THE BIG REVEAL ….CHECK BACK SUNDAY MARCH 15,2009…
If all goes well with the “tech-gurus” behind the scene…
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3/10-11/09 ROUNDUP……
1. CALL TO ORDER, MAYOR ROSEANN MINNET
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
3. INVOCATION – George Hunsaker- “Oh mighty God most of us would testify that our parents struggled to teach us how to deal with disagreement. Sometimes we understood what they were saying and other times we decided to fight to get our way. In the midst of this process we did learn what is gained when we respect each other and when we understand and grapple with the concept that disagreement of ideas does not mean that we have to reject the person. We ask almighty God that you help our town and our Commissioners to learn to disagree, to learn to make decisions and not always getting their way but the in the process to treat people with respect and once the decision is over may we go drink coffee or wine together. And so almighty God, bless our proceeding in richer understanding. Give our Commissioners the wisdom to make decisions. Amen.”
4. PRESENTATIONS
a. Presentation by Vice Mayor Ken Keechl of Broward County for supplement check award to LBTS Welcome Center (Vice Mayor Ken Keechl)
BC-Broward County Vice Mayor Keechl came and spoke of how he represents 13 cities …..and recapped the past 2 years…saying he had told our Town if we needed anything to come and see him…and we did on Lifeguards for our beach to paid for by Broward County…A resolution introduced by the Mayor…Unfortunately Broward County was against this in good economic times and now it is moot…So after being invited to visit the Welcome Center at the Chamber…he pursued a way to offset what we pay in its upkeep…with a check for $20,000 for this year only…with the caveat he would be back if possible to continue the financial help next year…photos were taken …
b. Proclamation – Proclaiming April as Florida’s Water Conservation Month (Elbert Waters, Director of the Broward Service Center)
BC- An assistant came to speak about the regulations still being in effect…that we are experiencing the 3rd driest winter…She answered the VM’s assertion that our major source of water was from Lake Okeechobee was incorrect…It is from the aquifir…adding Lake Okeechobee has dropped significantly….Comm Clottey…asked about pumping water from the ocean to fight fires…and the rep explained Water Matters Day in Davie …http://www.davie-fl.gov/Gen/DavieFL_BBoard/0148359F-000F8513
http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=3074,20103213&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
c. Proclamation – Proclaiming June 22nd through June 28th, 2009 as Amateur Radio Week (Mayor Minnet)
BC- No representative was in the hall….
5. REPORTS
6. PUBLIC SAFETY DISCUSSION
BC- BSO was asked by Comm. Dodd about an update on new cameras…no update…VM- asked about a rash of burglaries…the Chief did not know of any…and Comm. Silverstone chimed in to say there had been auto break-ins in his neighborhood but no one reported them…The Chief said that was no good…implored the residents to report activity…or there would be no way for them to control and watch it…
VFD- Will post later….
7. TOWN MANAGER REPORT
a. Tentative Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Beach Pavilion (March 30 to April 8, 2009) – Assistance provided by Commissioner Clottey, Sandra Booth, Co-Chair of Master Plan Steering Committee, John Olinzock, Assistant Town Manager and Town staff – Cost $1,000
BC- The Manager said she had been working with Comm. Clottey…and invited Sandra Booth to be a part of it…Manager Colon “slighted” Vice- Chair Booth by saying she had invited Sandra Booth for one reason only to get the student there!…YIKES…”Tact of an apple”Madam Manager…….Mrs. Booth was instrumental in this project…Why would the Manager say such a thing…reiterate it…in such a way…on the dais?…HMMM….
The date is set for Monday April 6,2009 at 7 pm…with a Lynn University to participate…
b. Round table Workshop Calendar
BC- The Mayor asked for a 6 month calendar of round table discussions…but right out of the “gate” clearly void of listening to the Rev. Hunsaker’s invocation the combative Vice Mayor…once again referred to these round table meetings as pre-agenda “keep the citizens out of the loop” Old Guard throwbacks…Further insulting Comm. Dodd and the Mayor who want to participate as they proved to be successful the last 2 times they were held……By saying they were” camouflage for wheeling and dealing” and shouldn’t be done…plus they would take up another day…After all the “bluster was over it was decided they would meet at the “round table” on April 2nd 3 pm at Jarvis Hall….
c. Community Bus – consideration of fare for riders (County recommends)
BC-The Manager spoke of the cost…for 2009-10 $ 102,000 and the suggestion from Broward County to charge fares…stating in the Town Hall suggestion box…a resident asked why with no ridership should we pay for it?…( Careful folks…you too could be attacked for “bogging” down staff with work stoppage…too many suggestions…)…only kidding…The VM said with a fare it will be dead on arrival…and suggested large signs on the sides because he thinks people don’t know it’s free…HUH?…Comm. Clottey suggested the stores kick in funds since the riders are headed their way to purchase…with the Town Manager replying she sent out 200 letters to businesses/hotel and others asking for support…but everybody is going through a hard time…
NOTE: if the Manager is aware everybody is going through a hard time…why so many code sweeps?
d. Minto – El Mar Drive
BC-This was a “lovefest” for Minto and Marc Furth with accolades for Minto…and permits that will be waived and Minto will pick up the construction costs…to accommodate the change to the medians so the Furths will not have to be bothered by the trucks coming around the current median near their hotel…to get into their construction site…We hear that a hold could be in the works with the next phase due to stagnant pre-sales in this stagnant economy…just as Minto has put their project in Fort Lauderdale on hold per the 3/12/09 Hi-Riser…but no matter…. the median will be re-cut….
