WPB Loses Two More Valuable Employees!
October 17, 2022
More fallout from the Sunset Lounge, this time the City has lost two valuable employees,WPB Procurement Official Paul Bassar, and Kathleen Walter, Communication Director.
Keith James was sworn in as Mayor in 2019 and Frank Hayden was the City Procurement Officer for many years until he was re-assigned to the Office of Economic Opportunity.
James & Johnson then hired Nathaniel Rubel and shortly after Paul Bassar. In three years the City has had three Procurement Officers, now looking for a forth. An employee who wishes to remain anonymous mentioned “they were pushing Paul to do something with those bids he didn’t want to do so he just resigned and from what I understand went back to work for the Federal Government.”
Who is Paul Bassar.? Obviously a man of integrity.
Education:
University of South Carolina Bachelor’s degree: Interdisciplinary Study.
Strayer University: Master’s Degree: Public Administration.
“Paul Bassar As a Senior Procurement Analyst my primary responsibility is to provide customer service in the area of contract administration (both pre-award and post-award) and day-to-day guidance, both written and oral, to a wide variety of senior leaders, managers, team leaders, and users throughout Consular Affairs.”
Aug. 3, 2022 A letter sent to Mr. Ben Bush, Co- Owner of Mad Room Hospitality, LLC from WPB Procurement Official Paul Bassar.
“It has been brought to my attention that Mad Room Hospitality, LLC, violated the terms and conditions of the RFP and the City Code of Ordinances by contact with the Mayor and a City Commissioner.”
The Mayor being Keith James, and Commissioner Peduzzi.
The story was written by Terry Parker, Investigative Reporter for channel 25 (WPBF) after Vita attorney Malcolm Cunningham obtained emails from Mad Room to James and Peduzzi, thanking them for their support; which Cunningham pointed out was also a violation of the city code prohibiting any contact until the contract was executed. Parker’s story can be read below, and if you are interested in reading the the emails between the parties which WPBF has included please click on the link “Read the letter here:”
Who is Kathleen Walter? In my opinion a woman who has been there, done that, and can’t do it and longer.
Kathleen Walter hired by Mayor Jeri Muoio in Dec. 2016 as the Cities Communication Director.
Below is an excerpt from the PB Post, and the entire story can be read below.
“West Palm Beach has named WPEC Channel 12 reporter Kathleen Walter as the city’s new communications director.
Walter, a Smith College graduate, also worked for WPTV, WPBF and News Max, and served as public relations director for Hospice of Palm Beach County and communications director for the Dori Saves Lives Foundation.
She earned a bachelor’s in English from Smith College, and graduated magna cum laude from Florida Atlantic University with a master’s in political science.
Walter’s bio on the WPEC website lists her as an investigative reporter, anchor and political analyst who has interviewed heads of state, including Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, as well as legislators and presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney.”
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2016/12/25/mayor-picks-tv-reporter-kathleen/6985542007/
I sincerely wish Mr. Bassar and Ms.Walter the best life has to offer in moving forward with their lives.
The end