Marco Island City Council narrowly approved the appointment of former Police Chief Al Schettino to the Police Pension Board.
City Council voted 4 to 3 on Monday, October 21 to approve Schettino. Chairman Jared Grifoni, Vice Chairman Erik Brechnitz and Councilman Rich Blonna voted no.
Council pulled the matter off the consent agenda in September to discuss and tabled it after questions were raised concerning the investment experience of the appointee and previous exposure of scandals within the department and subsequent negative publicity during Schettino’s time as chief.
Council had suggested that the Pension Board either recommend someone else or better explain their appointee of Schettino. Instead, the Pension Board wrote a memo to Council stating that the Council’s approval of their nominee was merely administerial.
“My problem with this process and the way we have it set up is we’re not getting the investment expertise on the board that is required for excellent performance,” said Brechnitz. “I’ve gone through the investment returns based on the level of risk assumed in some detail and there has been significant under-performance in my view and the reason is we don’t have the financial experience on this board to manage a $30 million investment,” he added.
Brechnitz said the police pension board has not put out a request for proposal for an investment advisor for approximately 23 years.
Grifoni proposed tabling the matter indefinitely on Monday, having voiced his concerns about the public scandals under Schettino’s leadership during the previous Council meeting.
City Attorney Alan Gabriel had warned Council in September that not approving the Pension Board’s appointee could either lead to the Pension Board suggesting someone else or lead to the Pension Board suing the city.
The Pension Board is made up of two citizens appointed by Council; two members of the police pension and one who is appointed by the other four members, which is how Schettino was named.
Members of the board currently include Chairman Mark Haueter, Vice Chairman Ryan Montgomery, City Clerk Joan Taylor and Carleton Ealy. Former Marco Island police officer Glenn Zirgibel, 74, resigned from the fifth seat in June 2024.
Councilwoman Becky Irwin suggested approving the recommendation and if any changes needed to be made to the process, to make them following their approval of Schettino.
“I don’t know Mr. Schettino,” Irwin said. “I really prefer to stay in our wheelhouse here. One person has the qualifications. One person can discuss all kinds of things with the board. My wheelhouse here, as the city attorney said, is to approve their decision. I feel like we’re getting a little outside what we’re supposed to be doing and I prefer we stay within our boundaries,” said Irwin.
Despite voicing varying degrees of concerns, Councilmen Darren Palumbo, Greg Folley and Joe Rola agreed with Irwin to approve the Pension Board appointment of Schettino.
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