Old Town Incident leads Chairman to Resign

 

Mike Spino, who has served on various volunteer city boards for 13 years, submitted his resignation Wednesday via email to City Clerk Caroline Best.

 

"This morning, I resigned from the CRA Advisory Board to remove the potential of distraction from the board's important work. I have been honored to serve our community for 13 years and hope our city can continue to move forward," Spino said.

 

CRAAB is a key city board that is tasked on the economic development of properties and projects in the City's established CRA and the adjoining Central Business District with specific consideration on attracting and retaining businesses.

 

At the heart of the controversy is an incident that took place last summer in the quiet streets of Old Town, a neighborhood known for its historic charm and tight-knit community. Two residents, who had prominently displayed political signs supporting a presidential candidate on their lawns, became the targets of a verbal outburst from Spino as he was out for a bike ride.

According to the residents, Spino, an avid cyclist who is often seen navigating Fernandina's picturesque streets, confronted them harshly upon noticing the signs. The residents detailed the encounter in emails to city commissioners of how Spino made disparaging remarks about their political views, creating an uncomfortable and tense encounter that lingered in the minds of those involved.

 

The incident, which initially went unnoticed by many, began to surface in the public eye during the Sept. 19, 2024, meeting of the Historic District Council. The council, where Spino had served as a member since 2018, discussed the details of the confrontation, prompting Spino to step down from his position. But even this resignation and an apology wasn’t enough to put the matter to rest.

Just weeks later, Spino was appointed chairman of the influential CRAAB, a key city board responsible for driving economic development and revitalization efforts in the city’s Central Business District and its adjacent Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). Despite the earlier controversy, many believed Spino's deep experience in city affairs made him well-suited for the role, but public outcry was not far behind.

 

At the city commission meeting Tuesday night, the pressure to remove Spino from his position reached its apex. Two residents took the floor, demanding that Spino be immediately removed from his role as CRAAB chairman. They criticized his actions, stating that Spino's behavior did not reflect the standards expected of a public official in a city board leadership role.

The city commission decided to place the issue on its March 18 agenda for consideration.

Spino had an untarnished record serving on various city boards starting in 2012 with the Arts Council. He followed that with the Board of Adjustment and then the Historic District Council (HDC) in 2018.

 

"Mike Spino as an active member of the Amelia Island Trail Group and the Citizens Task Force for Walking and Biking Safety, has been a key advocate in the building of current and future bike trails on the island. As a member and chair of the Historic District Council, he had a positive influence in preserving the character of the historic district," said former City Commissioner Chip Ross. "He exemplifies a high standard of commitment and service to our community. During the seven years I served as a City Commissioner, Mike’s genuine passion was creating a positive impact on the island. He made good things happen."