(Continued from previous page)
Judging from the cool reception to Cabrera’s special meeting request, she may have the support to thwart his efforts.
Cabrera needed either the mayor or two commissioners to confirm — and he didn’t get that Monday. The only council member to respond was his longtime ally, Councilwoman Sandra Ruiz, who might still be peeved at Herrera for not certifying the joke of a recall petition against Bettina two years ago. Ruiz probably thinks Herrera stashed petitions in her bra so that the required total would not be met.
Neither Ruiz nor Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez could be reached for comment, and Mayor Luigi Boria did not return messages left on his voice mail. But Councilwoman Cristy Fraga told Ladra that she would not agree to yet another emergency special meeting for something that she did not consider urgent.
“Emergency meetings cost our taxpayer dollars,” she said. “There’s a regularly scheduled meeting next week and he can bring it up then.”
On Monday afternoon — possibly because he knew he wouldn’t have a quorum or the votes — Cabrera rescinded that request and told Herrera he will bring up the item during the regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 10.
Cabrera could not be reached for comment. He texted Ladra at 9:09 p.m. after several attempts. “I am in a meeting, not sure what time I will be done. What can I help you with.”
I told him I’d wait, but at 11:26 p.m. he texted he was still in the meeting and that the item had been moved to Dec. 10.
His email also states that he intends to make the deputy city clerk an interim clerk while a selection committee is named to find a permanent replacement.
Read related story: Doral starts manager search; gets first ‘No thanks’
Doral has gone through a lot of changes in its short 11 year-history: No less than seven city managers, four police chiefs, 
four city attorneys. The city clerk is the only one who has been there throughout all the revolving doors for almost 10 years. Last year, the council was so happy with her performance, that they gave her a whopping 20% raise from $76,000 a year to $91K.
“I haven’t had any issues with the clerk,” Fraga told Ladra. “Do we each have critiques of the charter officers and how they should do certain things? Of course. I think it’s prudent to always listen to a fellow council member.”
But she sounds like a no vote.
“To me what’s more important is the stability of the city,” said Fraga, noting that the important Miss Universe contest is still being ironed out and will need a lot of logistical support plans. “I would hate for things to be in jeopardy because of one council member. He’s just going to have to catch up.”
Fraga said she knew “there’s a history between them,” regarding to Cabrera and the clerk. “Anybody who knows anything about Doral’s recent history knows that.”
Pages: 1 2
More Doral drama as ‘new’ councilman aims to fire clerk added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
