Klitenick Returns To Planning Board After Being Forced Out

By Pru Sowers

Konk Life Staff Writer

Kicked off the Key West Planning Board after serving 14 years – accused by newly-elected city Commissioner Richard Payne of being “pro developer” – Richard Klitenick returned to that board Nov. 19 after being reappointed by another city commissioner.

City Commissioner Margaret Romero used her one appointment to the planning board to recall Klitenick after board member Lisa Tennyson submitted her resignation. Romaro had advertised in a local newspaper for interested candidates. She appointed Klitenick after several interviews.

Romero did not return multiple telephone calls from Konk Life asking for comment.

Taking his new seat at the Nov. 19 planning board meeting, three seats away from the center chair where he sat as chairman 15 days ago, Klitenick was named vice-chair of the board and welcomed back by new chairman Sam Holland, who kidded that Klitenick was now sitting in Holland’s old seat at the end of the dais.

“I like the view here. It looks good,” Klitenick joked in response, adding, “Thank you very much. I appreciate it [Holland’s welcome].”

Holland also welcomed the other new planning board member, Fredy Varela, Sr., who was appointed to Klitenick’s seat after Payne forced Klitenick off the board. Each city commissioner gets to make one appointment to the planning board. Klitenick was former Commissioner Tony Yaniz’ appointment but when Payne trounced Yaniz in last month’s election, one of the first things he did was seek Klitenick’s resignation. Klitenick refused, setting up an uncomfortable vote at the Nov. 4 city commission meeting, where commissioners reluctantly voted 4-3 to remove Klitenick, despite pleas from other planning board members to let him remain.

Payne had criticized Klitenick for missing half of the board meetings this year, slamming Payne in local newspapers, and for being “pro-developer” in his planning board votes. Payne also questioned whether Klitenick could be fair in his board decisions when he has a pending lawsuit against the city for denying his company new taxi licenses.

Responding after Klitenick’s return to the planning board, Payne said he had no objection to Romero’s appointment, although he questioned why Tennyson, who has a lengthy municipal planning resume, wasn’t Romero’s first choice. Still, he said, each commissioner has the right to make any board appointments he or she wants.

“I’m 100 percent for all commissioners to be able to put anyone on a board they wanted to,” he said, adding, “Hey, that’s her [Romero’s] choice. I got my choice.”

Klitenick defended himself earlier against Payne’s complaints, pointing out that he had been appointed and reappointed to the planning board five times by different commissioners. He then accused Payne of trying to hurt him because he supported Yaniz in the October election.

“One of the things we talk about in Key West, especially when it comes to local government, is the appearance of political payback and cronyism and quid pro quo deals. It’s just not right,” he said at the Nov. 4 city commission meeting. “My position on the planning board is being challenged because I chose to support a candidate in the prior city commission race.”

Payne denied Klitenick’s accusation, saying that his new appointee, Fredy Varela, would represent Payne’s own views on what he considers the over-development of Key West.

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