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Tamarac commission declines to place independent-investigation item on agenda after residents call for probe into festival incident
Summary
After weeks of public pressure, a motion to place a discussion about commissioning an independent investigation into an alleged Feb. 7 incident at the Mont Tamarac sports complex failed 3-2. Dozens of residents urged accountability during a lengthy public-comment period that centered on Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton.
Mayor Michelle Gomez asked the City Commission on Feb. 11 to consider whether an independent investigation should be commissioned into an alleged incident at the Mont Tamarac sports complex on Feb. 7. The mayor made a motion to put a discussion of the alleged incident on the next agenda and seek an independent investigator to determine whether any city-code violations occurred.
The motion drew immediate debate about procedure and prior reviews. City Attorney (on the record) said he had received one email and limited facts; the mayor and several commissioners discussed a code section that calls for an independent investigation when an alleged violator is a member of the city commission. After a roll call, the motion failed by a 3-2 vote (Commissioners Wright, Patterson and Daniel voted no; Mayor Gomez and Vice Mayor Bolton voted yes). The mayor said the motion would have set a time for a future discussion rather than conducting an investigation that night.
Public commenters urged the commission to act. Multiple residents who said they witnessed or were involved in the Feb. 7 1 Tamarac Multicultural Festival described what they called aggressive or demeaning behavior by Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton toward a city-contracted hostess. Madeleine Noel, identifying herself as a community leader and guardian ad litem, said eyewitnesses reported that the vice mayor verbally aggressed the hostess and that bystanders intervened to de-escalate the situation. Ludie St. Hill, the hostess identified by speakers, asked the commission for accountability and said in part, “Let this be the last time you fix your mouth to disrespect a woman.”
Commissioners debated whether the commission could or should open a separate investigation when other entities (the Office of Inspector General) had previously reviewed related complaints. The mayor said an outside counsel/OIG review had addressed a Mainland Park allegation and that the record should reflect those findings; other commissioners said the commission retained authority over its members and could place items on future agendas if a majority agreed.
The meeting record shows the motion to place discussion of an independent investigation on the next agenda failed 3-2. No formal investigation was authorized at the Feb. 11 meeting. The commission did not hold a vote that night to censure or otherwise discipline any commissioner.
The commission next meets on Feb. 25; the mayor said staff will send public-record responses to questions raised during public comment.
Ending: The hearing closed with the commission moving on to other agenda items and an acknowledgment that residents will receive a follow-up email from the city clerk describing the record and any next procedural steps.
