Former building official expected bonus bigger than $86,000, he says

It was because it wasn't enough.

In a room of about 30 people, most of whom attended to support Overstreet, Overstreet said former City Manager Kevin Rambosk had told him he would be compensated $100,000 for the more than seven building plans he designed for the city.

"I had been promised bonuses and never got them, but (Rambosk) gave me one," Overstreet said in a timid voice, his eyes staring down at the table. "I understood he was talking about $100,000."

That $86,000 bonus, which resulted in a $49,703.85 check after taxes, was returned to the city soon after Overstreet cashed it in July 2001 because he said the then-finance director "told Rambosk he couldn't do that."

So Rambosk gave Overstreet a bonus for $8,000, and Overstreet said Rambosk then told him he would either go to the Naples City Council for permission to return the bonus, or, Overstreet said Rambosk told him, "I'll give it to you in smaller increments."

At the time, the city's bonus program had no rules, Rambosk approved all bonuses and the city did not enter into a contract with Overstreet regarding his architectural work for the city, which Overstreet said totaled $1 million. Rambosk has since said that he made a numerical error and added an extra zero when writing the bonus.

Overstreet spent two hours Wednesday night in a name-clearing hearing at City Hall, refuting allegations made by City Manager Bob Lee. Lee made the allegations last month after he reviewed a performance audit of the building department, which Overstreet left after nine years with an $80,000 salary.

The 64-year-old, who moved to Naples from South Carolina in 1994, resigned shortly after being suspended with pay by Lee, who gave Overstreet a list of reasons for the suspension. Lee also suspended Alfred Hogrefe, who resigned last month. The former deputy building official is scheduled to have his name-clearing hearing at 4 p.m. today at City Hall and that will be closed to the public at Hogrefe's request.

Allegations against Overstreet include accepting fishing trips from a local construction company during a work day; giving himself discounts for permit fees when working on his home; allowing inspectors to review work that they are not licensed to inspect; ignoring Federal Emergency Management Agency flood rules; and telling employees to remove several holds on permits that did not have final inspection clearance for Charlie Abbott, owner of Abbott Construction, special projects coordinator with Collier Clerk of Courts Dwight Brock's office and husband of Collier County School Board Chairwoman Linda Abbott.

Overstreet reviewed that list and argued each accusation, with the help of his attorney, David Bryant. Sitting behind a table directly across from Lee and Labor Attorney Jon Fishbane, Overstreet denied the accusations and said he never took money or gifts from a builder, he didn't give himself a discount on permit fees and he did not ignore FEMA code.

He told Lee that he used a "common sense" approach to being a building official.

"I was just really flabbergasted," Overstreet said. "I've never done anything dishonest. It's just not me."

And 11 people were there to repeat that to Lee.

A line of Overstreet supporters formed near the podium in City Council chambers, mainly local builders and architects who talked of Overstreet's professionalism and honesty. They said they were appalled by the way the city has treated Overstreet.

"You have done a horrible disservice to this man. He's broken up by it," Dalas Disney, an architect and president of Disney & Associates, said. "It sounds like unfounded facts."

Peter Van Arsdale, a builder and former Naples City councilman, called the treatment a travesty.

AT A GLANCE

-- The city alleges that Building Official William Overstreet allowed inspectors to review jobs they were not certified to inspect. Overstreet's response: He did not know inspectors were being sent to jobs they were not licensed to inspect, and he said that no one approached him about how inspections were being conducted. -- The city alleges that Overstreet provided favors to people he was closely associated with, such as not requiring drawings and reducing permit fees. Overstreet's response: He did not provide favors. He did not require architectural drawings for small jobs, such as installing a bathtub or putting up a fence because the drawings would cost more than the actual work. He also said that he never directed employees what to enter into the computers and that he did not know there was a fee code that could be changed to reduce a fee. -- The city alleges that Overstreet violated flood rules established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Overstreet's response: He allowed dehumidifiers to be placed in enclosed garages that were inside a garage on the bottom level of a high-rise condominium. He said the reason FEMA typically does not want air conditioners in enclosed garages is that FEMA does not want the areas to turn into living quarters, which he said he knew would not occur in a condominium building. He also said the equipment was installed above base flood level. -- The city alleges that Overstreet allowed false information in city records. Overstreet's response: He was not aware of any illegal activity ever going on in the building and zoning department.

Although Van Arsdale was there in support of Overstreet, he acknowledged that Overstreet's decision to go on a fishing trip with Boran Craig Barber Engel Construction Co. wasn't a good one.

Overstreet said the two fishing trips were done on company time, but said they discussed work during the trips. At the time, BCB was planning to build a 20-story building that required more than 10,000 inspections, Overstreet said.

"It was just a nightmare of paperwork," Overstreet said in a quiet, Southern accent. "We sat around with drawings. After we did that, we fished a while and went home."

Overstreet said he worked 90 hours a week, so "if I took eight hours ... it wouldn't hurt anything."

Overstreet blamed his long hours on the design work he was doing for the city on the side, which he started when his friend and boss, Richard Woodruff, was city manager. Woodruff, who left City Hall in 1999, also spoke on Overstreet's behalf.

Rambosk replaced Woodruff in 1999 and served as city manager until June, when he left City Hall after accepting a job with the Collier County Sheriff's Office. Lee took his place.

Lee, who remained quiet through most of the hearing, would not comment on what he plans to do with Overstreet's information.

"We have provided what we need to provide legally," Lee said. "All along I have reserved comment on these accusations and will continue to do that. There may be some other follows by other agencies, but that I cannot comment on."