Welcome to aGov
Letters to the Editor
In addition to blogging at Space Coast Politics, Matt has written dozens of letters to the editor over the years. Making your point in 200 words is an art, especially when it comes to dealing with the complexities of politics and local government. Read more...
Exposing Corruption
Matt has been at the vanguard of fighting corruption here in Brevard County.He filed a criminal complaint against former Clerk of Courts Needelman in July of 2012 for rigging a bid.Needelman was arrested on August 15,2013, Read more...
Media Appearances
As the Organizer of the Brevard Tea Parties, a candidate for Brevard County Commission and the State Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus, Matt is frequently interviewed by local media on topics like politics and local government. Read more...
Does government ever have enough?
As we have moved through the real estate bubble and property values have declined to pre-bubble levels, we have been repeatedly told by local government officials and the Florida Today that we must increase millage rates to maintain the revenues being generated during the bubble years. The question no body ever seems to ask is: why?
Matt is a local political activist that got off the couch in 2007 . Matt founded the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) of Central East Florida in 2008 and organized the Brevard Tea Parties in 2009, and now serves as the National Chair for the RLC.
MATT NYE, BREVARD COUNTY WATCHDOG
The board voted 3-2 Tuesday before last to move forward with awarding the solid waste contract to Waste Management instead of first place ranked challenger WastePro. You can watch the meeting here - if you click on ITEM VI.A it will take you to that portion of the video.
While it turns out there are several questionable aspects to this deal, one thing that really jumped out was the "commitment" to Brevard Field of Dreams increased from $20,000 annually as presented on January 8th to $150,000 up front and $50,000 annually as presented on February 19th. No explanation was given for the increase at the meeting.
A quick scan of the Brevard Field of Dreams web site shows both Commissioner Fisher and Milo Zonka sit on the board of the Brevard Field of Dreams. Zonka is a former Palm Bay City Councilman and former Waste Management employee who prepared the Waste Management RFP response, but I'm sure that's just pure coincidence and has nothing to do with anything...
Here's a quick recap:
1) The board disregarded the county's procurement policy and the rankings of its own selection committee....
On Tuesday, November 17th, the Brevard Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 to extend a contract with AT&T that didn't expire until August of 2010 for an additional three years at a cost of $3.2 million per year - a $400K per year decrease from their current contracted rate of $3.6 million per year. They did this without going to bid and in spite of competing vendors sitting in the audience showing cost savings of 40-70% were available on many of the services provided by incumbent vendor AT&T.
I cried foul, sending letters to the editors of both newspapers and calling in to the local Conservative talk radio show, Bill Mick Live (listen to the phone call here). A couple of days later Commissioner Bolin responded with a letter to the editor to Florida Today stating my facts were wrong, I had left out important details, and that the board's decision was a wise one.
Now the so-called "Watchdog" reporters of Florida Today have jumped on board playing the part of lapdog for the county, and in their usual fashion, not bothering to fact check anything. Reporter Jeff Schweers couldn't even get the company I work for right (...
Recordings of February 1st negotiations between Brevard County and incumbent vendor Waste Management reveal what sounds like a pay to play scheme. The County Commission is scheduled to take a final vote on the contract at this Tuesday's meeting.
During the 55 minute session County Manager Howard Tipton and County Attorneys Morris Richardson and Christine Lepore are heard advising Waste Management Executive George Geletko as to what he should do to fulfill the "be a good community partner" directive of the Janaury 8th commisison vote.
County Manager Howard Tipton is heard explaining the county would like $50,000 to go into a fund that could be used for "incentive dollars" to supplement money given by the state.
County Attorneys Morris Richardson and Christine Lepore then begin to advise the Waste Management officials on how the contract needs to be written to make it appear as though it is to Waste Management's benefit, but quickly become awkwardly silent when they remember they are being recorded and what they are discussing is at best unethical, and worst illegal. Waste Management Executive George Geletko then suggests Christine work with someone named Ron Kaplan to sort the details out offline. LinkedIn has Kaplan listed as Senior Counsel for Waste Management out of Pompano Beach.
Waste Management...
The State Attorney has released the initial investigative report that triggered the investigation that ultimately led to the arrests of Mitch Needelman, Matt Dupree and Rose Harr. To date the Florida Today has never reported on what triggered the investigation of Needelman and company, in spite of being provided with copies of emails between myself and the FDLE investigators.
FDLE BlueWare Initial Investigative Report by Matthew Daniel Nye
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