Community Rallies Around Village’s Charitable Foundation

Key Biscayne Community Foundation Executive Director Melissa McCaughan White, seated wearing blue, listens to applause from residents after her presentation defending the Key Biscayne Community Foundation from criticism by Council Member Ignacio Segurola,Tuesday, July 2, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)

This story has been updated.

An overflow crowd of more than 100 packed Key Biscayne’s tiny council chambers Tuesday in what for many was a public rebuke of Council Member Ignacio Segurola’s vocal criticism of one of the island’s leading charities, the Key Biscayne Community Foundation.

More than two dozen speakers, including the pastor of the island’s largest church, signed up for public comments — and that was before an equally contentious Council debate that ended with a unanimous vote expressing confidence in the charity and its executive director, Melissa McCaughan White. 

“I was disappointed to hear about the accusations that had been made,” said Rev. Juan Carlos Paguaga of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church. “It was disappointing to see the pain that was created by this situation.”

As he turned to White, Paguaga said: “I am here just to speak for somebody that I really trust and that has in many ways been my right hand man guiding me in many ways in my position.” White also serves as an advisor to the church’s school board.  

Mayor Mike Davey called the special meeting to allow the Foundation to respond after Segurola said June 18 the Village should not allow the charity to administer many Village programs ranging from transportation to senior citizens programs. He said the relationship lacked transparency and was bad public policy, even as he was awaiting financial information from the Foundation and the Village. 

White detailed the Foundations work in a brief presentation explaining how the charity uses a mix of tax and private dollars to fund dozens of community organizations, ranging from the 4th of July Parade Committee to the Police Chief Charles Press Foundation that works in Liberty City. 

Her presentation came amid a flurry of tit-for-tat public records requests that broke out after the June 18 budget workshop. 

Segurola asked for four and one-half years of detailed accounting records, not only for the Foundation, but for all other “community groups” in 41 separate categories. The Foundation’s attorney, Jennifer Stearns Buttrick, sought all communications to or from Segurola about the Foundation (along with other community bodies) since his election in November 2018. 

Monday, Segurola fired back with his own request of the same for his colleagues on the Village Council.

Council Member Luis Lauredo was incensed, saying Segurola had “turned this into a trial,” by “looping all other council members in on this as criminals.”

Segurola defended himself, saying “I can’t imagine any other place in Miami-Dade County where I would get attacked for this.” He also grilled Agha on her pending responses to his 41-item list, framing the issue as a Village problem rather than a Foundation one, and asking Agha, “is it fair to say you have been busy with other things?” 

Key Biscayne Council Member Ignacio Segurola listens to comments from Rev. Juan Carlos Paguaga of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church during debate over the Village’s relationship with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Segurola has criticized the Foundation for its role administering community programs citing a lack of transparency (Key News/Tony Winton)

The Village is recovering from a computer hacking attack that impaired some systems.  A criminal investigation is underway.

Council members Brett Moss, Lauredo, Ed London and Katie Petros variously called upon Segurola, who at one point felt he was in a “public dressing down,” to rethink his words and actions. 

Moss said “the issue is what is coming from the dais, not transparency – we all want that.” 

Petros, attending by phone, said “Ignacio, I would ask you to think about what you are asking of your government in terms of time and energy” with the request that would be handled by a two-person Village Clerk’s office. 

Segurola said he would consider dropping his record requests, but when asked to clarify his statement, the answer was unclear. “I was referring to the arguments that had gone before,” he said after the meeting. Late Wednesday, the Village confirmed Segurola had withdrawn a portion of his records requests – the 41 category request. 

Village voices

At times emotional, 24 speakers ranging from ex-Council members to community group representatives praised the Foundation, its work and White herself. Each was greeted with raucous applause from audience members waving signs of support. 

Four people spoke in support of Segurola’s June 18 line of questioning. Among them was Louisa Conway, the secretary of the Key Biscayne Condominium Presidents’ Council, and the administrator of a WhatsApp chat focused on lower taxes. The Presidents’ Council had messaged members to attend the meeting to support Segurola. 

Conway invoked Martin Luther King Jr, comparing Segurola’s conscience to that of the slain civil rights leader in “admonishing” the Council at the June 18 session. She decried the “political lynching of a Council member” who, in her view, was simply asking for “accountability in the sunshine.”

Resident Gustavo Tellez agreed, saying “I am here tonight as a taxpayer.” He too has filed an extensive public records request for payment documentation and communications between the Village and the Foundation, as well as information regarding Island Media, the nonprofit that owns Key News.

Onwards together

As the meeting ended, Lauredo sought approval of the Foundation’s $125,000 budget, but  Davey requested more time and information first. The Council did approve Vice Mayor Allison McCormick’s motion to direct Agha to continue to put in place proper contracts and documentation for all bodies like the Foundation, so that “we can all move forward together.”  

The next council meeting is set for Aug. 27. Agha said she plans to have all information requested ready by that date.

 “Please trust us to do this,” she said.

This story was updated 7/4 with additional information about records requests. 

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Key News nonprofit parent company, Island Media Inc., receives private donations and back office support via the Foundation’s charitable structure. Neither Key News nor Island Media receive taxpayer funding.