RAMSINGH PROMOTES FALSE ETHICS RESULTS AGAINST KAUFMAN
Ethics commission confirms no probable cause finding and no hearing scheduled
Embattled City Attorney Ron Ramsingh and his attorneys are pushing false claims about an ethics complaint filed with the Florida Ethics Commission.
During a special meeting of the commission on Monday to determine the future of Ramsingh, his attorneys claimed a conflict of interest existed because of an ethics complaint filed by the City Attorney.
Ramsingh reiterated the claims in a memorandum of support for a resolution being sponsored by newbie-Commissioner Aaron Castillo at the next special meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 24 beginning at 5 p.m. In addition, commissioners will consider termination with and without cause.
In the memorandum, Ramsingh claimed that he had contacted Millie Fulford, a representative with the Ethics Commission, on April 22 and that the Commission had found legal cause for an investigation with a hearing scheduled in Key West for July.
He also asked that the City agree to pay him an additional $195k in return for releasing the municipality from any future legal action over a termination without cause.
If approved by the City Commission, that would bring Ramsingh’s payout to nearly $500k, which could translate into a more than 3% tax increase to fund the settlement.
In an email dated April 23 at 1:57 p.m., obtained and reviewed by Southernmost News, Fulford said that the status of the complaint was “Investigation Underway” and that no probable cause finding had been determined and that no hearings are scheduled in the matter.
Ramsingh had also claimed a conflict of interest with Commissioner Lissette Carey, claiming that she had entered into a cooperation agreement with the SAO.
All of that appears to be a blatant attempt at obfuscation by the City Attorney.
As a charter employee, Ramsingh reports directly to the City Commission. All commissioners must be present to vote, and if they aren’t or must recuse themselves from the vote, then City leaders cannot terminate him.
At deadline, it was unclear whether or not Ramsingh had self-reported his arrest, booking and indictment to the Florida Bar.
Keep watching this space.