COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS “Example is leadership” ~ Albert Schweitzer These are simple words to pursue for parents, elected officials, teachers, the clergy and others who are in positions of leadership. Since the incorporation of Wellington most of our council members have lead by example. Most importantly there was an atmosphere of trust and integrity that infused Village Hall. With that came an intolerance by the Council and its members for unethical conduct. There has been an unwritten code of conduct that allowed residents to have trust in their local leaders. Never has there been a question about the sincerity of council members involvement with non-profit groups and events. “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example” ~ Mark Twain But the 2012 village election brought a new code of conduct to Village Hall for some council members and their supporters. Gone were the days of congeniality and honesty of purpose. In their place came pettiness and cynical opportunism. Prior to 2012 it was inconceivable that a member of the council would be invited to be a figurehead of a charitable event for the purpose of raw political opportunism. The unethical actions of John Greene since he was elected in 2012 have provided at least one local non-profit an eagerness to do just that. Political power can bring with it a perversity of purpose. The residents of the Western Communities saw first-hand how Tony Masilotti, with the assistance of political sycophants and special interests, tried to maintain the appearances of a sincere public servant despite the actual contradictions. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a mans character, give him power ~ Abraham Lincoln John Greene certainly has his sycophants who provide unsecured political allegiance to their man. The comments on this page from Greene supporters are mild testament to that. But a much more perverse and unethical version of allegiance to Greene comes from the leader of a local HOA group. There is an organization with roots in the Palm Beach Polo & Country Club called the Palm Beach Council of Community Associations (PBCCA). For the past couple years the leaders of PBCCA have been struggling to make it politically relevant. The PBCCA is not registered as a “Political Committee” and it claims in its mission statement to be non-political. Yet a recent memo from its current President, Robert Behren, shows that it is indeed actively engaged in political activity and in a repugnant manner. Behren intends to use a charitable event in a very political manner. He wants to use a “Scavenger Hunt” to help Councilman Greene overcome his recent negative press and to help shield Greene from further bad press. In a memo to Greene (provided below) Behren states that he wants to use a charitable event, a “Scavenger Hunt” to create a “Mother Theresa” aura for Greene to protect him from the Palm Beach Post. All Greene has to do is place his name as an Advisory Committee member. No activity necessary. What’s also disturbing is that Behren asks for Village support for the event. So he is requesting taxpayer support for an event that is at least partly designed to help the political fortunes of John Greene. There’s more. Contained in the memo is reference to a “Wish list” wherein Behren states: “The Board will be pleased to know that you are supporting the other items on their “Wish List”.” Greene has apparently given his blessings to whatever is contained in the PBCCA’s Wish List and is expected to generate Council support for the Wish List. So what you have is a non-profit organization using a charitable event for multiple political purposes. That’s dangerous territory. Is it a quid pro quo? A person who is fundamentally honest doesnt need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the ethical code anybody needs ~ Harry S. Truman We have asked Greene for comment about the Scavenger Hunt and the Council of Community Associations but have not received a response. It would have helped the much damaged reputation of Greene had he repudiated Behren’s memo and the invitation contained in it. We also sent an email to the PBCCA asking if council members are participating in the event and likewise received no response. As a leader, you have to not only do the right thing, but be perceived to be doing the right thing. A consequence of seeking a leadership position is being put under intense public scrutiny, being held to high standards, and enhancing a reputation that is constantly under threat. ~ Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward Here is Mr. Behren’s memo to John Greene of October 30, 2014. ************************************************************************* Hi John: I thought I would give you a heads up on our progress with the Wellington Charity Scavenger Hunt. The Website section is almost complete, so I am sending you two key pages: the Scavenger Hunt Home page (attached) and a DRAFT of the Committees Page [clickable], on which we have set forth the PROPOSED members of the various committees. Keep in mind that this is not public and is only an internal document for their review. However, virtually all of the listees have already accepted. I am proposing to include you on the Advisory Committee, an honorary committee which is not seeking active participation from its members (other than from me, of course). Were talking to four other civic leaders who are quite interested in providing their support, and expect to post them within the next few days. We strongly believe that your role on this Committee will generate a lot of goodwill from the several sectors of the Wellington community that will benefit from the Scavenger Hunt: homeowners, businesses, equestrians, and charities. In a short time, you, with motherhood and apple pie on your side, will be virtually invulnerable to the barbs and arrows of the Palm Beach Post -- after all, how much sympathy would a newspaper that attacked Mother Theresa get? We are having a Board meeting next week which will include the presidents of almost all of the major residential communities in Wellington, representing almost 100 HOAs (up from 70 as a result of recent sign-ons) and almost 20,000 residents. That provides a MAJOR homeowner base of support for the Scavenger Hunt, in addition to our other consumer and merchant databases. I would like to report on your support of this Scavenger Hunt, which the Board has included on its “Wish List,” recently adopted at its last meeting. The Board will be pleased to know that you are supporting the other items on their “Wish List.” We have developed a number of programs to generate support for the Scavenger Hunt. Moreover, since the Village of Wellington will be one of the prime beneficiaries of the Scavenger Hunt, we would like to explore ways in which the Village can also provide some support. Depending on the public involvement, this might include an end-of-the-Hunt party at the Amphitheater at which the dozens of winners could be picked in a public drawing hosted by you and the Mayor. I believe it may be time to get together and discuss further how we can enhance the benefits to the Village and, by extension, to its officials. Bob Behren President Council of Community Associations pbcca.org
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 13:05:31 +0000
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