CRA Director Kevin Fall reprimanded over driving with open container ticket; resigns post Wednesday

NSBNEWS.net file photo by Sera Frederick. CRA Director Kevin Fall submitted his resignation Wednesday, just one day after he was reprimanded by Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio for his Nov. 14 motor vehicle stop on the beachside by New Smyrna Beach police, charging him with driving with an open container of alcohol, speeding 16 miles over the posted limit and driving without registration.

Editor's Note: You can read the reprimand obtained by NSBNEWS.net Wednesday morning through Florida's open records law by clicking the attachment.

 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Community Redevelopment Director Kevin Fall abruptly resigned Wednesday, the day after he was reprimanded in writing for a Nov. 14 motor vehicle stop that resulted in tickets charging him with driving with an open container of alcohol, speeding and driving without registration.

Fall's resignation was confirmed Thanksgiving morning by Mayor Adam Barringer, who declined to comment. Fall has not returned previous calls for comment left with his staff and could not be reached on Thanksgiving.

Fall's last appearance before the City Commission was Tuesday night when he answered some brief questions regarding CRA matters.

After that meeting, Brangaccio told NSBNEWS.net that Fall had been issued a written warning and instructed to get follow-up care through the city's Employee Assistance Program, which provides a host of programs. She declined to be more specific. However, Brangaccio said Fall apologized for the Nov. 14 motor vehicle stop that resulted in him receiving three tickets, including one charging him with driving with an open container of alcohol.

Brangaccio said she reviewed a police videotape of the stop and felt reassured that Fall was not intoxicated behind the wheel. Brangaccio said Fall understood the embarrassment he caused himself and the city, especially as a department head, and that the city does not condone drinking and driving by its employees, on or off the job. The mayor nodded in agreement.

NSBNEWS.net obtained a copy of the written reprimand Wednesday morning from City Hall through Florida's open records law. In it, Brangaccio chastises Fall for not contacting her on his own before she received notification from the police.

She further wrote in part: "As an official in your capacity as the CRA Executive Director, you have an obligation to conduct yourself in an appropriate and professional manner. This incident has caused embarrassment for both you and the city. The conduct that you exhibited and the lack of notification of this incident causes me great concern."

Fall was stopped 6:53 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in the 3300 block of Saxon Ave., near East 226th Avenue by police officer Joe Hunchard on a charge of driving 51 mph in a 35 mph zone. At the scene, an open container of alcohol was spotted on the passenger side of his car and he did not have his registration with him, police said.

Fall, 45, identified himself as a city employee, but that had no bearing on the issuance of tickets, police said.

Fall is paid nearly $65,000 annually as director of the city's CRA, which is responsible for millions in street and business enhancement projects. He has been employed with the city since Sept. 24, 2007. As department head for the CRA, Fall supervises three employees and is responsible for an annual operating budget of $2.09 million.