HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 12 08 Public Input - Documents submitted by Art GalloWhy I, Art Gallo, oppose the 23 October 2025 Seminole County Legislative
Delegation’s (SCLD) Local Bill proposed by Representative Plakon to change our City’s
Charter. Here are four reasons for our residents to research:
1. Strong Mayor – A Strong Mayor could have executive and administrative powers
beyond the council’s power, and could become the elected administrator
o Under this concept, the mayor could become the City Manager
o They can Hire/Fire Staff as example which will have major implications:
▪ It will devastate staff morale and result in staff turnovers
▪ It assumes someone on the Dais is qualified and experienced to act
as a City Manager – It took 1.5 years to find & hire Mr. Sweet
o Allows an ordinance to be adopted and codified by the City Commission to
make charter amendments by ordnance with only a majority vote of the dais
2. Not in support of Home Rule as was advertised by Mr. Jesse Phillips in his 21
October 25 article with “The Winter Springs Community Association”, because other
than Mr. Phillips and Mr. Greenberg who are both advocating for this bill, no
residents of our city have had any input into Rep. Plakon’s drafted Local Bill
o Only 2 of the 4 total “SCLD” Yes votes were provided by people who even
represent Winter Springs’ Residents in the Legislature
o Using the data provided by Mr. Greenberg at his public input at the 23
October SCLD meeting that: ~ ”450 respondents” to a survey were in favor
of this. Assuming all of these “respondents” were residents and eligible to
vote, that number is still less than 1.5 percent of the total eligible voting
population of Winter Springs. …Hardly a majority
3. It is not clear that the State Legislature can legally change a city’s charter
o There is no discussion (specific or implied) in the law that states that the
Legislature has the power to submit by Local Bill for Referendum to change a
city’s charter. We can and should legally challenge this in the Florida
Supreme Court. (The Florida League of Cities should be assisting us)
▪ No bill has yet been filed by Rep Plakon, which so far seems to
support my points that this is a terrible idea
4. Finally, this SCLD action bypasses the WS Residents and our Commission
o As an analogy, this is the same as if the Federal Government drafted changes
to the Florida Constitution in the US Congress for the Florida Voters. It would
never happen, yet this is exactly what Representative Plakon is doing
o Elections matter, and who we place on this Dais matters