News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
An update on the ethics issue with Glen Gilzean from the Orlando Sentinel.

"Glen Gilzean cannot continue to serve as Florida’s ethics commission chairman and work as the administrator of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Disney World oversight district, according to a legal opinion released Thursday.

State law does not allow public employees to serve on the government watchdog panel, Steven Zuilkowski, the ethics commission’s general counsel, wrote in the analysis.

Gilzean, chairman of the ethics commission, was hired in May to lead the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. He earns an annual salary of $400,000 as the district’s administrator.

“It appears that your position as district administrator for the district is public employment,” Zuilkowski concluded.

DeSantis first appointed Gilzean to the ethics commission in August 2019. His present term expires in June 2024. The nine members of the ethics panel, who do not draw a salary, are appointed by the governor and leaders of the Florida Senate and House.

Gilzean, a DeSantis ally, was named to the tourism district administrator post on May 10. The district’s five board members, who approved the hiring, are appointed by the governor.

Gilzean was not immediately available for comment."

Let's see... $0 or $400K/year . An easy choice.
 

DCBaker

Premium Member
Glen Gilzean in the news again today.

"Instead of resigning, Glen Gilzean is questioning whether Florida’s ethics commission “weaponized” a memo that concluded he was ineligible to serve as both the state’s ethics chairman and administrator of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tourism oversight district.

The opinion released on Thursday concluded that Gilzean couldn’t do both jobs because of a state law that bars ethics commissioners from holding public employment.

Gilzean earns a $400,000 annual salary as administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the special district taxing that oversees Disney World’s government services. His position on the ethics panel is unpaid.

In an email Thursday afternoon, Gilzean wrote that he was “weighing” his options on how to proceed and then questioned the ethics commission’s timing in releasing the opinion. The Florida Bulldog first obtained the correspondence, which the ethics commission released Friday to the Orlando Sentinel in response to a public records request.

“It is deeply inappropriate that your legal opinion was disseminated to the press at the same time you sent it to me,” Gilzean wrote in the email to the commission’s general counsel and ethics director Kerrie Stillman. “As far as I’m concerned, someone on your staff knowingly leaked this memo and weaponized it, how did this happen?”

Stillman responded that the memo wasn’t leaked but produced in response to numerous public records requests.

“Producing it was my call and mine alone,” she wrote. “There was no ill intent and no weaponization of this situation by me or anyone else on staff.”

Gilzean also asked the ethics commission’s general counsel to review his employment contract with the tourism district and “propose specific changes that you believe would bring it into conformity with the relevant rules.”

“As you know, I am not a lawyer and believed my status at CFTOD was of no concern,” Gilzean wrote. “At the very least, I did not appreciate the nuanced factors that distinguish an employee and an independent contractor. Regardless, now that this has come to my attention, please rest assured that I am weighing my options and will take action before the Commission’s next meeting.”

The ethics commission next meets on Sept. 8. Gilzean hasn’t responded to phone messages and an email seeking comment.

Steven Zuilkowski, the commission’s general counsel, responded that he is not permitted to assist Gilzean with modifying his employment contract.

“I am the Commission’s lawyer, but no individual commissioner is my client. … I believe other legal advisors outside the Commission staff will be able to assist you in this regard,” he wrote."

Full article below.

 

LAKid53

Official Member of the Girly Girl Fan Club
Premium Member
Glen Gilzean in the news again today.

"Instead of resigning, Glen Gilzean is questioning whether Florida’s ethics commission “weaponized” a memo that concluded he was ineligible to serve as both the state’s ethics chairman and administrator of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tourism oversight district.

The opinion released on Thursday concluded that Gilzean couldn’t do both jobs because of a state law that bars ethics commissioners from holding public employment.

Gilzean earns a $400,000 annual salary as administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the special district taxing that oversees Disney World’s government services. His position on the ethics panel is unpaid.

In an email Thursday afternoon, Gilzean wrote that he was “weighing” his options on how to proceed and then questioned the ethics commission’s timing in releasing the opinion. The Florida Bulldog first obtained the correspondence, which the ethics commission released Friday to the Orlando Sentinel in response to a public records request.

“It is deeply inappropriate that your legal opinion was disseminated to the press at the same time you sent it to me,” Gilzean wrote in the email to the commission’s general counsel and ethics director Kerrie Stillman. “As far as I’m concerned, someone on your staff knowingly leaked this memo and weaponized it, how did this happen?”

Stillman responded that the memo wasn’t leaked but produced in response to numerous public records requests.

“Producing it was my call and mine alone,” she wrote. “There was no ill intent and no weaponization of this situation by me or anyone else on staff.”

Gilzean also asked the ethics commission’s general counsel to review his employment contract with the tourism district and “propose specific changes that you believe would bring it into conformity with the relevant rules.”

“As you know, I am not a lawyer and believed my status at CFTOD was of no concern,” Gilzean wrote. “At the very least, I did not appreciate the nuanced factors that distinguish an employee and an independent contractor. Regardless, now that this has come to my attention, please rest assured that I am weighing my options and will take action before the Commission’s next meeting.”

The ethics commission next meets on Sept. 8. Gilzean hasn’t responded to phone messages and an email seeking comment.

Steven Zuilkowski, the commission’s general counsel, responded that he is not permitted to assist Gilzean with modifying his employment contract.

