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Resident alleges mayor refused to accept campaign‑finance late fine; mayor says she will pay
Summary
During general public comment Jan Pence accused Mayor Allison Dennington of refusing to pay a $3,155 late fine and not accepting mail; the mayor denied avoiding payment, explained circumstances including a sick child, and said she would write a check at the meeting.
Jan Pence, a Melbourne Beach resident, used the general public‑comment period to say she had placed an unpaid bill for $3,155 in Mayor Allison Dennington’s town mailbox and that the mayor had refused to accept it. Pence also said the town incurred $10.48 in postage costs after a piece of mail was returned because the mayor would not pick it up.
Pence asked the commission, "What do we do when the mayor refuses to pay a legal fine that she owes our town?" She said she had provided a copy of the bill and related mail to the mayor and to the commission.
Mayor Allison Dennington responded during the public‑comment period. Dennington said her son had a 104‑degree fever the day the filing was due and she was not aware at the time that electronic submission was possible; she said she was told later that in fact she could have filed electronically. Dennington said she disputed the timing but would resolve the matter: "I will write a check at the end of tonight for the full amount," she said.
Dennington also asked that anyone who wanted to see the supporting emails contact Council Clerk Amber Brown; she described health and childcare circumstances that prevented timely in‑person filing and said she had paid substantial personal expenses while serving as mayor. She suggested that any remaining town funds from the payment be given to the fire department.
The accusation and response occurred during the general public comment period; commissioners did not take formal disciplinary action on the record during the meeting and moved on to the scheduled public hearing on the budget.
Clarifying details provided on the record included Pence’s stated amounts ($3,155 for the late fine; $10.48 postage cost) and Dennington’s assurance she would pay the fine that evening. Pence said she had placed the bill in the mayor’s mailbox and had also delivered copies to the mayor’s office and to Mayor Dennington’s mailbox at an earlier time. Dennington said the clerk has email evidence about the filing options and her child’s illness.