e. Engineering Services: Lawrence Wick (P&Z Board Chair) and Paul Novak (MPS Committee Chair)
BC- This was to answer a request to have services provided in order to better advise the Commission on heights…etc…after much discussion the contracted engineers Chen and Assoc. will be used along with our new Town Atty. who specializes in zoning…
f. Public Safety Bldg. – Police Department Improvement (Law Enforcement Trust Funds)
BC- Chief Gooding spoke of drug seizure monies approx. $100,000 to be used to make the 1st floor of the Public Safety Complex into “Star Wars”…No taxpayer money will be used…and permits are to be processed before the RFPs
BC- One final addition from the Town Manager…setting the tone for what was to come later…(see previous postsLBTS agenda/meeting N. B. 16f)…..After the VFD public safety exchange …(will post later)…where Comm. Dodd asked who contacted the Town Atty. about the VFD Hipaa concern with his having a VFD pager…the Manager completely missed his statement…Comm. Dodd stated that they had a rule …(made soon after the 2008 election by the VM) no Commissioner could contact the Atty. on their own…BUT…the Manager again in “thin-skin and off the mark”mode…said she had contacted the Atty. when a Commissioner (VM) was in her office…and had done so again when a Commissioner was in her office about occupational license (referring to Comm. Dodd)…”If you don’t want me to do that”…at which point her “sidekick” the VM chimed in he was”flabbergasted”…that the Town Manager “better pick up the phone”to call if he needed an answer… and the Town Manager should be able to call the Town Atty! Both completely went off course for no reason…EXCEPT….Why should the taxpayers be paying the Town Manager and the Town Attorney for time used on a VFD matter…If the VFD had a concern about Hipaa…the Deputy Chief should have called the VFD Atty. on their dime…not the Vice Mayor ( same guy different hat) getting the Town involved…Blurry lines once more!…Comm. Clottey suggested for this be addressed at the round table…Comm. Dodd said it was time to have a “proper contract” with the Town’s law firm…
8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. February 10, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes
BC- No discussion-passes 5-0
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS
BC- 19 were CIC members instructed at the CIC Sunday night meeting to come and speak for the Town Manager who is being “picked on”…previous post…LBTS agenda/meeting category..
The other speakers… 1 Res.-thanked the town for new portal benches and asked for the town to allow existing businesses not “to jump through so many hoops” when making modifications/1 Res.-talked about the budget…LBTS income…a house that sold for half of it’s orig. asking price…for Commissioners to mind their words when talking money expenditures…to plan ahead be proactive and be aggressive in negotiating/1 Res.- spoke about former Battalion Chief Patrick Pointu’s public comments from the prior meeting…saying we should take heed to his warnings…that Patrick should be an adviser to the Commission…a liaison…read the definition of a “bully”…quoted Thomas Jefferson… evil prevails when good people do nothing/ 1 Res.-spoke of what happens when a candidate becomes an elected official …they morph into something else…an elected…it’s dangerous…the shift brings power and influence..it’s addictive and makes the “elected” behave in ways that cause their principals to be abandoned/ 1 Res.-spoke again on beach parking permits…now wanting 1 permit for both beach and residential…and recapped his points/1 Res.- again asked for a retraction from the VM for a slanderous comment made about him/ 1 Res.-spoke about being shocked the valet item was back on the agenda without a traffic study or alternate ideas/1 Res.- spoke of “rising above it” and commending the Town staff…businesses moving …and how the Fri/Sat. events increased activity in town/ 1 Res.-came forward to talk against a valet and to ask for a parking garage and an overpass/ 1 non-Res.-from Pompano spoke of the consequences of having a voluntary fire dept/ EMS being a con for him when considering buying property in town…
10. ORDINANCES
1. Ordinances 1st Reading – “Public Comments”
2. Ordinances 2nd Reading – “PUBLIC HEARING”
a. Ordinance 2009-15: AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY- THE- SEA, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 17-14 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO CHANGE THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR USE OF TOWN TENNIS COURTS; PROVIDING FOR AUTOMATIC ANNUAL FEE INCREASES; PROVIDING FOR PRORATED FEES FOR TENNIS KEYS PURCHASED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; CODIFICATION; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE (Approved 1st reading at the February 10, 2009 Commission meeting)
BC- No discussion-no public comments…passes 5-0
b. Ordinance 2009-16: AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA, CREATING CHAPTER 8.5 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO BE ENTITLED “EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES” TO AUTHORIZE THE IMPOSITION OF FEES FOR THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; CODIFICATION; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE (Approved 1st reading at the February 10, 2009 Commission meeting)
BC- No discussion- no public comment- passes 5-0
11. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
BC- Will post later…
12. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Commission approval of the Broward County Supervisor of Elections agreement for November 3, 2009 (Clerk White)
BC- Will be discussed on April14,2009…..there were some mistakes made with the costs offered up by the Town Clerk in the backup material…the Mayor suggested not spending the money and having the referendums in March 2010…and the Vice Mayor…well, what can we say… the VM could not understand why it is called a round table when it was oblong!…passes 5-0
For the VM-
round ta·ble Listen to the pronunciation of round table
Pronunciation:
\ˈrau̇n(d)-ˌtā-bəl\
Function:
noun
Date:
14th century
1 a capitalized R&T : the large circular table of King Arthur and his knights b: the knights of King Arthur2usually round·ta·ble : a conference for discussion or deliberation by several participants ; also : the participants in such a conference
b. Commission approval of 4 Hardship Parking Permits – Paradise By The Sea Motel (Clerk White)-passes 5-0
c. Sewer Lateral repair at 4344 North Ocean Drive by Madsen Barr Corporation at a cost of $6,504.00 (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)-passes 5-0
d. Commission approval of Special Event application for Paint the Town Red 2009, Thursday, April 2, 2009 – 5:30 PM till 10:30 PM – a 101 Ocean fundraiser benefiting Kids in Distress (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)-passes 5-0
e. Commission approval of Special Event application for Clean Energy Day 2009 LBTS, a Town sponsored event, Saturday, April 25, 2009, 8:00 AM till 4:00 PM (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)- passes 5-0
f. Commission approval of Special Event application for Easter Sunday Service 2009, a Town sponsored event, Sunday, April 12, 2009 5:00 AM till 9:00 AM (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)-passes 5-0
g. Commission approval to allow AT&T to install a cabinet and two hand holes along Washingtonia. Also, approval to waive right-of-way fees (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)-passes-5-0
h. Commission approval for installation of additional handicap parking spaces in Town Lot by Town staff adjacent to the 240 Commercial Boulevard Building (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)-passes- 5-0
i. Commission approval to authorize the recording of the attached Code Enforcement lien (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)
BC- Comm. Dodd wants to discuss at the round table a way to allow the Commission to mitigate liens…as Pompano Beach does now…-passes-5-0
j. Commission approval for Engineering Services Assistant to be provided to: Planning and Zoning Board and Master Plan Steering Committee pertaining to height restrictions and overlay districts (Manager Colon)
BC- previously discussed at Town Manager report- passes 5-0
k. Commercial Blvd Pavilion – Authorize changing amperage – pending details
BC- Comm. Dodd after seeing the electrical change order alerted the Town to the amperage being substandard to allow for events and the use of a “board” the Town could own…and would be in line with recent electrical upgrades in El Prado…the VM got a little ornery until the Town Manager explained …and then he backed off…passes 5-0
