The attorney for Community Development District 8 is defending the board of supervisors’ decision to settle a long legal battle and pay $70,000 to a resident who refused to remove his little white cross.
The protracted legal battle ended this week when the CDD 8 board unanimously voted to settle with Wayne Anderson of the Village of Tamarind Grove.
The $70,000 was paid by insurance carried by CDD 8. Another $173,000 was approved in a special budget resolution to pay for CDD 8’s legal expenses.
After the story first appeared in Villages-News.com, it was picked up by other media outlets, ramping up the scrutiny of the board’s decision.
In response to media requests being fielded at the District Office, CDD 8’s attorney, Mark Brionez, issued a statement clarifying the board’s decision.
“The decision to settle was purely a business decision to resolve the case, based solely upon the cost of continued litigation and the expenses that would be incurred by attendance at trial, and the uncertainties that come along with any trial, particularly since throughout the litigation, at least four different judges had been assigned to the case. Since Mr. and Mrs. Anderson brought the property in question into compliance with the District’s Rule and deed restrictions and agreed to remain in compliance under the settlement agreement, the District elected to resolve the matter for the reasons outlined above. After all, the District’s intent from the beginning was to have the Andersons bring their property into compliance, which they eventually did,” Brionez said.
He also indicated the board will continue to strictly enforce the deed restrictions.
“The District remains committed to upholding the aesthetics and property values of their district by consistently enforcing all adopted Rules and deed restrictions, including the prohibition of lawn ornaments,” Brionez added.
Nevertheless, Villagers have been relentless in their criticism of CDD 8 in the wake of the costly settlement.
“After reading the article I find it astonishing, if not moronic, that the CDD would spend this kind of money over an anonymous complaint,” said Dean Russamano of the Village of LaBelle. “And the CDD members that allowed it to go this far are not fiscally responsible to the residents because it’s not their money being spent.”
Mary Iverson of the Village of Monarch Grove was equally aghast at the payout.
“I am so disappointed in The Villages that they would waste our money on such a ludicrous thing,” she said.
Many others said they wished the CDD 8 supervisors had done some soul-searching before engaging in the expensive battle.
“You should be ashamed of what you stand for. We, as Christians, are proud to represent something meaningful, namely the cross of Jesus Christ. Maybe you should try Jesus for true peace and joy beyond your own understanding,” said Bette Mottet of the Village of Piedmont.