NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Tuesday night’s North Miami Beach commission meeting saw a familiar scene, with three empty chairs on the dais.
Residents unloaded their frustrations during the meeting, as city business has now been stalled for four months.
In order for the commission to conduct business, there must be a quorum of at least five of the seven elected commissioners.
Three of them have been sitting out since last fall’s election.
North Miami Beach Mayor Anthony DeFillipo filed an emergency request with a judge on Wednesday morning, hoping to compel the commissioners to show up or allow city business to happen with a quorum of four.
“It’s a criminal conspiracy,” said a frustrated DeFillipo to Local 10 News’ Glenna Milberg. “That’s what it is.”
DeFillipo alleges commissioners Daniela Jean, Michael Joseph and Mackenzie Fleurimond are protecting City Attorney Hans Ottinot, who they say advised them not to show up at meetings.
And why would he do that?
Ottinot knows the four votes who do show up will fire him and City Manager Arthur Sorey III as soon as they do have a quorum.
It was Ottinot who orchestrated an unofficial private investigation, funded by political operatives, to question the mayor’s residency, and then used that to advise his supporting commissioners not to show up for meetings.
Ottinot left Tuesday’s meeting mid-way through, then ran from reporters.
This was right after one commissioner removed the three absent members’ name plaques, which was met by applause from many in the room.
“The judge has clearly said, in her order, it says ‘The mayor is the mayor and city business must continue,’” DeFillipo said.