Resident urges halt to Summer subdivision, files formal complaint alleging county official misconduct

Damien Forgotta told Bradford County commissioners on March 18 that he is filing a formal complaint and asked the board to halt a proposed subdivision of the five-acre parcel he sold, saying he sold under a “false belief” about the county’s subdivision rules.

Forgotta said he was told by Commissioner Randy Andrews that a five-acre parcel could not be subdivided into lots smaller than five acres except to an immediate family member. After the sale, he said, a close associate of Andrews subdivided that same parcel into one-acre lots. "I sold a 5 acre parcel under the false belief that my property cannot be parceled into less than 5 acres," Forgotta said. He told the board he provided police and email records and requested that the county stop the subdivision.

Why this matters: Forgotta told commissioners he believes the subdivision was allowed through favoritism and that the asserted misinformation deprived him of a fair transaction. He said county manager Scott Kornegay acknowledged wrongdoing in private communication and told him Randy Andrews would be reprimanded after legal review; Forgotta said he has a voicemail to that effect and asked the commission for action now.

Several nearby property owners joined Forgotta at the podium to oppose the subdivision. Chad Appling, Michael Appling, Jake McAllen and Sabrina Jones said they moved to Bradford County for larger lots and argued a one-acre subdivision would affect their quality of life and property values. Affected neighbors said they want the subdivision halted while the complaint is addressed.

Forgotta listed five counts in his written complaint, including misuse of public position, failure to execute duties impartially, neglect of duty, conflict of interest and failure to provide public notice and due process. He told the board he intends to pursue the matter in court if the county does not act.

The board did not announce a formal, immediate enforcement action or vote on the subdivision during the March 18 meeting. Commissioners accepted the public comments and proceeded to the agenda. The record shows Forgotta asked the county to stop the subdivision; he also referenced Florida statutory notice and open‑meetings (Sunshine Law) concerns in his remarks.

Ending: Forgotta said he plans a meeting in Tallahassee and expects further legal steps if the county does not intervene. The commission did not resolve his request at the meeting; no additional timetable or staff direction was recorded on the public record at the March 18 session.