Jones to lead discussion on recent Aviles trip

Historic City News reporters learned from Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield the final shakeout on the recent city-financed trip to Aviles, Spain; a trip that gained wide media and public scrutiny before the August Primary Elections.

At the close of tonight’s City Commission meeting, Vice Mayor-Commissioner Errol Jones, will lead a discussion relevant to the recent Spain trip.

Historic City News editor Michael Gold had coffee with Jones over the weekend and discussed Jones’ impressions of the value and benefits of the Sister Cities program in light of the controversy surrounding world travel expenses.

Jones believes in Sister Cities. We discussed the long days spent in meetings focused mainly on cultural and some economic issues. “You know, they don’t eat dinner over there until late in the evening — like 10:00,” Jones said.

The vice-mayor says that he feels Aviles has “done a good job” promoting the program to their residents, pointing out local citizens knew that a delegation from St. Augustine was in town. “We traveled with local officials, but everybody seemed to recognize us as well,” Jones pointed out.

On one evening following a planned dinner, Jones says they stopped to socialize on the way back to their hotel. Jones recalled, “The orchestra recognized the dignitaries we were with and played Spain’s national anthem; followed by the United States national anthem.”

Originally the trip was being promoted by Mayor Joe Boles as necessary to develop business relationships with stops in other Spanish cities — beyond Aviles; all of which were “necessary” in anticipation of St. Augustine’s 450th Commemoration. Boles planned to take the entire city commission and their spouses, less Nancy Sikes-Kline, as well as several staff members and their spouses — the spouses responsible for their own airfare.

Burchfield confirmed that only Errol Jones, City Manager John Regan and Chief Financial Officer Mark Litzinger ended up making the trip — and none of them took their spouse. The city did front the money for the purchase of everyone’s tickets, however, according to Burchfield, the Freeman and Crichlow tickets, which were not used, are being held. The tickets are good for a year and Burchfield commented that “for a small fee” the city can change the name of the passenger traveling. Spouse tickets, or, in the case of Crichlow, his daughter’s ticket, will have to be refunded. Burchfield indicated that he believed the city would use the tickets “in the near future.”