“I am the Commission’s lawyer, but no individual commissioner is my client. … I believe other legal advisors outside the Commission staff will be able to assist you in this regard,” he wrote."

Full article below.


He just proved why he should NOT be on the Ethics Commission. FL sunshine statute is pretty clear about public access to governmental records. Perhaps he should quit both and go back to the private sector.

And that was an opinion from the Commission's legal counsel.

You know who would investigate him for violating state statue? The Ethics Commission.
 

LAKid53

Official Member of the Girly Girl Fan Club
Premium Member
“We here at the new and improved Central Florida Tourism Oversight District are all about transparency…. Who told the public about this?!”

You'd think the chair of the Florida Commission on Ethics would be aware of the Government in Sunshine statues (and it's in the state constitution) which basically state all government records are free and open to the public. Well, not all. There are exclusions (Legislature has exempted much of its records). You're in a state agency, you receive an FOI from anyone (especially the media), you comply. Or you may lose your job.

I'm appalled...but then not appalled...at Gilzean's lack of knowledge in this matter. That why agencies have lawyers. Best to take their advice.

I'm sure this is going to end up on AG Moody's desk for an opinion on the statute.
 

tissandtully

Well-Known Member
Not sure why people keep posting Orlando Sentinel paywalled stories when this is the Florida Bulldog's reporting they are basing it off of and it's free:
 

tissandtully

Well-Known Member
He just proved why he should NOT be on the Ethics Commission. FL sunshine statute is pretty clear about public access to governmental records. Perhaps he should quit both and go back to the private sector.

And that was an opinion from the Commission's legal counsel.

You know who would investigate him for violating state statue? The Ethics Commission.
Rules for thee but not for me!
 

DCBaker

Premium Member
Not sure why people keep posting Orlando Sentinel paywalled stories when this is the Florida Bulldog's reporting they are basing it off of and it's free:

I shared that specific article as that was where I read the story - however, fair point and noted!
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
Glen Gilzean in the news again today.

"Instead of resigning, Glen Gilzean is questioning whether Florida’s ethics commission “weaponized” a memo that concluded he was ineligible to serve as both the state’s ethics chairman and administrator of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tourism oversight district.

The opinion released on Thursday concluded that Gilzean couldn’t do both jobs because of a state law that bars ethics commissioners from holding public employment.

Gilzean earns a $400,000 annual salary as administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the special district taxing that oversees Disney World’s government services. His position on the ethics panel is unpaid.

In an email Thursday afternoon, Gilzean wrote that he was “weighing” his options on how to proceed and then questioned the ethics commission’s timing in releasing the opinion. The Florida Bulldog first obtained the correspondence, which the ethics commission released Friday to the Orlando Sentinel in response to a public records request.

“It is deeply inappropriate that your legal opinion was disseminated to the press at the same time you sent it to me,” Gilzean wrote in the email to the commission’s general counsel and ethics director Kerrie Stillman. “As far as I’m concerned, someone on your staff knowingly leaked this memo and weaponized it, how did this happen?”

Stillman responded that the memo wasn’t leaked but produced in response to numerous public records requests.

“Producing it was my call and mine alone,” she wrote. “There was no ill intent and no weaponization of this situation by me or anyone else on staff.”

Gilzean also asked the ethics commission’s general counsel to review his employment contract with the tourism district and “propose specific changes that you believe would bring it into conformity with the relevant rules.”

“As you know, I am not a lawyer and believed my status at CFTOD was of no concern,” Gilzean wrote. “At the very least, I did not appreciate the nuanced factors that distinguish an employee and an independent contractor. Regardless, now that this has come to my attention, please rest assured that I am weighing my options and will take action before the Commission’s next meeting.”

The ethics commission next meets on Sept. 8. Gilzean hasn’t responded to phone messages and an email seeking comment.

Steven Zuilkowski, the commission’s general counsel, responded that he is not permitted to assist Gilzean with modifying his employment contract.

“I am the Commission’s lawyer, but no individual commissioner is my client. … I believe other legal advisors outside the Commission staff will be able to assist you in this regard,” he wrote."

Full article below.

Holy %#^* - what a moron. Just walk away…

Taking the GM position… he thought was an independent contractor? Lol

And this is the guy who is supposed to be leading staff.

Unreal
 

LAKid53

Official Member of the Girly Girl Fan Club
Premium Member
So who was it that illegally appointed Gilzean to these posts anyway?

Guess...

Interesting comment in Scott Maxwell's Orlando Sentinel's story on Gilzean...

"Gilzean’s contract with the Disney district says he can lose his $400,000-a-year government job if he violates the very ethics statute that the ethics commission lawyer said he hasn’t been following..."
 

LAKid53

Official Member of the Girly Girl Fan Club
Premium Member

TtocsMc

Active Member
I wouldn’t be surprised if the district changes its stance and allows him to keep his administrator job as long as he resigns from the ethics committee.
 

LAKid53

Official Member of the Girly Girl Fan Club
Premium Member
I love this comment made by Gilzean, "To that end, would you please review my contract with CFTOD once more and propose specific changes that you believe would bring it into conformity with the relevant rules."

Dude, the statute clearly says members of the Ethics Commission can't be public employees. There's no way to "propose specific changes that would bring it into conformity with the relevant rules." Other than amending the statute.

Section 112.321(1), F.S., makes it pretty clear..

"No member may hold any public employment."
 

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