DISTRICT OFFICE: 9 Belvedere Road c=107 Royal Pal Beach, F1.33411 Phone: ($61) 791-4071, ‘TALLAHASSEE OFFICE: 1003 The Capito! 402 South Monroe Stet Tallaasse, FL 32399 Phone: (880) 717-5086 STAFF: ‘Thomas J. Valeo Legislative Assistant Melissa Santoro Distt Aide commerrer, MEMBERSHIP: Rules Commitee Commerce Commitee Business & Professions Sulcommitee Local Administration Subsommitee Florida House of Representatives Representative Matt Willhite District 86 November 21, 2019 Governor Ron DeSantis Executive Office of the Governor PL 05 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399 Governor DeSantis; Portions of the City of West Palm Beach are within House District 86, which I represent. It is in my role as a State Representative that I am writing to you today, seeking your help and intervention in, what I consider, a serious matter, Over the last several weeks, as ongoing reporting by the local news media in Palm Beach County continues to unfold, more than enough evidence has been disclosed documenting alleged sexual behavior amongst the highest-ranking city employees in the City of West Palm Beach. Possibly connected to the alleged activity, as has been reported, is the almost $8 million "no- bid" contract recently issued to a security company whose regional manager is accused of being one of the participants in the alleged sexual activity. This past Monday, November 18th, I made it a point to personally attend the regularly scheduled West Palm Beach City Commission meeting to hear first-hand the discussion, Present on the agenda, the Mayor was requesting $180,000 payment to the former employee who is the originator of the accusations lodged against the City administration. Amazingly, the item to approve the $180,000 payment was first placed on the Consent Agenda by the Mayor. Asa former Village of Wellington Council member for eight years, what I heard at Monday's ‘West Palm Beach Commission meeting made two things clear, and prompted me to ask for your immediate intervention, First, by the admission of the City Attorney, no inquiry or investigation was undertaken by the City administration determining if any of the employee's accusations were true or had any basis in fact. The determination to seek approval for a $180,000 payment was based solely upon a phone conversation from the employee's attomey to the City attorney in which a supposed $350,000 payment was sought. Besides the City attorney recommending the City Commission approve the payment, both the Mayor and the Interim City Administrator both made pleas asking for Commission approval. ‘The appearance of the city administration seeking an $180,000 payment to the employeeDISTRICT OFFICE: {9200 Belvedere Road Suite 107 Royal Palm Beach, FL 3341 Phone: (561) 791-4071 ‘TALLAHASSEE OFFICE: 1003 The Capitol 02 South Monroe Stest Tallahassee, FL 32399 Phone: (850) 717-5086 STARE: Thomas. Valeo Legislative Assistant Melissa Santoro District Aide comMurres, MEMBERSHIP, Rules Commitee Commerce Comaitee Business & Professions Subcom Local Administration ‘Subcommittee LEADERS! Chair, Florida Veterans and Miltary Famiis Caveus Florida House of Representatives Representative Matt Willhite District 86 without asking a single question of any of the persons within the administration, including the security firm individual, made the request sound more like a "hush money” payment than a legal settlement as it was presented, Secondly, because individuals within the city administration are being accused of wrongdoing by the employee, and because the individual working for the security company - which just received the no-bid contract, is allegedly involved, and because the city administration proposed a payment to the employee with no basis whatsoever - other than to keep the employee from suing the City, itis clear the City administration is incapable of doing their own investigation, Further, it is inappropriate for them to do so because it is unknown, and certainly not clear at this point, how high up in the administration knowledge of these activities were known and for how long. Therefore, I respectfully request your immediate attention to this matter. I believe that a proper investigation is necessary. To help determine the most appropriate actions to be taken that will restore the confidence to my constituents and all the taxpayers in the City of West Palm Beach, | am attaching a sampling of recent news reporting for your reference. Thank you for your consideration = : Matt Willhite