and the board are rank with personal enrichment agendas most of the tax paying public is entirely unaware of. Small wonder Rayonier is on the cusp of building a bioethanol plant on a fragile barrier island with all these greasy skids. Where are the ethics controls on these grifters?
So much for the Mayor being an advocate for clear transparency. This proposed plant will have a major impact on the City and the request for an informative presentation to City/Island residents is certainly reasonable. In fact, Rayonier would earn some community favor for volunteering to come make a presentation.