Just two days after a shocking coup removed Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge as chair, another sudden motion was made Thursday morning to put him back.
Attorney fees and costs: $34,150
After a bout of public records lawsuits, Manatee County commissioners voted May 11 to protect themselves against what County Attorney Bill Clague described as a “chilling effect” on their ability to perform official duties.
Before unanimously approving the county s payment of up to $60,000 worth of legal expenses accrued by Commissioners James Satcher and Kevin Van Ostenbridge in public records lawsuits, other commissioners said they were worried leaving Satcher and Van Ostenbridge to pay for the fees themselves would leave commissioners vulnerable to endless public records requests and ensuing lawsuits.
“That s not a good way of getting the best candidates to be on this board in the long run, to put a sense of fear in people, because that s what this is turning into,” Commissioner George Kruse said.