STARR AND SKIDMORE SQUAWK

CHARLOTTE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BOB STARR AND ROBERT SKIDMORE GOT INTO A HEATED EXCHANGE AT TUESDAY’S COMMISSION MEETING ABOUT THEIR TRAVEL EXPENSE BUDGET.  STARR, WHO HAS NOT SPENT A CENT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, QUESTIONED SKIDMORE SPENDING MORE THAN $6000 OF THE $10,000 DOLLARS THAT HAS BEEN SPENT, WHICH INCLUDES HIM SIGNING OUT THE COUNTY VEHICLE 35 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 73 DAYS OF USE.  COMMISSIONERS ONLY HAD A BUDGET OF A LITTLE MORE THAN $9000 DOLLARS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT SKIDMORE DEFENDED HIS SPENDING, SAYING EVERYTHING HE’S DONE IS TO BENEFIT THE TAXPAYERS OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY.  SKIDMORE ALSO ACCUSED STARR OF HAVING A VENDETTA AGAINST HIM BECAUSE OF THE WAY ROGER BALTZ WAS DISMISSED AT A COMMISSION MEETING LAST MONTH.  STARR PROPOSED A MOTION THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE MAJOR TRIPS AND LARGER EXPENDATURES, BUT HE DID NOT GET A SECOND.