MAITLAND, Fla. — There is a multimillion-dollar development project on the line in Maitland Tuesday afternoon.
Last week, the city's mayor admitted to Eyewitness News that he violated the city's charter by directing city staff to rework the financial incentive package.
But at a City Council meeting Monday night Mayor Howard Schieferdecker told a different story and on Tuesday Channel 9 investigative reporter Daralene Jones uncovered more proof that the mayor did direct city staff.
On Tuesday Jones learned that the Schieferdecker specifically about the issue during a council meeting last month.
Maitland city leaders have struggled for years to get a $90 million redevelopment project off the ground.
Schieferdecker, who is a developer, now says he only worked with outside consultants to rework the financial incentive package -- never city staff.
"I have never given direction to the staff," Schieferdecker said during last week's meeting.
Schieferdecker said he assumed those consultants were considered city staff, and said that is why he told Eyewitness News that he directed city staff to rework the numbers.
In the audio recording of last month's meeting Schieferdecker is heard saying specifically that he met with the city's CRA director, Verl Emerick, and the city manager about the financial package. He even mentioned them by name. That's when he was grilled by council members about what happened during those meetings.
"I guess I'm a little concerned, mayor, that where did the revised financial direction come from? Whose idea was that?" Councilman John Lowndes asked during the meeting.
"It was mine," Schieferdecker said.
"You directed staff to do that?" Lowndes asked.
"I directed staff to do that, yes," said Schieferdecker.
"You can't do that," someone is heard saying on the audio recording of the meeting.
"Sure, I can," said Schieferdecker.
"No, you can't, actually," said Lowndes.
On Tuesday Schieferdecker insisted to Eyewitness News that he confused the consultants for city staff.
Some city residents believe this is more proof Schieferdecker should resign and some are drafting an ethics complaint with the state.
"Being the developer and he has sat on City Council for many years, he knows. He knows the law. I think he's sorry because he got caught," said Maitland resident Martha Bryant.
Schieferdecker told Eyewitness News Tuesday that he's made mistakes during this process.
Council members are holding a workshop in the next few weeks to educate themselves about the city's charter.
WFTV
