Home ›

My Position Regarding Flanders

by Jason Burnett on January 13, 2012 - 12:04pm

I would like to clarify my position regarding Flanders Mansion. I have consistently stated that the best option is a sale, in line with the public vote. On the City Council I have voted to pursue a sale. At the Monday “Closed Session” (which City Attorney Don Freeman reported on at Tuesday’s Council meeting) I made the motion to file a petition for reconsideration of the recent Court decision. This motion passed unanimously and could potentially clear the way for sale of Flanders Mansion without much further expense or delay. I hope this is successful. If not, I intend to pursue options for addressing the Court decision in a manner that allows for a sale.

I work to balance two goals:
Goal 1. The best option for Flanders is a sale. That is consistent with the vote of the people and I think it is my job to work to see through what the majority of voters clearly want.
Goal 2. I do not believe that we should pursue a sale regardless of court decisions, the cost to the taxpayer, and the delay in resolving this controversy. We need to be realistic and pragmatic in our effort to honor the desire of the majority of the people we represent.

In the past I have advocated that we "[d]iscuss and set minimum requirements before the Council would actively consider an offer to lease, purchase, curatorship, or enter into a life estate agreement for Flanders Mansion." I have raised this because I want to stop the growing expense of legal fees and to figure out the quickest, most cost-effective way to resolve this controversy in a manner that returns Flanders Mansion to a private residence and earns a return for taxpayers.

Following the recent court decision (see http://burnettforcarmel.com/flanders-update), it appears that we have two paths forward. First, we are proceeding with a reconsideration of that decision. If that is not successful, we can work to update the EIR consistent with the Court's decision.

The message I hear from most residents and business people is they want a resolution to this controversy and in a manner that benefits them as taxpayers.