13. RESOLUTION – “Public Comments”
a. Resolution 2009-07: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FEES=passes 5-0
b. 2009-11: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON A NOTICE OF INTENT CONCERNING PENDING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 30 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE- passes 5-0
14. QUASI JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS
15. OLD BUSINESS
a. Discussion and/or action on specific location of Adopt-A-Street signage (Mayor Minnet) Tabled at the January 28, 2009 Commission meeting by Vice Mayor McIntee
• Town Hall
• Town Parks
• Designated Locations
BC- Right before the meeting started Municipal Director Don Prince bolted up an Adopt -A- street sign to the side wall right by Commissioner Clottey’s seat…this writer knew trouble was coming …especially after the Commissioner said these signs were “sign pollution”…The Mayor attempted to see if there was a chance for the Commission to maintain this Broward County program with a smaller sign…she was unaware was available…but Comm. Clottey and the VM were having none of it…Comm Clottey did her own research…and found LBTS could be part of another similar program not associated with the County…with no cost to join…and signs that could be made by a local artist..So the Adopt-A Street Broward County program is history and the new signs will be looked in to…
b. Discussion and/or action regarding Town sign at Commercial Blvd and A1A (Vice Mayor McIntee) (Tabled at the January 28, 2009 Commission meeting by Vice Mayor McIntee) (Tabled at the February 25, 2009 Commission meeting by Commissioner Dodd)
BC- The Town Atty. was asked for any info on ownership of the Pier sign…she said they had a special department in their firm looking into it…and answers should be coming in the next 2 weeks…The VM made a motion which was 2nd to table it for 2 meetings…The owners of the Pier were in the hall…not allowed to speak…and were in possession of information that could possibly save the cost of the Town law firm doing this work…The VM would not listen…Comm. Dodd said this was on his head…the table passes 3-2…the Mayor/Comm. Dodd dissenting…
FUNNY ALERT…
VM McIntee told the Mayor somebody was on the phone…he was referring to Louie Marchelos…the owner of the Pier and Athena…The Mayor said it looked like he was writing and perhaps the VM was “paranoid”…the VM’s wife got out of her seat and walked over to Louie…and said “he’s texting!”…..the audience laughed at the absurdity of her actions and her comment..The comedy accelerated when Louie who was previously named in a BSO Incident Report taken out by Moe McIntee for “calling her a cockroach”…said to the BSO Deputy “Keep her away from me!”…A few minutes later the VM’s phone rang as he sat on the dais…more laughter…from the “peanut gallery”…
c. Discussion and/or action regarding information from Mr. Terri Arthur regarding Green Fest (Requested by Vice Mayor McIntee at the February 10, 2009 Commission meeting) (Tabled at the February 25, 2009 Commission meeting by Vice Mayor McIntee)
BC- The VM asked for an update from the Town Atty….she said the previous Town Atty. did speak to Mr Arthur on Monday….Mr Arthur still did not have the information for the Town but was working on it…The VM said it was time to turn it over to the State Attorney’s office…and passed 4-1 Comm. Dodd dissenting…
d. Discussion and/or action regarding Valet Parking for 101 Ocean and Village Grill (Vice Mayor McIntee) Tabled at the February 10, 2009 Commission meeting by Commissioner Dodd – Added and Tabled at the February 24, 2009 Commission meeting by Commissioner Dodd
BC- This one got nasty with the Comptroller from Aruba furious that Comm. Dodd was for this on a trial basis…saying she was “Shocked” that he would be for this when he speaks of public safety…she said a traffic study needed to be done…so angry was she…she came up 2 times…The owners of Athena By The Sea offered alternatives with use of their Pier parking lot…and the alleyway…The Manager from Aruba also was upset at the prospect of a valet in front of 101 Ocean…and spoke of the Fri./ Sat. night road closures Aruba already deals with…saying this was “ridiculous”….The VM said “the neighbors are getting angry at neighbors”…later telling the 101 owner he warned him he would only go for it with a consensus and there was none…so he wasn’t going to go for it…Comm. Clottey said a weekend trial was long enough…A store owner who had just been victorious in his effort to remove the Athena bags was outraged that we would go backwards with talk of bagging meters again the valet and losing parking…Crisite Furth spoke of street congestion…the parking lot and signage…This writer said give it a try…along with 3 other residents…seeing it as an opportunity to see if it was viable…and also seeing that the clientele for 101 was willing to pay from valet service…Comm. Dodd was at a loss for the VM and others to not want to use the Town parking lot with an estimated revenue of $61,000 and when the Town Manager spoke of liability …The owner of Village Grille said it would lessen the congestion in that area…The owner of 101 offered indemnity to the city or to find parking elsewhere…the VM saw this as an opportunity to again thwart the use of the Pier parking lot egress out of the alleyway…and Comm. Silverstone said he did not think the Charter would allow it…(the Comptroller of Aruba is the Commissioner’s fiance’)…The Town Manager said valet was not in the code…This one almost went by the wayside without a vote…but at the last minute it was voted down 4-1 Comm. Dodd the only Commissioner to vote yes…
e. Discussion and/or action on the Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Environmental Sustainability Committee (Mayor Minnet)
BC- This was the one with Yann Brandt and the adverse response from Comm. Clottey and the VM of having him serve…Comm. Clottey asked for it to be tabled until after the budget because it called for tax credits…and she felt that may not be available in these hard economic times…Comm Dodd spoke highly of Yann Brandt saying he had the Commissioner’s full support…It was tabled until the 2nd meeting in Nov. passes 5-0
f. Discussion and/or action concerning placing signs directing traffic to the hospitality and business districts on El Mar and Commercial. Can nice unobtrusive signs be placed on medians next to welcome signs, in front of Chamber, and on the pier sign? We need to request help from FDOT but should also consider placing our own signs if possible (Commissioner Clottey) Pulled at the February 24, 2009 Commission meeting by Commissioner Clottey
BC- This was the signage that went to never-never land…although it was voted on in 2007…and presented by the Furths to the Chamber resulting in the Chamber’s approval and offers of help per Bill Davis coming to the podium…saying it occurred 18 months prior ….No response from the Town was forthcoming when Comm. Dodd asked what happened…just a lot of garbled sidestepping…Comm. Clottey was offering up banners instead…which do not need DOT approval …can be installed as they are now (we just purchased the ones we have last year)…and also larger ones can be used by the parking lot…a local artisan can design them…passes 5-0
16. NEW BUSINESS
a. Discussion and/or action regarding the creation of a Tree Canopy Resolution (Mayor Minnet) – passes 5-0
b. Discussion and/or action supporting the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Statement of Principals (Mayor Minnet)- passes 5-0
c. Discussion of Earth Day April 22, 2009 (Mayor Minnet)- passes 5-0
d. Discussion and/or action on Earth Hour 2009 (Mayor Minnet)
BC- This one passed but not without further absurd statements made by the VM…who said he could not support this hour of darkness because it was an open invitation for bad guys to come in and no way would he allow advertising…the audience and the dais could not contain their amusement at his expense…One audience member said we could call it “Whole Earth Day Burglaries!”….Comm. Clottey said “I don’t think all the burglars are going to be standing outside LBTS.”…The Mayor clarified again it was 1 hour and the VM said “Then I will support it.”- passes 5-0
e. Discussion and/or action regarding an Ordinance to park boats alongside house (Vice Mayor McIntee)
BC- The VM brought this back again and what happened essentially the Commission voted to have what is already on the books…a boat must be along side or behind the house and screened in unless the owner can prove a “hardship” …What that “hardship” could possibly be was not discussed…and no high fences are allowed in the front yards…Campaigning 1 year out is hard on the VM…especially when he’s not in the VFD beach ATV handing out “suckers”…..
