Calling in the Big Boys
For at least two years, Mayor Dennington has accused the former Town Manager, Elizabeth Mascaro of corruption, collusion and even receiving kickbacks from almost every vendor hired through the Town. The mayor’s incessant accusations were highlighted by the BSE contract for Basin 1 repairs. This entire project that was previously approved by the prior commission, and slated to begin in early 2025, was stymied by Mayor Dennington. Dennington stopped the project when she claimed corruption and collusion with the former Town Manager, questioning the validity of the BSE (engineering firm) contract. Town residents were frustrated and confused by the delay. Making matters worse, continuous accusations about the contract were being posted on Nextdoor.
Truth and Accuracy Matter met with Florida House Representative, Monique Miller in July 2025. CLICK HERE After lengthy discussion, her only way to help the Town of Melbourne Beach was to request an independent audit through the State Joint Legislative Auditing Committee process. Documentation and information was provided to the JLAC staff. It has been reviewed and is now summarized for the JLAC committee.
Fast forward to today. Truth and Accuracy Matter has received, through a public records request, the draft agenda for the upcoming JLAC Committee meeting, currently scheduled for November 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM in Tallahassee. The audit request for the Town of Melbourne Beach is Item 3 on the agenda, and reads as follows:
-Provided by the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee
It’s important to point out, that even in this summary, the JLAC staff noted, “concerns about the Town’s Mayor” which seemed to take priority over the so-called issue of the unsigned BSE contract. The staff further summarized, “She (Mayor Dennington) has filed multiple lawsuits against the Town, and has been accused of bullying the Town’s staff.” The summary also notes, “The Mayor’s concerns about the lack of a contract with this vendor have been remedied.”
It is so blatantly clear that Mayor Dennington’s ridiculous accusation was nothing short of a personal vendetta against former Town Manager Mascaro. The BSE contract was EASILY remedied, and the Mayor did not need to intentionally drag Elizabeth Mascaro through the mud with her accusations. The vast majority of Dennington’s excessive and voluminous public records requests were nothing more than a witch hunt. Dennington searched and searched and searched until she found something that she THOUGHT she could use against the Town Manager… It was nothing but a waste of time and money, not to mention the loss of a dedicated Town Manager. Dennington was almost giddy as she berated the Town Manager during the highly inappropriate public hearing of the Manager’s work review, when she gave her ALL ZEROS. Dennington was openly ecstatic when she announced at a Town Commission meeting that the now former Town Manager, Elizabeth Mascaro, would not be renewing her contract. And most recently in a Facebook post, Dennington offered her two cents by stating , “the end of the 8 year reign of the now FINALLY former manager.”
Mayor Dennington’s Facebook post showing how she speaks about staff and colleagues.
How can ANYONE think this is appropriate behavior of an elected official?!!
All of this did NOTHING to benefit our Town. What did we get… ?
A DELAYED Basin 1 Stormwater project by ALMOST ONE YEAR… and will now cost taxpayers MORE money!
Loss of our dedicated and efficient Town Manager.
Wasting $37,000+ for a search firm to replace a town manger we already had… not counting training expenses!
We shall wait to see what the official determination is at the Florida State JLAC meeting. We will keep you posted!!
For more News and Updates from Truth and Accuracy Matter, CLICK HERE.