Damien Gilliams loses code violation appeal with City of Sebastian

Damien H. Gilliams, the disgraced former councilman who was removed from public office through the Sebastian recall, lost his appeal with the City of Sebastian for a code violation with his No Name Bar.

Gilliams then attempted to take his case to a higher court, but the 19th Circuit District Court of Appeal shut down as well.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Sebastian relaxed its restrictions and code enforcement by allowing bars and restaurants to provide outdoor seating with tables and chairs. 

But in July 2021, after the pandemic, the city sent a letter to inform businesses to comply with the code and remove all outdoor seating. Every business complied except for the No Name Bar. 

But Gilliams insisted the city purposely targeted him for code violations, despite several other establishments receiving the same violations. He claims it was all political and that a former city manager permitted him to have outdoor tables and chairs at his bar. However, he could not provide any proof of his claims.

In November 2021, Gilliams spoke for nearly four hours at the special magistrate hearing at City Hall, suggesting the No Name Bar got approval in 2013 and 2017 to provide outdoor seating. 

When asked for the site plan to have outdoor tables and chairs, he provided one that was not signed or approved by the city. He and his son, Damien Lee Fey Gilliams, employed as the bar manager, argued their case for hours. 

The magistrate disagreed and gave him 72 hours to comply with code enforcement.

While Gilliams finally removed the tables and chairs to avoid penalties of $100 per day, he appealed the decision anyway with the Fourth District Court of Appeal, citing he was a political target and a victim.

Gilliams, who is still out on bond after his jury conviction for charges of perjury and Sunshine Law Violations while he was a council member, is also running again for City Council. The son is also on the ballot for City Council.

Many voters in Sebastian do not see Gilliams as a viable candidate for Sebastian City Council, and neither his son.