f. Discussion and/or action regarding a vote of confidence on Town Manager’s work performance (Vice Mayor McIntee)
BC- See previous posts LBTS agenda/meetings 3/10/09….
g. Discussion and/or action regarding putting a clock in the Pavilion (Vice Mayor McIntee)
BC- A $3000 clock is wanted by the VM…… The Town staff will look into what is available…The Mayor was concerned about the mechanical workings on the beach…the cost to maintain it…She was shot down by the VM …Comm Clottey said maybe some donations could be used…passes 5-0
h. Discussion and/or action to give Esther authority to allow the use of Jarvis Hall by Elected Officials at short notice if vacant (Commissioner Dodd)
BC- This was brought to Comm. Dodd by a resident to put on the agenda…all were leery of it being a political hot potato…and it was decided that the required Ordinance changes involved besides the potential fallout…it should be left as is…
i. Discussion and/or action concerning RFP’s and annually renewable contacts over $15,00 (Comm. Dodd)…
BC- This is the item with background that made the Town Clerk cry …the “straw that broke the camel’s back” …in Town Hall…Comm. Dodd pulled it for discussion at the April 2, 2009 round table….
17. TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT
The New Town Attorney said this was a delightful town…that she was meeting with all the Commissioners …
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FOUL BALL ………..
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ITEM 16F…3/11/09 (3/10/09 meeting)….
Vice Mayor McIntee…spoke that the hall was “completely full” the evening before… ……(it was full but it was half and half…pro and con…with 19 CIC members signed up to speak)…and that he had received 14 calls of support for Esther earlier in the day (continuation meeting 3/11/09)…He spoke of the support of the Town Manager and the VFD being “side by side”…that it wasn’t “planned” that way…it “morphed” into it… He spoke of the Commission needing to support and respect their staff saying they “can’t be burying them with requests for information that are outrageous”…( such as RFP backup figures…and items that were passed but not carried out…only to start over again from scratch…due to….no backup materials supplied)….” We can’t put this town into a mold where it is spending more time researching old information than it is getting work done for the future”……( again, forget everything that has come before)….He made a motion to “support the Performance of Esther Colon as our Town Manager”…
This writer reserved my time from public comments to speak…due to my belief this was an action taken by the Vice Mayor to stop a performance review from happening…I spoke about how this came about after seeing 2 other towns ( Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach) were asking the same review be done by their Commissions and I wanted to see if we have any such requirement…No one seemed to know if this was in the Manager’s contract so I requested a copy of it from the Town….After obtaining the Manager’s contract it was indeed included… we also have in this clause for our Commissioners to enact it annually at budget time……I spoke of how it was a 2 way street offering not only a review of the Manager by the Commissioners…but the Commissioners were to be reviewed in turn by the Manager….so all were accountable each year……….. I expressed the view that a “parade” and a vote of confidence should not “usurp” an annual Performance Review” per the contract….That there is definitely a need for “prior history” to be asked for and supplied due to repeatedly finding in the past minutes from previous years so much of what this Commission is addressing has already been done…with some issues voted on….ending up long forgotten or unfinished….I also spoke of the “planned” CIC “parade” put together and that I felt it was “demeaning” to say she was being “picked on”…because Manager Colon in my opinion is a “strong’ …”independent”… “professional woman” who “should be treated like every other Town Manager”….that with all her years in government she is fully aware that taking the criticisms and the accolades that are all part of the job…repeating again that a vote of confidence should not supersede what is in her contract …
Commissioner Silverstone …..said the vote of confidence was a “great move to show the Town Manager she does have the support up here” ….The Town Manager who has to deal with newspaper articles and blogs that were “demeaning”…that “showed a bad light for the Town Manager”….Again in his familiar litany of “Silverstone’s version freedom of speech”… which really means ….freedom of speech with caveats…( you have an opinion…that are not the facts as he thinks they are…keep quiet)…If you can’t understand where Silverstone is coming from…or most of the words he is saying…you are not alone…( Norm Crosby)… Everyday is performance review day for Esther Colon said Silverstone…budget time…award time…audit time…it was a familiar one note theme seen in the parade of CIC members the CIC produced the night before and from this Commissioner…. the VM and Comm. Clottey… she is a great financial person…and “parades” “God bless them”…public comments are freedom of speech…”I think we’re blessed and I think we should once in a while acknowledge that.”….
