Marlon Bolton during a break at a city commission meeting. {Tom Lauder}
By Tom Lauder
It seems like a simple and straightforward question deserving of a simple and straightforward answer.
Who told the City of Tamarac Parks and Recreation Department to hire a business associate of Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton to perform at the 2021 Christmas Tree Lighting Event?
Yet, for some reason, City officials and Commissioner Marlon Bolton refuse to say how Dwight M.Moment, Sr. picked up a $3,000 singing gig paid for by City of Tamarac residents.
Since 2015, Dwight M. Moment Sr., a Lauderdale Lakes pastor, has produced a “Singing Pastors” musical revue featuring local church leaders. One of the regular performers on the “Singing Pastors” bill is Praise Experience Worldwide Outreach Church pastor Marlon Bolton.
Lauderdale Lakes pastor Dwight M. Moment Sr.
On his church-related YouTube channel, Bolton posted a video of his performance at the 2020 Singing Pastors event. Bolton has been featured prominently in Singing Pastors promotional materials since at least 2016.
REDBROWARD obtained the documents surrounding Moment’s deal with the City. On November 30, 2021, Dwight D. Moment Sr submitted an invoice for the City of Tamarac. The invoice was for $3,000 to perform at the City-sponsored 2021 Light The Night Tree Lighting event on December 2 at Caporella Park.
On December 1, 2021, the City of Tamarac Parks and Recreation Department issued purchase order #250401 for $3,000 payable to Dwight Moment of Lauderdale Lakes. According to the purchase order, Moment would provide “entertainment for tree lighting event.”
REDBROWARD contacted Tamarac Parks and Recreation Department Director Greg Warner with questions about the deal. In an email, we asked Warner:
1. Who recommended the hiring of Dwight Moment?
2. Did anyone negotiate with Dwight Moment?
3. Has Dwight Moment performed at any City Of Tamarac events in the past?
Instead of replying to these simple questions, Greg Warner had the City Public Information Office respond to REDBROWARD.
Since the initial email was sent on Monday, February 21, Presidents Day, Senior Strategic Communications Officer Eunicia Baker wrote that a complete response would be made the following day.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, February 22, REDBROWARD contacted Baker on the status of her follow-up. She stated they were working on it, and it would be ready on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, February 23, at 6:00 p.m., Baker responded to our initial inquiry.
Well, sort of.
Baker stated, “The City of Tamarac contracted with Dwight Moment And Symphony for the December 2021 Tree Lighting Event at the Performer’s set price of $3,000. This group has not performed at previous City events.”
Yeah, we knew that. Which is why we asked whose brilliant idea was it to hire this specific singer?
And we told Baker the purchase order was with an individual, Dwight Moment, not the Dwight Moment And Symphony corporation.
Once again, we asked Baker:
1. Who recommended Dwight Moment?
2. Since there was no Request For Proposals (RFP), how was Moment chosen for the job?
On Thursday, February 24 at 6:27 p.m., Baker confirmed the City made a deal with Dwight Moment and not his corporation.
Baker said, “City staff did not undergo an RFP process, as the City’s purchasing policy lists several ‘Exemptions to Formal Competition.’ Among those exemptions are ‘entertainment and entertainment-related services for City-sponsored events,’ which applies to the December 2021 tree lighting.”
Once again, Baker failed to answer who recommended Dwight Moment.
REDBROWARD immediately asked Baker for answers:
1. How did the City choose Dwight Moment?
2. Did someone recommend Moment?
3. Did any Commissioner direct staff to hire Dwight Moment?
On Friday, February 25, Baker sent this terse response:
“The City of Tamarac has no further details to provide pertaining to this matter.”
That’s it?
The City of Tamarac claims it can use taxpayer dollars to hire anyone for City-sponsored entertainment events, and they don’t have to tell residents why they hired them?
We just have to take their word that the fact Dwight Moment performs regularly at paid events with Commissioner Marlon Bolton played no role in Moment landing the $3,000 gig?
REDBROWARD tried to ask Marlon Bolton about Dwight Moment during a break at last week’s Commission meeting. Bolton refused to answer.
On Monday, February 28, REDBROWARD contacted Dwight Moment. Even though Moment was busy with a family emergency, he did answer one question.
REDBROWARD asked if Marlon Bolton recommended him for the 2021 Light The Night Tree Lighting Event.
Dwight Moment said, “yes.”
Why can Dwight Moment answer the simple question?
Marlon Bolton refused to answer this question.
City officials spent an entire week avoiding this question—officials who get paid more than $3,000 in taxpayer funds.
How many other deals were made on the recommendation of Marlon Bolton?
Don’t Tamarac residents deserve honest answers from its leaders and employees?
Originally reprinted with permission from RedBroward.com.
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