“The objective of a community is not merely to survive, but to progress, to go forward into an ever-increasing enjoyment of the blessings conferred by the rich resources of this nation under the benefaction of the Supreme Being for the benefit of all the people of that community.

If a well governed city were to confine its governmental functions merely to the task of assuring survival, if it were to do nothing but to provide ‘basic services’ for an animal survival, it would be a city without parks, swimming pools, zoos, baseball diamonds, football gridirons, and playgrounds for children. Such a city would be a dreary city indeed. As man cannot live by bread alone, a city cannot endure on cement, asphalt and sewer pipes alone.

A city must have a municipal spirit beyond its physical properties, it must be alive with an esprit de corps, its personality must be such that visitors—both business and tourist—are attracted to the city, pleased by it and wish to return to it. That personality must be one to which the population contributes by mass participation in activities identified with that city.”  

–Justice Musmanno in Conrad v. City of Pittsburgh, 218 A.2d 906, 421 Pa. 492 (1966)

During my career in local government, I was often drawn to Justice Musmanno’s opinion when I needed to refocus.  To me, it speaks to the importance of good governance – to move beyond surviving from one political calamity to another – and the significance of cultivating a vibrant civic personality and “municipal spirit” to a community’s quality of life. 

There is a true crisis in Deltona.

Unfortunately, it appears the largest community by population in Volusia County is now foundering and very much in survival mode.  

This long-simmering catastrophe reached its flashpoint last week when Interim City Manager Jim “The Chiseler” Chisholm decapitated the municipal government with no warning and a well-choreographed series of resignations – leaving the Lost City of Deltona adrift in tumultuous seas with no one at the helm during the height of the budget season…

As helpless observers of this evolving trainwreck have known for years, the community has been cursed by radical dysfunction and maladministration, its esprit crushed by political infighting and compromised elected officials – its residents repeatedly set upon and humiliated – in a place still haunted and hindered by near-constant upheaval and the documented criminal conduct of a former City Manager who weaponized the justice system against engaged watchdogs,  the stench of which still wafts through City Hall like a grim specter. 

In September 2022, in a Barker’s View editorial later republished in the West Volusia Beacon, “Deltona needs stability and equilibrium,” I wrote:

“After 27 controversial years, it is now safe to say — based on the empirical evidence — that the City of Deltona has been a failed experiment, a cartoonish sideshow that has destroyed the public trust and organizational effectiveness of the local government.

Prove me wrong?”

Sadly, that dour challenge remains equally valid today.

In my view, this most recent debacle – a despicable series of organized events that saw the municipal government come unwound following a contentious City Commission meeting on August 7 – was the malicious handiwork of the vindictive Interim City Manager Jim Chisholm.

Rather than explain his role in the mysterious resignation of Director of Planning and Development Services Joe Ruiz, Chisholm started a camouflaging conflagration at City Hall that began with the abrupt departure of Deputy City Manager Rick Karl – just before The Chiseler fled the building like a diseased rat – followed by the quick exit of the horribly redundant second Deputy City Manager Suzette Cameron, who, after just six-months on the job, seems more interested in having her 80-hours of accrued sick leave paid than the disorienting effects of her departure on worried residents.     

In his letter of resignation submitted August 15, Director Ruiz wrote, in part:

“I realized that my vision and goals for the city of those on his planning program do not align with that of our city managers at this time. Therefore, I would rather leave the room for someone who can better align with his vision and future plans…”

In my view, Mr. Ruiz’ disturbing explanation deserves an in-depth investigation.

Because it is now clear that the only ‘vision and goals’ Jim Chisholm had for the beleaguered City of Deltona involved his own mercenary instincts, professional vanity, and egoistic self-interests, which he placed over the needs of the citizens and elected officials he was paid $200,000 plus benefits to serve.

Now, in a shameless display of arrogance, Mr. Chisholm steps away from the carnage he caused – refusing to provide a definitive explanation for deserting the community he had both an ethical and fiduciary responsibility to safeguard – dismissively stating in the News-Journal, “I am retired now and I love it.”

Let this serve as a cautionary tale to any entity or local government who would consider bringing this horribly damaged has-been out of hibernation…

Now that this suppurating lesion has been excised from the heart of Deltona, my sincere hope is that controversial City Attorney Marsha Segal-George will do the right thing and follow The Chiseler out the door and let the healing begin. 

Fortunately, offers of critical assistance are coming in from DeBary City Manager Carmen Rosamonda, County Councilman David Santiago, former City Commissioner David Sosa, previous candidates for the job Chisholm highjacked, citizen activists, and others who are trying desperately to keep the largest municipality in Volusia County afloat until a professional manager can be found.  

As I concluded in this space last September:

“If the City of Deltona is to remain a legitimate entity, then the elected officials must begin the painful process of sorting through the divisive baggage and set a collective vision, putting aside the mean-spirited “gotcha” politics, collusions, and accusatory maneuvers, to find a means of working cooperatively with community stakeholders to achieve civic equilibrium.

The good citizens of Deltona deserve better.”

___________________________

(The Deltona City Commission will hold a workshop at 5:30 p.m. Monday in City Hall to discuss the city manager search.)