Commissioner Clottey….”Yes, I’m hearing a lot of things that are a little strange for a vote of confidence. What does a vote of confidence have to do with requests for information, the VFD, an annual review, previous Commissions, back up material.”…She went on to explain what a vote of confidence is and that “I don’t know know where some of the people are coming from when you’re making some of the statements you are. Maybe I don’t get get it on this one.”…( Nope …she doesn’t get it)….She said in her private dealings with Esther she has found the Manager to be fair…showing no favoritism…relating a story about an item she (Clottey) had and gave to Nikki ( Asst. Town Clerk)…then let Esther in on what she had done ..not wanting to break the “chain of command”…Esther immediately went to get the paper…located on top of the requests…and “she put it at the bottom of the pile so they had been working on a lot of Commissioner Dodd’s “…”first come, first served”….and she “understood that’s the way things are normally done”…She spoke of being respectful and gave her vote of confidence for Esther Colon concluding with…”An annual review is something entirely different. I think we’re putting too many eggs in one basket.”…
Commissioner Dodd… “I don’t believe this is the the time or place for pats on the back. We didn’t perform a review of the Town Manager last year as defined in her contract. Why were we as new Commissioners or how were we supposed to have known that we were required to carry out a review is a different matter. Because it wasn’t on an agenda and we weren’t told.”…He spoke of discussing a format at the “relatively square round table”…( a zinger sent out to McIntee who previously…much to the amusement of the audience pondered out loud on the dais a few times in the evening “why do we call it a round table when it is really rectangular?”)…..He went on to say ” No offense Madam Manager you quite correctly, I am sure review your town staff and I believe it is our duty up here to carry out the review. You have my vote of confidence 100% but I would like a review.”…Comm. Dodd then wanted to “set the record straight “…as “there were allegations out there that I’m the one that’s causing the problem.”…and described what has been previously posted ….an RFP was sent in asking for some backup figures…stating it would be helpful…rather than contact the Comm. the Town Clerk was “in tears”…the work was overwhelming…and an article was published in the BTSTimes by the VM describing the effect of his requests on the Town staff…leaving the Commissioner to go and speak to the Town Manager after the publication…to find the Manager repeating the VM article…Comm. Dodd “thought there would be a file”…and believed that all that resulted from his request could have been avoided with a call to him…..He went onto say that the Town Manager in this conversation was able to answer his request for a figure (the Waste Management Service contract off the top of her head…$1.7 million)…
Vice Mayor McIntee…..”Ah, I was very interested in hearing Miss Cole say that she ah, picked up the ah, Town Manager contract. I knew about that and I had discussions about that with two Town employees that were absolutely distraught over it and the reason they were distraught over it was not because she had the right to come in and pick up the Town Manager contract but because she stood outside in front of Town Hall with another Commissioner going page by page. Everybody in Town Hall watched . The inference of the people working in Town Hall whether it’s right or wrong was not positive. It was a sense of “Wow, she’s slapping us in the face” I’m being polite and she went out there and went through the contract and there was another Commissioner with her and they took it as a personal slap and that’s because if I would have gotten the Town Manager contract I would have probably put it in my car and gone home and looked it over. But I wouldn’t have stood in the parking lot sort of challenging, I don’t know how to put that. They were hurt, they were hurt and that’s one of the problems and we’re trying to solve the problem and everybody knows I support Esther. Everybody knows I support the Town workforce. I’ll fight tooth and nail. When they screw up I’ll jump on them too. That’s the way I do things. But it just isn’t it isn’t one little item it’s the whole package and everybody cries lets bring the together.”
BC- I picked up the contract on Wed. Feb 25, 2009 from Nikki in Town Hall…She was alone at the front desk……and she also made copies of the pavilion plans for me…after that I went into Jarvis Hall for the Commission meeting…and looked over the contract in my seat to see if there was a performance review. The VM just cannot help making up stories.The “Slap” references and this statement…” Everybody knows I support the Town workforce. I’ll fight tooth and nail. When they screw up I’ll jump on them too. That’s the way I do things”……. priceless!
VM- ” Went on to speak of the “peace flier” he put out the evening before to Commissioner Dodd…saying he read “somewhere” “no peace, let’s keep the war”…( This writer posted in #1…peace with McIntee was like Israel and Hamas…now you know where he “tried” to read it)…He said this was an “airing of problems reiterated the Parade and the phone calls …said he could get 50-100 people lining up again…and to call it a parade “was not a nice ting to say”…
Comm. Clottey- implored respect on the dais for the Town Manager by referring to her as Madam Manager rather than Esther…
TOWN MANAGER………
TM-” Um, yes Ms. Cole and to the audience I have been doin’ this for 32 years and personally I know I do a good job. To Commissioner Dodd I think I’m reviewed everyday on a performance basis but it is up to this Commission if they have an issue to bring it up.”
BC- This is exactly what Comm. Dodd has done…
TM- went onto speak about the McIntee article in the BTSTimes saying Comm. Dodd was told by her in her office to go to the “source” the VM…
BC-Wouldn’t that be sunshine Madam Manager?….She went on to make this strange statement…
TM-” You’ve seen me in a court of law and I’ve told you once and I’ll say it again. If we all want to get subpoenaed to say who’s doing what let’s just get it over with.”
BC- HUH?…
TM- ” I have a job to do. I feel in my heart I have strong work ethics. I am a very strong individual. I am doing my job. But at this moment if you would like to call to terminate my contract Commissioner Dodd then let’s get it over with so I can get my life in order and I can get my work done in this town.”
BC- Dear readers…re-read Comm. Dodd’s word…this writer’s words and what is being asked of the Town manager…an annual performance review as stated in her contract….this is the all too familiar “stomping of the foot”…”0-60″…over the top response we have seen before with this Town Manager….leading some to say…there is a difference in being the Finance Director and the Town Manager…as will be seen again as we continue…
TM- ” I have a lot to do in this town. And it’s a constant pressure and constant, you can have have a hundred residents say you like me ,you don’t like me. I’m gonna do a job whether you like me or you don’t like me. But we have a lot of things to do and it takes a lot of time it takes a lot of heart. We’re a great city, we’re financially stable. You don’t have to like me. No one has to like me. I’m gonna do my job anyway. But the criticism is not constructive and when you and I speak, ( addressing Comm. Dodd)..I’m sorry if I’m ignoring every Commissioner, I apologize, but the only that comes into my office says I don’t really listen to Barbara Cole, Barbara’s blog, well you know what I don’t either. Because if I disagree with you I always told you. But this is gettin’ persona. I’m not gonna make it personal cause I’m gonna come to work. I’m gonna do my job. If I have to stay late I stay late. If I leave early, I leave early but you know I have a life and this job, this town has become my life. And honestly, I told you yesterday and I’ll say it again I don’t think it doesn’t matter what I do or my staff does you (Dodd) are never gonna thank us for doing a good job.
BC- My God…Comm. Dodd has been on the dais thanking staff…and if staff are asked…code enforcement…municipal works…BSO…AMR…they will confirm this…so to publicly insinuate such a juvenile remark because her administrative staff is sub-standard in areas of their work…highly over emotional and unprofessional to say the least…I’m thinking Sally Field…Oscar speech!…
TM- She went on to say she thanks her staff every day…and how they try to help everybody…
BC- this would have been enough to state and would seem the appropriate person to thank her staff ….regularly…
TM-” If we’re not doing enough Commissioner Dodd you need to replace me and get it over with. Let’s go. I am not gonna be unhappy because I leave. We’re all replaceable. My heart is here. If your heart isn’t here with me and everybody else. I don’t know what I can do. I am not a politician. If the Commissioner, Vice Mayor, I’m sorry, wants to parade 100 people like Barbara Cole or anybody else that is the residents that come and that is Vice Mayor McIntee. I am not a politician, I’m here to do my job and I’m asking please let me do my job.I’m sorry if I’ve gotten out of line Mayor.”
