Spending the First America refund

Historic City News reported on June 22nd that Christine Chapman, as chairwoman of the failed First America Foundation, Inc., turned over to the City of St. Augustine a partial refund of $150,000.

Before last night’s City Commission 450th Commemoration workshop, Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield told Historic City News that no further money has been recovered from First America out of the lump-sum payment of $275,000 or the $25,000 check due the City from Bridge of Lions contractor Tidewater-Skanska.

During the workshop, however, City Manager John Regan said, that, of the $150,000 returned, $100,000 has been “set aside” for “professional services” — and he proceeded to indicate how he intended spend those funds.

Part of Regan’s plan will be to employ a “450th manager” at a salary of $48,000 a year. That person will be responsible to coordinate an “in-house task force”.

Secondly, Regan says that a high caliber team experienced in major events needs to be hired to act as the “events manager”.

Marty Fiorentino, a Ponte Vedra Beach attorney, national lobbyist and political consultant, will be retained by the City on a six-month contract and paid $2,500 a month plus 15% of any funds raised, to focus on next year’s 200th anniversary of the 1812 Spanish Constitution.

Regan indicated that The Fiorentino Group has the potential of taking on further fundraising for the following commemoration years based on their success with the 2012 event.

The City is still waiting for Chapman to turn over remaining funds, files, project and sponsor data, forms and plans, institutional knowledge and programs already in development — a promise she made in a meeting with City Manager John Regan last month.

City Commissioner Bill Leary told Historic City News last night that he is eager to review the records concerning payments made from the $150,000 that was not returned; but, was spent, instead, during the nine month fiasco under the leadership of local attorney Don Wallis.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer