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PSTA board unmoved by more calls to fire top executive

 
Critics have called for the ouster of Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.
Critics have called for the ouster of Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.
Published Oct. 23, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG — Facing another round of calls for their chief executive's resignation, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board members on Wednesday again stood by Brad Miller.

In the last meeting before a critical Nov. 4 vote on the Greenlight Pinellas transit referendum, a half dozen frequent PSTA critics and Greenlight opponents demanded Miller step down after a news report that claimed he deliberately misused a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to promote the Greenlight plan.

"Don't ask for Mr. Mil­ler's resignation," local blogger Gene "Doc" Web told the board. "Someone make a motion and remove him from office today, right now."

The latest controversy erupted over a WTSP-Ch. 10 report spotlighting a series of emails between Miller and PSTA staff in the summer of 2013 as the agency was finalizing a public awareness campaign funded by the DHS grant. The PSTA later had to return $354,000 after DHS officials decided a trio of feel-good television commercials did not adequately promote safety and security on the bus system. That news broke in the summer, prompting the first round of calls for Miller's resignation and a unanimous show of support by the board.

None of the PSTA board members agreed Wednesday that the emails, reviewed in their entirety, showed Miller intentionally misused the grant dollars or lied.

"This whole DHS thing has just been beat beyond recognition," said Brian Scott, one of the citizen members of the board made up mostly of local elected officials. "There might be some shock value in the (television report), but I feel we've fully addressed this."

The Ch. 10 report highlighted some emailed comments by Miller to staff showing how adamant he was about including the Greenlight logo and website at the end of the ads. The TV report left out other language in the emails that contained context.

Board Chairman Ken Welch noted Wednesday that the letter from the DHS ordering the return of the money didn't flag the Greenlight logo in the ads. Welch also pointed out that the emails show the PSTA made multiple attempts to communicate with DHS officials as the ads were in production.