BC- The Manager should and could have said after a few residents came forward…”Thank you for your support, but in the interest of doing the Town’s business…let’s move on”…a point made to this writer from a faithful reader….That would have been not only the correct move professionally but a class act move as well….
BC- I was allowed to come up again to counter the VM and his absurd comments regarding the contract I picked up and my actions afterward…I expressed “It’s a little odd that he’s (VM) talking about how other people felt about what I might have been doing”…I then went on once more to attempt to return to the matter at hand …the performance review…and imploring this was professional…not personal…that just as in other towns outside blogs posted their opinions…for readers to agree or disagree with..(The VM tried to stop my time saying I was off topic but the Mayor allowed for me to finish)….allowed to proceed I again explained that asking for a review as they are in other towns is up to the Commission to honor or not…and that critics and supporters are “the nature of the beast”…when it comes to local government….
The Mayor gave the Town Manager the opportunity to respond…
TM-” I will rise above it”…
BC- again, with this response… the Town Manager was off in left field!…
Comm. Silverstone…jumped in to say it was hypocritical…hypocrisy…pronounced by by Silverstone as “HIGHpocrisy seems to be running rampant around here”…relating his hard to follow theory on opinions…who has them…who is allowed to have them an who should r should not have them….He said the Town Manager is extremely upset “which happens when somebody does their job of pride and honor feels they’re being questioned without knowing it”…He complained of hearing..” comments all the time, hissing sounds (wrong side of the room Comm.)…background music (huh?) ..all the time it’s disrespectful, you all know who you are.”…He spoke again about earned respect…tried again to explain opinions…and said of the parades “God bless them”…… “The Town Manager shouldn’t have to be even questioned like this.”…again with opinions…who’s are harmful who’s are a disservice and how it has to stop…Then he put in a plug for the CIC Town Hall meeting on Sunday saying …”I think that’s the beginning of it”…getting open information….
Comm. Clottey- “To everybody that criticizes the Town Manager let me remind you that we are one of two towns in Broward County that’s in the black.” (again what happened to the debt?)…”The Town Manager is doing something right.”…She went on to talk about people slipping up…human nature…and again stating we are in the black…She said we need to say “thank you” to the Town Manager…speaking of public comments and parades…saying she and her fellow Commissioner campaigned on that…and moved again to take the vote…
Comm Dodd-said he would make this brief and “rise above the present situation”…saying he would meet with the Town Manager in the next few days to try and resolve any difference…wanting to state for the public record…”I have the utmost respect for her ability and the ability of Town staff.”…
VM- “Esther under her breaths when she got done speaking said to herself let them terminate me, I’m not gonna put up with this. Something to that effect. If we lose Esther Colon we should hold all our heads in shame because there is no greater Town Manger in this county.”…He went on say he was glad Comm. Dodd was going in to see her…that peace needed to take place for 60 days….
BUT….
VM-”I will not call a bunch a people a parade”…
BC- definition of a parade….
1pa·rade Listen to the pronunciation of 1parade
Pronunciation:
\pə-ˈrād\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
French, from Middle French, from parer to prepare — more at pare
Date:
circa 1656
1: a pompous show : exhibition2 a: the ceremonial formation of a body of troops before a superior officer b: a place where troops assemble regularly for parade3 a: an informal procession b: a public procession c: a usually lengthy array or succession <a parade of visitors>4 a: a place for strolling b: those who promenade
VM-” …to patronize a woman that’s their right, that’s their right to come up here every single time.”…
BC- IS THE VICE MAYOR THREATENING A PRIVATE CITIZEN?….
VM- “If you want 50 in here next month to pick on you Ms Cole, fine we can do that too.”….
BC- Hamas …yep…
VM-” The bottom line is don’t denigrate these people because they spoke with their heart.”…He spoke that this was the beginning of a “healing process”…including getting along with Comm. Dodd…and that he did all this to stop what had been going on….
BC- He is GOD …after all….according to new CIC Vice- Chair Joe Couriel after all…
VM- ” We’ve got the greatest Town Manager. Let’s look in the mirror and say thank God we got her.”…
BC- RE-READ THAT Readers…the VM said…”Let’s look in the mirror and say thank God we got her.”…That really says it all…When you look in the mirror who do you see?….
Mayor Minnet had the final word before the motion asking for respect from the floor and the dais…thanking the Town Manager for her work and everything she has done…she has done a great job.
VM- I make a motion for vote of confidence for service performance of work Esther Colon has done…2nd by BFF Silverstone…passes 5-0…
BC- All because questions were asked…backup materials were requested….and the Commission was asked to do what is in the Town Manager’s contract…an annual performance review…A dog and pony show…pure politics…pure diversion…pure theater…for a simple required action to be instituted….before the budget…
Dear Readers…No matter who is “paraded” up to the podium…No matter how many or how often…Until and unless the Commission chooses to either vote to not enact that portion of her contract or to amend her contract and remove that portion…it should be done…
For LBTS voters in 2010…If it is voted to again not have a performance review in 2009 or voted to amend her contract…this action by a sitting Commissioner should be included in your decision for casting your next vote for Commissioners in March 2010….
more to come………
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Scoops | Tagged ;ocal government, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Scoops | 1 Comment »
A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE…..PERFORMANCE REVIEW…..PLAYING HARDBALL………..
What’s the opposite of an E. F. Hutton commercial….you know the one ” When E. F. Hutton speaks…everybody listens”…and there is total silence….Yeah, I know those were in the good old days when stocks were a commodity worth listening for the latest scoop…..
The opposite latest scoop in LBTS at least…Performance Review….
