Lee school board member fires back at being investigated

A week after the Lee County School Board responded to member Bob Chilmonik’s look into the district’s finances with resounding silence, he fired off a memo about another inquiry undertaken at the district: one that saw him as the target.

Following an exchange of memos in recent days in which school board attorney Keith Martin declined to look into one of the points Chilmonik raised in his June 6 report on district finances, saying such action could not be taken without board consensus, Chilmonik on Tuesday accused the lawyer of conducting a secret investigation into his own activities.

“There was never a consensus of the board in the Sunshine to direct you to do this investigation,” Chilmonik wrote. “Also I was never contacted or questioned about this investigation of myself. I would like to know when and how you received direction from the Board to proceed since none of these issues were discussed in public until that night of the School Board Action meeting after you had begun your investigation.”

Requesting that Martin reply within 48 hours, Chilmonik asked for notes, phone logs and transcripts linked to the matter, as well the name of the person under whose authority the query was started and details of any other investigations into his activities the district has done.

The memo comes more than two months after the event in question, an April 3 meeting in which Lee County School District Superintendent James Browder questioned Chilmonik about a visit he had with representatives from the Lee Building Industry Association.

Noting the BIA and the district remain in a legal skirmish involving impact fees, Browder questioned Chilmonik’s motives and revealed Martin had called BIA members to ascertain what had been discussed.

Chilmonik said the discussion had centered around the district’s use of operating dollars for capital expenses, a legal practice that also was a focus of the board member’s June report.

Chilmonik has in recent months criticized the district for ignoring recommendations for auditors and engaging in behavior he says puts the taxing body at risk.

In an effort to prove his point, Chilmonik examined financial data he gathered from the district under Freedom of Information requests and found what he believed to be a problem with bonding on a recent construction project.

To date, the board has largely ignored Chilmonik’s report.

Last week, Chilmonik said construction of a Cape Coral elementary school started before funding had been secured and directed Martin to look into the situation.

When Martin declined, saying he needed to be directed by the entire board to take such a step, Chilmonik compared the situation with the BIA matter from April.

Tuesday, Martin said he will comply with the board member’s request that he detail what led to that incident.

He declined to discuss the matter before that, saying he would rather it be communicated to all to all the board members at the same time.

Board Chairman Steven Teuber said it is right that Martin respond to Chilmonik’s complaint, but threw his support behind the school board attorney, saying he did nothing wrong.

“It’s totally different. They’re not related,” he said of the request Chilmonik made and the April inquiry. “Keith’s job is to report to the school board. If he gets a report of impropriety or wrongdoing he has an responsibility to investigate it.”