Deerfield City Worker Tries to Swat Gadfly

There’s still no official word on what evils the forensic auditor found in its recent analysis of Deerfield Beach finances, but Chaz Stevens isn’t the type to wait. Back on March 1, as that auditing firm was arriving in town, Stevens composed these lyrics, which he sent to city staffers:

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout
I’m telling you why

Kessler International is coming to town

He sees you when you’re stealing

He knows when you’re on the make
He knows if you’ve been bad or good

So be good for f**k’s sake!

You get the idea. Among the many city officials who got this little carol in their inbox was Debra Chatman, the city’s community development coordinator, a position that would put her squarely in the sights of an auditor looking for irregularities in the way Deerfield Beach spends housing funds.

Chatman didn’t care for the tune. She sent a note to City Attorney Andy Maurodis and Peter Parkin, the city’s community development manager:

Mr. Parkin and Mr. Maurodis, will you PLEASE have Mr. Stevens cease forwarding these offensive and harassing e-mails to me. I find the language and acquisitions (sic) to be highly offensive.

Then this weekend, another Stevens missive landed on her computer screen, this time addressed directly to Chatman and her coworker, Stephanie McMillian. Said Stevens:

Ladies;
If you need a letter of reference for your upcoming job search, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I mean, after all, I will be the reason you are looking for a new gig. I’d be glad to “lend another helping hand”.

It’s been a real dream working with you.

Toodles.

Chaz

This time, Chatman went straight to Maurodis with her demand:

Andy, enough is enough. This is my second request asking that these e-mail are discontinued from Mr. Chaz Stevens. I was not hired by Chaz Stevens and I will not be FIRED by Chaz Stevens. I have had enough of these e-mails and am asking again that the e-mails are stopped from CHAZ STEPHENS. If he has a public records request, those request should be forwarded to the City Clerk’s office.

Apparently Mr. Chaz has a lot of power around here since he is taking “full credit” for Kessler International’s forensic audit of this Department because of his accusations.

Thanks again for your immediate cease and desist order to Mr. Chaz Stevens from contacting me directly with such harassing and threatening e-mails.