A call for following through on a contractual clause in the Town Manager’s 2 year old contract…as is required albeit it is to be instituted by the Commission….and all hell breaks loose…”parades” of Civic organization members instructed to fill the seats…stop the process of the business at hand and rally behind the Town Manager…An alternative to appease the residents that the Manager has a “vote of confidence” placed on the agenda as a new business item by her “protector”…the Vice Mayor…to show they don’t need to follow the contract…this Manager is above it…and to consider any such requirement would be an insult…shame on you for asking!…Commissioners falling all over themselves reminiscent of how Manager Colon got the job in the first place (previous post…scoops category)…with the Manager herself doing her own particular brand of a showdown…or a meltdown… take your pick…also reminiscent of the day she was hired….Can Deeerfield Beach and Pompano Beach expect this same kind of response in their communities….where they are asking the same from their Commissioners?…
The Manager who covets audits and awards like a kid collecting baseball cards…seems to look upon an annual Performance Review as a foul ball…and would rather take her ball and go home than follow the playbook!….She had a major meltdown…talking termination…giving ultimatums…swinging her bat at Commissioner Dodd so fast and furious that in the writer’s opinion she struck out many times over….very disappointing…
It seems a familiar scenario with Manager Colon…when cornered …on a something…..lack of staff experience leading up to mess ups…the change in the pavilion…leading to a series of attempts to divert attention rather then provide a copy of the final pavilion with the package that “suddenly appeared” on 2/24/09 in the backup for an electrical change order……containing the simple truth…the pavilion we ended up with was in place in spring of 2008….We saw this type of behavior when she went off base to say if Comm. Dodd wanted time to look at the plans for the electrical changes in order to make a decision…….due to their inclusion at the last minute on the night of the meeting……when she slammed him … if he wanted to table it… she would stop the pavilion from going forth……Essentially saying “I’m taking my ball and going home”…game over!….The results…from the other players…the Commissioners……they cave…..afraid that there are no more balls and no more hitters waiting on the bench!…
She’s certainly got her “John McEnroe” going …sorry for the tennis reference…could not think of a baseball player who throws a tantrum…are there tantrums in baseball? Are there suppose be tantrums in local government?…
Well she succeeded ……she won…there will be no Performance Review…and if you dare to ask for one be prepared for the “parade”…as “promised” by the Vice Mayor…(HMMM…Is a Performance Review like an Oversight Committee)……Get ready for more anger more tantrums…and charges of trying to undermine the Town…the stability of our “being in the black”…Can you be in the black when you have $10 million (approx.) in debt?….Get ready to be tarred and feathered…because as Vice Mayor McIntee said the Town Manager and the VFD go “side by side”…Hmmm…yes again…HMMM…maybe we should have a 4th referendum item…the Town Manager…”side by side” with the VFD whereas the Town of LBTS will not be able to replace the Town Manager or the VFD without a vote of the people…a contract in perpetuity…guaranteeing…never ever will there be a Performance Review…Quick Vice Mayor…put it on the next agenda!…
The Highlights from this item……in the next post….
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Scoops | Tagged LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Scoops | Leave a Comment »
WHEN IS A “DROWNING”…NOT A “DROWNING”?………..
From the Vice Mayor’s 2/25/09 Commissioner Comments….
VM- ” Second of all I owe the Mayor an apology.”…he went on to relate a story…of a drowning that occurred and the Mayor unaware came to a VFD group in the throes of debriefing…”very bubbly” …introducing herself…and he (VM) was not responsive…not only because of the drowning…but he had an hour before he read an e-mail…calling the VFD “ambulance chasers”…”
This writer checked with BSO and AMR who both reported no drownings…on February 17th…(the day the e-mail was sent to the Town Manager ( not the VFD) from Comm. Dodd stating the VFD were acting like “ambulance chasers”)…or after to the present time of the following public records request made for the incident report for the “drowning” the VM/Deputy Chief was referring to in his comments…
The BSO Sgt. did inform me of an intoxicated male near the pier that was struggling…and after he came to shore was cited with an “open container” offense….
Mrs. Cole,
Your request will be ready for pick-up tomorrow, March 11th. The fee is $2.00
Ex. Secretary Louvaris
From: Barbara Cole
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 11:06
To: Cheryl.Louvaris
Subject: RE: LBTS VFD – Requested report ready for pick-up
Dear Sec. Louvaris,
I am making a request of drowning reports for Feb 2009.
The Deuty Chief in his Vice Mayor role stated on 2/25/09 that he had been debriefing the VFD after a drowning, and had just read an e-mail stating the VFD were “ambulance chasers”.
” Second of all I owe the Mayor an apology.”…he went on to relate a story…of a drowning that occurred and the Mayor unaware came to a VFD group in the throes of debriefing…”very bubbly” …introducing herself…and he (VM) was not responsive…not only because of the drowning…but he had an hour before he read an e-mail…calling the VFD “ambulance chasers”…”
The BSO has no record of any drownings, with the last being the Jan. “floating body”.
The e-mail in question was sent to the Town Manager on 2/17/09.
With the great concern over lack of lifeguards and drownings. This assertion of a drowning occurring in Feb. but unknown to the public is disconcerting.
I await your reply for the incident report.
Barbara Cole
Sure enough the Incident Report provided by the VFD was that very incident BSO reported!…
Sat. 2/28/09-16:32:04- Chief Perkins was on scene for approx. 4 minutes….M12 (AMR) was on scene for approx. 3 minutes…at Sta12 -on scene for approx. 1 minute 42 seconds…BE12- on scene for approx. 1 minute 42 seconds…C212 (McIntee)- on scene for approx. 13 SECONDS….
Incident description- Drowning- no transport required- REF by the buoy does not think he can make it back to shore …1st crew bring ATV to BeachChild Inc….
At 1632 hours on Saturday February 28,2009 we were dispatched to a surf rescue. Five units were assigned to this incident. Fourteen personnel responded. We arrived on scene at 1633 hours and cleared at 1638 hours. The incident occurred on Commercial Blvd. at El Mar Dr. L-B-T-S in District 12A. The local station is 12. The general description of the property is beach. The primary task(s) performed at the scene by responding personnel was investigation. No mutual aid/automatic aid was given or received. Call was received as a drowning but after investigating the incident the swimmer just had problems getting back due to exhaustion. Alarm number 1400202 has been assigned to this incident.
BC- So let’s see the VM says he owed the Mayor an apology…she was “bubbly” and did not know he was in the “throes of debriefing” the members after a “drowning” …and an hour after reading the Dodd e-mail with the “ambulance chasers” inclusion…
EXCEPT…the e-mail was sent to the Town Manager on 2/17/09 …and the Incident report clearly shows this was NOT a drowning and the Deputy Chief was on scene for all of 13 seconds…and the rest were on scene between 1 minute 42 seconds -4 minutes…
It appears the Vice Mayor purposely “embellished” his “story” in his Commissioner Comments to have the “pity” effect for how a negative remark referring to the VFD added to a “drowning ” for his “troops”….and himself….
BUT A “DROWNING” NEVER TOOK PLACE….it was an intoxicated male…who swam back to shore….YIKES!….
Why are we not surprised!….
more to come………
Posted in Local Politics, Scoops, VFD | Tagged Local Politics, update, VFD | Leave a Comment »
FOR THE DOORMATS….AMONG THEM….
3 pm Jarvis Hall….televised Ch 78/online…LBTS site...http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/
Old Business/New Business….
More Commission Meeting Posts to follow the meeting….including…
Who negotiated for the VFD truck self admittedly…….You know who…..
