A Villager has quit two town boards in Lady Lake after a commissioner refused to apologize for comments made about the board’s functionality.
Peter Chiasson of the Village of Valle Verde has resigned from the Planning and Zoning Board after Lady Lake Commissioner Paul Hannan lashed out at its members last year. You can read more about that HERE.
Chiasson also resigned from the Police Pension Board.
“After much thought I have reached the conclusion that in good conscience I can no longer serve the town of Lady Lake as a member of the Planning and Zoning Board or the Police Pension Board and I hereby submit my resignation from both the Planning and Zoning Board and the Police Pension Board effective immediately,” Chiasson wrote in his resignation letter.
“I base my decision on three factors. First, on the inaccurate, inappropriate and personally offensive comments made by Commissioner Hannan in an open meeting of the Lady Lake Commissioners and as reported in newspapers regarding his feelings about the current P&Z Board’s functionality and the competency of the existing members of the Board. Second, on Commissioner Hannon’s refusal to publicly apologize for these same comments. And third, because officials of the Town of Lady Lake have not taken any vigorous actions to sanction or discipline Commissioner Hannan for his comments made in a public forum.”
On Wednesday evening, the Lady Lake Commission split on the lone applicant for Chiasson’s seat on the Planning and Zoning Board.
The application from Phil Mathias, who has repeatedly applied for positions on town boards, was vehemently opposed by Commissioner Hannan who resurrected an incident of about a decade ago “when our police chief had to intervene” in an incident between Mathias and then-Mayor Max Pullen.
Mathias previously lived in Hannan’s ward and once ran against him. Hannan defeated Mathias in that election.
Commissioner Ruth Kussard said she would prefer to wait to see if more applications came in.
However, Mayor Jim Richards and Commissioner Tony Holden said they were willing to give Mathias a chance.
The commission deadlocked 2-2 as Commissioner Dan Vincent was absent.
The commission will take another vote when all commissioners are present.