Resident alleges 'fraud' in Titusville sustainability report; TEC hears concerns about stormwater planning

Stan Johnston addressed the commission during public comment and accused city staff of "fraud" related to the city’s past sustainability materials, saying an addendum that documented stormwater master‑plan shortfalls had been removed from the record.

Johnston said he participated in the 2018–19 resiliency workshop as a professional engineer and that he repeatedly reported to staff that the city’s stormwater master plan had not been implemented. He said the removals and omissions affect drainage to the St. Johns River and that the city did not inspect or maintain legal positive outfalls, which he said contravenes flood‑plain and FEMA requirements. "This is fraud," Johnston said repeatedly, and he asserted that Brad Parish had "confessed to the crime" and that an affidavit had been removed from the report.

Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about the city’s current work. Member Townsend asked whether the contractor Geosyntech’s ongoing study would correct past transgressions; Johnston replied that a new study might be used as a cover unless it explicitly identifies and recommends remedies for prior mistakes. Staff and members did not start a formal investigation at the meeting.

The TEC’s discussion moved on to the Urban Forest Management Plan and other agenda items; staff noted that the city has engaged Geosyntech to study current stormwater issues and that the commission could forward any written concerns to staff for follow up. The claim of fraud was not adjudicated during the meeting and would require evidence beyond the public comment record to substantiate.

The commission did not take action on Johnston’s allegation at the meeting. Members encouraged documenting concerns in writing and indicated staff would review ongoing stormwater study results as they become available.