Signgate
Mayor Dennington’s WILD Accusations Waste Our Taxpayer Resources In a bizarre turn of events.
Town of Melbourne Beach Mayor Al Dennington, has once again inserted herself at the center of controversy, publicly claiming “high value” street signs are missing. What might have been a simple acknowledgment of a few missing signs has spiraled into a convoluted saga involving a 15 page agenda item submitted by Mayor Dennington for the June 18th Town Commission meeting. Ironically, this verbose report not only lacks substantive evidence but also demonstrates a troubling waste of town staff and money.
Furthermore it is hard to take Mayor Dennington seriously when she intentionally disrespects the correct spelling and pronunciation of her own town Manager, Elizabeth Mascaro’s name. Please note: She intentionally uses the word “mascara”.
When our beautiful, and much needed, new street signs were installed in the Town of Melbourne Beach, Mayor Dennington tried to take control of a town auction to sell off some of the old ones. According to Mayor Dennington, there were signs she “witnessed being removed in 2024”. She claims specific “high value signs’ like Beau Jean, Surf, Sunset and Ocean were missing. Not sure what makes these few signs “high value”, but we are led to believe it is only because Mayor Dennington owns personal houses on these streets.
Instead of spending time on more pressing issues like infrastructure improvements and community safety, Mayor Dennington wants our Town Commission to focus on the petty theft of a few old, used, street signs. Even after the Melbourne Beach Police Department DISMISSED Mayor Dennington’s “criminal complaint” for suspected theft of these few signs, that was not going to stop her! The mayor’s lack of evidence to support her claims has raised many eyebrows.
According to town records, there have been no previous reports of stolen streets signs, leading many residents to question whether this is merely a fabrication or her own imagination. The mayor has neither provided proof of the thefts nor provided a rational value for the purportedly missing signs, making the entire episode seem more like a game of theatrics than a legitimate concern for our community.
Mayor Dennington’s 15 page report that details her allegations against our town manager, Elizabeth Mascaro (not Mascara) and Public Works Director, Tom Davis reads like a comic book. Her report, filled with inflamed rhetoric and anecdotal accounts, does not provide concrete evidence proving the existence of missing street signs but rather presents as another personal attack on both our town manager and public works director.
Residents of the Town of Melbourne Beach are not puzzled but visibly frustrated by the continual attacks on our town and town staff by our own mayor. “I can’t believe she is wasting our time and money AGAIN on something so insignificant”, remarked one long-time local resident at Sunnyside Cafe. “We are fortunate to have the town manager we have, why doesn’t Mayor Dennington just leave her alone and let her continue on with the great job she has done for our town”.
The mayor’s 15 page document is not just an odd spectacle, it may have legal implications. Public officials are generally accountable for their use of resources. One can only hope any review of the mayor’s actions will prompt her to recognize the importance of prioritizing community needs over her personal agenda and grievances. Adding insult to injury, the town agenda for the commission meeting at which the mayor’s report is set to be discussed will cost the town additional funds.
The preparation, printing, dissemination of her unwarranted report wastes resources that could be far better spent on community improvement initiatives. The irony is not lost on many; a discussion surrounding imaginary sign predators could easily provide the context for actual issues that matter…a lost opportunity that residents are not likely to forget.
Once again dragging the town into a rabbit hole of nonsense. The Town of Melbourne Beach residents deserve leadership that addresses real concerns, not frivolously spins tales into lengthy reports that serve no functional purpose. It raises a significant question about the future: when, if ever, will Mayor Denningon refocus her attention on constructive governance? In small towns like Melbourne Beach, where every dollar counts and every minute of staff time is valuable, Mayor Dennington’s antics paint a picture of dysfunction that directly affects the quality of life for all residents.
If and when the dust ever settles on this absurd scenario, the hope is that the community will rally to demand accountability, clarity, and, above all, more responsible and effective leadership. It’s time for the Town of Melbourne Beach to shift our focus back on pressing issues, leaving behind Mayor Dennington’s personal agenda.