BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton resident Rhea (Ashley) Chiles has dissolved the short-lived Together as Bradenton Beach Inc. not-for-profit corporation she formed in November with Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ricinda Perry and developer Shawn Kaleta to provide hurricane relief.
Chiles, the daughter of Anna Maria Island businessman Ed Chiles, filed the articles of incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations on Nov. 22. After having second thoughts about her involvement in the corporation, she filed the articles of dissolution on Feb. 3.
The articles of incorporation list Chiles as the incorporator and registered agent of the 501(c)(3) organization and Perry and Kaleta as officers and/or directors, with a South Carolina address listed for Perry and a Holmes Beach address listed for Kaleta.
Formed after hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Anna Maria Island, the articles of incorporation include this statement: “The specific purpose for which this corporation is organized is to establish a foundation that benefits our local community in times of need, support local businesses and families and encourage community engagement and participation.”
When contacted by The Sun on Dec. 4, Chiles said she had decided to dissolve the corporation. When contacted on Jan. 6 regarding the corporation still being listed as active, Chiles said she tried to dissolve it and would follow up on those efforts. On Jan. 25, Chiles said she tried but was unable to speak to someone at the Florida Division of Corporations by phone. On Feb. 3, she successfully filed the articles of dissolution form provided at the SunBiz.org website and Together as Bradenton Beach Inc. is now listed as inactive.
On Feb. 2, the still-active articles of incorporation were displayed in a satirical animated video titled, “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?” Featuring the likenesses of Perry, Kaleta and Mayor John Chappie, the production is critical of some post-hurricane development and land acquisition activities in Bradenton Beach.
The video was posted on Facebook under the “Kevin-Kyle Kaczyinski Von Oswold” pseudonym and at the TheRealKVO.com website, both of which are referenced in a civil lawsuit filed by former Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge and campaign consultant Anthony Pedicini.
The lawsuit alleges the unauthorized publication and commercial use of Van Ostenbridge’s and Pedicini’s names and likenesses and names Hawke Cates, Bradenton Times Publisher Joe McClash and unknown “Doe Defendants” as defendants.
Chiles statement
On Feb. 4, Chiles provided The Sun with a written statement that said, “On Nov. 22, I was invited by a mutual friend to Ricinda’s rental on 11th Street South in Bradenton Beach to discuss the annual Christmas on Bridge Street event. She asked if I would be willing to help co-chair the event as she was so overwhelmed, as were the Bridge Street merchants who were dealing with so much. I know this event to be a favorite of the community and was happy to offer any assistance I could. At some point, the creation of an LLC was discussed. While I am not experienced, I offered to help look into and begin the filing process as I had the spare time. I have never created an LLC. While it was initially filed, it never received financial contributions of any kind. I also realized I was way over my head with the scope of what creating an LLC would take.”
Chiles confirmed in a text message that her Nov. 22 meeting with Perry occurred at 112 11th St. S. According to Bradenton Beach City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, that residential property holds a city-issued transient public lodging establishment (vacation rental) license issued to BB Bayfront LLC and attorney Louis Najmy.
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, that property and structure are owned by BB Bayfront LLC. According to the Florida Division of Corporations, BB Bayfront LLC lists Najmy as the corporation’s registered agent and Kaleta as its manager.
In her statement, Chiles said, “After that evening, I immediately started reaching out to business owners and community members and it became very clear to me that Bradenton Beach was just not ready for an event of this kind. So many people were still displaced; so many businesses were still rebuilding. I did not feel it would bring the community the unity and joy the event was intended to provide, nor would it be very successful. I voiced my concerns to Ricinda. She wanted to proceed and I removed myself from any involvement in the event and did not personally attend. At that point, I began the dissolution process for the LLC. I was told by SunBiz (Florida Division of Corporations) it had been dissolved. It was later brought to my attention it was in fact still active, so I resubmitted everything.”
Perry response
On Dec. 4, The Sun sent an email to Perry regarding the formation and intent of Together as Bradenton Beach Inc. Mayor John Chappie was copied on that email.
Later that day, The Sun received an email from Perry that said, in part, “I don’t believe the charity is moving forward. I was out of town for Thanksgiving and didn’t know the non-profit was named. Ashley then took the steps to secure the name with SunBiz and I gave her my credit card to set up the name.”
Perry stated the corporation could potentially be used to accept donations at the city-sponsored Christmas on Bridge Street event and the funds raised could potentially be distributed to Bradenton Beach residents, community members and organizations in need of post-hurricane assistance.
“The involvement of Shawn (Kaleta) was that he wanted to make a contribution to a charity and had other people interested,” Perry stated.
She noted Kaleta wanted to donate to a charity specifically focused on Bradenton Beach.
Regarding any potential conflicts of interest created by the city attorney and a prominent Bradenton Beach developer serving as officers/ directors for the same not-for-profit corporation, Perry stated, “I didn’t see a conflict because all I thought I would do was help her (Chiles) get a charity initiated and off the ground and I would donate to it. Just because I was named in a document that someone else created and I never saw, and was dissolved within a week once she realized I had another charity (for Christmas on Bridge Street), doesn’t mean I was on a board or participated in any meetings on a non-profit with Ashley or Shawn.”
