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Attorney accuses Mayor Alfrey of receiving payments tied to Habitat ARPA award; council asks staff to review documents
Summary
During public comment attorney Joseph Colombo alleged Mayor Paul Alfrey accepted payments from Habitat for Humanity following a city ARPA award to the nonprofit. Colombo said he has records and told council he would present them to the city clerk and city attorney; city staff said they would review submitted documents and the finance records.
An attorney addressing council during public comment accused Mayor Paul Alfrey of self‑dealing in connection with a city award of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to Habitat for Humanity. Joseph Colombo, who identified himself as an attorney and longtime local lawyer, said he had records showing the mayor received payments from Habitat for Humanity after the city awarded $500,000 in ARPA funds and urged the city attorney and clerk to examine the documents.
Colombo said he had records showing payments to a business identified in the documents as "Alfrey Roofing" and asserted possible violations of state law, naming Florida Statute 112.313 in his remarks. He told council he would deliver the material to the clerk and city attorney and warned the city to report potential wrongdoing to state and federal authorities if staff did not act.
City staff responded on the record that the city had received disbursement requests from Habitat for Humanity and that some invoices listed subcontractors. The city attorney said staff would review any records provided and examine contractual and financial documentation. Staff declined to draw substantive conclusions during the meeting.
Council took no formal action beyond instructing staff to accept the documents and review them. Staff later told council they would examine the submitted material with the city attorney and finance staff and would return with any necessary follow‑up if warranted.
Next steps: Council asked staff to accept the documents and review the matter; the city's review may prompt further administrative or legal action depending on findings.
