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Why Is Team Dale Holness Trying To Remove Miramar Commissioner Winston Barnes From Office?

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Like many Americans dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Winston Barnes spent most of the last year working remotely from his Miramar home. Due to health issues, Barnes felt working from home was best for his family. Winston Barnes, a longtime City of Miramar commissioner, attended all required government meetings via a webcam hookup.

Not wanting to run afoul of the law, Winston Barnes relied upon a legal document prepared by Miramar City Attorney Burnadette Norris-Weeks. According to Barnes, a November 11, 2020 memorandum written by Norris-Weeks states city commissioners are not required to physically attend meetings. Barnes claimed he relied upon Norris-Weeks’ legal opinion when he attended Miramar Commission meetings remotely from May 2020 to September 2021.

Barnes states official meeting minutes from that time period show he as present and participated in the meetings.

But on October 25, 2021 Barnes claims Burnadette Norris-Weeks “suddenly and surprisingly completely reversed course and now opined that participation is not the same as attendance, and that Commissioner Barnes could be relieved of his office by a majority vote of the City Commission.”

Now, Miramar Commissioner Maxwell Chambers submitted a resolution, drafted by Norris-Weeks, calling for the removal of Commissioner Winston Barnes. The resolution states:

WHEREAS, during the period of October 28, 2021, through September 29, 2021, Winston F. Barnes failed to physically attend a meeting of the City Commission for a consecutive period of more than three (3) months; and

WHEREAS, the Commission finds that it is in the best interest of the City and Commission that Winston F. Barnes be relieved of his commission office for his failure to physically attend meetings of the City Commission for a consecutive period of more than three (3) months.

The resolution will be heard at the November 15, 2021 commission meeting.

Also on the November 15th agenda is a resolution by Winston Barnes calling for the termination of City Attorney Burnadette Norris-Weeks. Barnes’ resolution includes a letter from his attorney Keith Poliakoff of Government Law Group. In that letter, Poliakoff shreds Norris-Weeks’ legal arguments and her interpretation of the law and Florida Attorney General opinions.

Burnadette Norris-Weeks is already embroiled in a costly legal battle surrounding her termination as city attorney by the Pahokee City Commission. She also serves as a legal advisor to controversial Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

Last week, Burnadette Norris-Weeks advised Holness during the recount process for the CD 20 election. Holness remains five votes behind Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

Holness enjoyed the support of Miramar Commissioners Maxwell Chambers, Yvette Colbourne and Alexandra Davis. The four were spotted together at numerous City of Miramar events during the election.

Unlike his fellow commissioners, Winston Barnes is not listed in the endorsement section of Dale Holness’ website.

Winston Barnes’ social media is devoid of any pictures or mentions of Dale Holness.

Is this removal process some sort of revenge against Winston Barnes?

Should Miramar taxpayers foot the legal bill for petty political shenanigans?

**UPDATE** An earlier version of this story said Keith Poliakoff worked for Becker Poliakoff . Mr. Poliakoff works for Government Law Group. We regret the error.

Ex-Pahokee City Attorney Burnadette Norris Weeks Threatens To Silence Reporter, Again!

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Burnadette Norris Weeks

Burnadette Norris Weeks leveled legal threats to stop REDBROWARD from covering her termination as the Pahokee City attorney. The threats came via a comment on our most recent story on the Pahokee matter. On Tuesday, REDBROWARD reported on last week’s chaotic City of Pahokee commission meeting where Norris Weeks attempted to provide legal advice to the very commissioners who “fired” her the week before.

On Thursday morning, Burnadette Norris Weeks left a comment on our report. Needless to say, she was not pleased that Broward readers learned of the chaos in Pahokee.

Norris Weeks claims the story is “utterly unacceptable and ridiculous.” She wrote, “Requesting that this be removed immediately. This is clearly an attempt to do anything to somehow discredit me with bits and pieces of a story.”

Then, Norris Weeks wrote, “You would not have a blog if it were not for targeting black people in leadership positions.”

“By the way, what does Dale Holness have to do with my legal contract and a client,” Norris Weeks wrote.

Norris Weeks continued her attacks on our reporting. She wrote, “You Republican hitmen are unbelievable. Who is paying you.”

Finally, Burnadette Norris Weeks insinuated future legal action against REDBROWARD. She wrote, “Perhaps I’ll find out in discovery. I’ve had enough.”

This is not the first time Burnadette Norris Weeks threatened to silence REDBROWARD.

“SEEKING AN INJUNCTION TO SHUT DOWN THE SITE.”

In February 2015, Burnadette Norris Weeks was unhappy with a REDBROWARD report about a Fort Lauderdale Commission candidate hosting an event at her offices. The original story was posted on the now defunct Daily Broward website.

Norris Weeks used similar language in a threatening email to the Daily Broward editor:

The purpose of this e-mail is to request that you remove all references to me on your website RedBroward. For some time, (along with a few others that you consider Black community leaders) I have been a target of your site. Research shows that Judy Stern is behind the malice and misinformation that you are constantly writing.

Your consistent attempts to taint my reputation leaves me no other choice than to reach out to you and request that you remove the derogatory comments throughout the RedBroward site. Your failure to do so will result in my seeking an injunction to shut down the site. Your attempts to contact my clients, taint my reputation through malicious posts and even target my computer has resulted in a loss of business — which is provable.

Why aren’t you targeting the millions of dollars that have been secured by non-Black business owners from the CRA? These folks do not live in the area and could care less about the people here. We received a relatively small amount of funding from the CRA compared to so many other businesses.

Again, kindly remove the untruthful posts or I will have no choice but to seek an injunction and sue personally. Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation!

“VULTURES“

The next day, Burnadette Norris Weeks sent another email. Once again, it contains similar themes as the ones used in her comments on the Pahokee story.

Norris Weeks wrote:

Again, I am asking that you remove the malicious references that are proving to be damaging to my longstanding good name and professional reputation.

While you and your partner have been paid to post this racist garbage and probably think it’s fun, let’s hope that the vultures are also planning to defend you.

While she’s no longer the city attorney in Pahokee, Burnadette Norris Weeks is still the city attorney for several south Florida municipalities including the City of Miramar.

In addition to hosting a public affairs show on local television every Sunday, Burnadette Norris Weeks is a frequent guest on the WPLG/ABC news program This Week In South Florida.

Wonder what Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney think about Burnadette Norris Weeks’ repeated attempts to silence this reporter?

Dale Holness joined Burnadette Norris Weeks on her public affairs television program