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The city of Naples is without its official historian.
Or is it?
When the Naples City Council’s workshop adjourned Monday evening, council assumed they heard Naples city historian Doris Reynolds resign. But Reynolds said that isn’t the case.
“I haven’t resigned,” she said later Monday. “I haven’t sent a letter of resignation. I don’t know if I am. I’m going to have to discuss it with a lawyer.”
Reynolds told the council she was resigning Monday after council came to a 4-3 consensus that Reynolds shouldn’t be allowed to use her official title to market a for-profit collection of DVDs.
The four-disc collection would chronicle the history of Naples from 1885 and into the 20th century, Reynolds said Monday evening.
Councilwoman Penny Taylor brought up the issue during Monday’s meeting. Taylor said she wasn’t in favor of Reynolds using her title for profit.
Reynolds, a columnist for the Naples Daily News, was appointed to her position in June 2006. Council voted unanimously to name her the city’s official historian.
On Monday, Taylor said she regretted her decision.
“My vote was reckless,” Taylor said. “I don’t have a problem with someone doing something to make money. But she’s using her title in her marketing.”
Reynolds said she had included the fact that she was the city’s official historian in her brochures and on the DVD’s. She said she didn’t think it would create such a problem.
“All I was going to do was identify myself as the official historian,” she said. “It’s an honorary thing.”
Councilmen John Nocera and Bill MacIlvaine, along with Mayor Bill Barnett, said they had no problem with Reynolds using her title to market the DVD collection.
Nocera said he regretted what transpired during Monday’s meeting.
“I feel so bad,” Nocera said. “She’s been here so long, (and) now she walked away.”
Councilman Gary Price said he was surprised that Reynolds would give up her position as city historian. Price was among the council members who said they weren’t in favor of Reynolds using her title.
“I am saddened by what happened,” Price said. “But I was frustrated because we never got an answer.”
Reynolds does her work as a city historian on a volunteer basis, and said she has never received money for work she has done for the city.
“Being the official historian has never earned me a penny,” she said. “I never sought this job, and I didn’t think about it until council called me about it.
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What a tight wad you are Councilwoman Penny Taylor !! Maybe you should give her back pay for all the work she did... at least minimum wage is required? Count your blessings...
She does her work as a city historian on a volunteer basis... and never received money for work she has done for the city.
So what if she makes a few cents on some DVDs? What title would you like her to use in her writings?
How many books have been written by politicians and presidents over the years? ... go figure
#1 Posted by tootsie on October 1, 2007 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Taylor = Hitler
#2 Posted by here_since_seventy_one on October 2, 2007 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I absolutely love Doris Reynolds, and think she should be able to do whatever she wants (obviously, I'm not talking about illegal things). Even if she isn't the "official" historian, she is still a local treasure. She has such a love of the area and an enthusiasm for making sure Naples' sometimes good, sometimes odd and sometimes shady history gets written down.
So you go, Doris! You sell your DVDs ... (and, um, as long as you're selling things, sell ME your great old Mercedes, which I also absolutely love.)
#3 Posted by BeNice on October 2, 2007 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What! your not telling her age like you always do..
#4 Posted by Biff on October 2, 2007 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope that the city council can make this right with Mrs Reynolds as she deserves more respect than she is receiving.
Mrs Reynolds has been a resident of Naples since the 50's and in an invaluable resource for past history here locally. It would be a shame to loose her services.
#5 Posted by swfl_ff on October 2, 2007 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrs. Reynolds should be able to use her position to sell DVD's; especially because she has done many things for the city and never received compensation. She was named the official historian, it only makes sense that someone in that position at least have something to promote their hard work and dedication to their position; a DVD or book would be perfect. And since these projects don't fund them selves magically, a profit is in order.
Some of you council people need to relax. Try working on some of the more pressing issues the city has - I'm sure there is something, anything is more important then bothering Mrs. Reynolds.
#6 Posted by newsman1 on October 2, 2007 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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