Business support stirs outrage

has been good to Roy A. Maynard.

City commissioners gave the Hollywood businessman $150,000 in 2014 to make improvements to his shopping center on Miramar Parkway. Last month, they threw $350,000 his way.

The commission’s generosity has angered many residents, who think the city will now be bombarded with requests for cash from small-business owners for projects like sprucing up their landscaping or buying new roofs or repaving their parking lot.

“It’s beyond my compre-Miramar hension that this money was granted without the city doing its due diligence,” said Debra Scialabba, addressing commissioners during Wednesday’s city commission meeting.

“This is misuse of public money, and as a taxpayer I feel you have defrauded me and many others,” she said.

There was no application process, Maynard simply appeared at public budget hearings and requested money for improvements to his business, the B&M Bakery and West Indian Grocery, according to City Manager Kathleen Woods-Richardson. His building, at 6959 Miramar Parkway,

houses as many as 10 tenants.

Two commissioners took up his cause. In 2014, it was Alexandra Davis who suggested that Maynard get $150,000. And weeks ago, as the fiscal year 2018 budget took shape, commissioner Yvette Colbourne suggested the $350,000 payment to Maynard.

Colbourne’s request was considered with other funding requests made by fellow commissioners. Darline Riggs asked for $120,000 in emergency housing assistance for families. Maxwell Chambers asked for $50,000 to help families and individuals pay their water bills.

But Colbourne’s proposal was the only one that survived. The commission voted 3-2 on Sept. 27 to give Maynard the money for “shopping center improvements.” Chambers and Mayor Wayne Messam also voted for it, but Riggs and Winston Barnes voted against it.

Riggs has been critical of the decision. On Oct. 4, she took to her newly created YouTube channel, “Miramar You Need 2 Know.”

“The community has had a lot of questions concerning that decision that the commission has made … now here are the facts,” she stated.

Days later, Messam announced that although the vote had already been taken, the commission would allow residents to voice their concerns about the allotment to Maynard.

On Wednesday, the commission chambers were packed and Maynard showed up.

“Whatever you spend you get back in revenue from my taxes. I’ve paid over $600,000 from 2004 to present; you get back your money,” he said. Maynard had supporters. “I see it’s a very contentious issue, but I would like to give my full support for the decision that was made,” said Fred Brooks.

“And for those in the audience ... I would also like to say that everyone has an opportunity to get a chance and I believe that the due diligence was done and the vetting was done and your day will come,” Brooks said.

According to records from the Broward County Courthouse, the IRS filed a tax lien against Maynard’s business for unpaid taxes from 2012 and 2013 totaling $8,815, but last November released the lien. The business also faced foreclosure, but a settlement was reached in 2014.

Maynard informed the commission that his renovation cost is $548,000, leaving only $48,000 not covered. But the city has stipulated that he must match the funds, which would mean that his entire costs would have to be $1 million if he intended to use the entire amount.

Reached by phone, Maynard declined to comment and hung up.

Colbourne defended her support of Maynard.

“I have 30 years of experience working in government, amending a budget for a project is a legitimate process, and for anyone to taint that as something other than a process that is allowed, is just disingenuous,” she said.

She added that the “Historic East Side” has been neglected for years while the west side has prospered with investments directed there through City Hall.

“This is the first time that this commission is trying to improve a business east of University, and it is the first time we have gotten this kind of challenge,” she said.

Woods-Richardson said she could not recall any other private business receiving money from the city in the same manner that Maynard’s business did, since she started working for Miramar in 2013.

It did not take long for other small-business owners to start asking for money.

“I’ve been operating a small business for 27 years in the city of Miramar. … I’m actually here this evening asking the commission for some assistance in any way possible,” said Errol Morrison, who owns Sam’s West Indian Store.

His comments drew laughter from the crowd attending the meeting, but Morrison later explained that he was serious in his request.

“I figured that if that gave that other gentleman so much money, why wouldn’t they give some to me,” he said.