Who paid for the VFD to decide their Hipaa dilemma….The Taxpayers…with an assist by the Town Manager and the Vice Mayor….
Who’s running for office again….You know who…”suckers”… anyone…they’re a hit with the kiddies on the beach….
Who “slighted” the Vice Chair of MPSC….The “Emmy” award winning Manager….
Who brought the boats parked in the north back to the beginning……….a full 360…You know who….
Who went after who on the dais….You know who….
and more…….
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Scoops | Tagged LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Scoops | Leave a Comment »
LIKE LEMMINGS….THEY CAME TO SPEAK….After Being Directed to appear the 3/9/09 CIC meeting…
Been there …done that….This writer…was the one with the life preserver……who decided in 2007 to no longer blindly take the plunge!….
In all their “glory” the McIntee- Furth Brigade of lemmings came to “save” the Town Manager…at the 3/10/09 Commission meeting…signing up for Public comments… 19 of them…
Who they were………
CIC- Chair /BTSTimes Owner-Editor/P & Z Vice Chair/Town Event Coordinator -Cristie Furth
CIC member/ BTSTimes Owner/-Editor/Town photographer/VFD photographer/MPSC member- Marc Furth
CIC -Vice Chair/ SlappBCsitewriter/BTST-staff writer/VM wife- Moe McIntee
CIC member-/ VFD member -Ken Johnson
CIC member/ BTST-staff writer-Patty Domin
CIC member- Gail Albohn
CIC member Bill Hennesey (husband of Mercine who spoke)
CIC Secretary/BTST Editor- Bob Roberts (husband of Adrienne who spoke)
CIC member- Happy Vasil
CIC member /BTST-Editor Adrienne Roberts (wife of Bob who spoke )
CIC member/BOA member- George Crossman
CIC member Rosa Michailiuk (son is a Town employee/VFD member)
CIC member Mersine Hennessey (wife of Bill who spoke )
CIC Board member Renee O’Neal
CIC Board member/BOA -Chair/VFD member- Tom Carr
CIC member/ BOA member Joe Couriel-(Who thinks McIntee is God…previous post)
CIC member/P & Z Chair- L. Peanuts Wick
CIC member/VFD member- Bob Karley
CIC member- Frank Herrman
BC- The sum of what they said…Esther Colon has kept us financially sound!….Great for a Finance Director…but for a Town Manager there is so much more required!…
BC- forget the McIntee exagerated “spin” in his Comm. Comments…not 100…not 200…19…All directed to come to the podium and speak to stop the Town Manager from being “picked on”…..previous scoops post…
The splendor of it all….in all it’s planned deflection…. Ms. Colon’s “victim-hood”…a ” damsel in distress”…”God save the Town Manager” from the “attackers”…those who dare to ask for backup materials…even worse “mundane” backup materials…
The e-mail…..to Town staff….that set them over the edge….
‘Please find attached a new business item for March 10th meeting.
A list of the RFP’s, approximate values in excess of $15,000 and dates would be helpful back-up material
Stuart Dodd’
The request that made the Town Clerk cry…with this overwhelming request for information…
BC-There’s no crying in Town Clerk-dom…
Commissioner Dodd after reading the Commissioner Comments in the CIC-Mc-Furth BTSTimes 3/6/09 edition…..(VM McIntee states we have a “crisis in this town”…The Town employees “are on the verge of quitting”…”morale is collapsing”…….the “workforce is being abused”….that a certain Commissioner has been “demanding in his requests”….with an employee “in tears”…and it is time for this Commissioner to realize he is the “problem and not the cure”)….went in to see the Town Manager to ask her about these statements…and low and behold the Town Manager responded as if she had written the McIntee comments herself…(Pocket anyone?)….
Commissioner Dodd asked for an example of what was so overwhelming…that it would make the Town Clerk cry…The response…the RFP backup request for the Waste Services Contract…
He asked for the e-mail….and they produced the one above…After all the hand wringing…the Town Manager actually told the Commissioner “We don’t know how to appease you.”…
BC- HUH?…Appease…the Commissioner…this is the verbage used by the Town Manager….Now that really says it all!….
Commissioner Dodd responded to the Manager….”I thought there would be a file”…….
BC- The Commissioner figured that there would be a Town file…a file that was for “Waste Management Contracts”…and there is not?….YIKES!…Now that really says it all!….
Commissioner Dodd asked IF there was a problem…and the Town Clerk did not understand what he was asking for…needed more time to get it together…or could not supply the answers……why did she not contact him?….Now that really says it all!….
Instead …we have a crying Town Clerk….A Town Manager that made a beeline to her “protector”…her “buddy” Vice Mayor McIntee…who then wrote it in his CIC -VFD Mc-Furth Times paper….Now that really says it all!….
But that was not enough…the Town Manager and her staff must be “rescued”……from public requests…from scrutiny from “attackers” writing of the administrative screw-ups…the less than steller “performances” by Department heads….such as Town Assistants unable to answer contract questions…at a pre-bid meeting….Town Development Directors…pointing to Town Assistants to speak for the Development Department on behalf of the Town at a Quasi Judicial hearing…and having no recommendation…no materials to present….Town Clerks that mess up agendas…and citizens calling to task rude behavior on the dais from the Town Manager herself to sitting Commissioners….when cornered by her actions or inaction………Now that really says it all!….
Dear readers….Take a look back….spend some time in 2006 online in the archived minutes…It’s an eye opener….”The pot calling the kettle black”….The minutes show the “actions” of the lemming’s leader…when the majority was not his…and the Manager was not “in his pocket”….the hours of requests made for BSO information…times…costs….reports…extended questioning…no pre-written questions…and not by just one Commissioner but by two BFF’s……..The insults and demands of “investigations” into administrative actions….The Oriana debacle when departments in the town let things slip…and somebody needed to answer the hard questions…….with no line of orchestrated public outrage….Take your pick…Regular Commission meetings…Special Fire Workshops…It’s all there….it’s all there….it’s all there….Now that really says it all!...http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/
After all the comments were done…amid the supportive CIC applauding from the right side of the hall and the groans of “set-up” heard distinctly from the left….The Vice Mayor in his Commissioner Comments…called for a 60 day peace ….A stay….Sort of like Hamas saying to Israel…”we’ll put down our weapons if you will put down yours”….”Come on…believe us.”…while Israel…being well aware of Hamas’ checkered past……..knew that 60 days was simply a ploy to restock and regroup!…Now that really says it all!….
Nahhhh….. I don’t think so…Vice Mayor…I think this writer…this resident…this taxpayer will continue to write…continue to ask for information…continue to call bad acts …bad acts…continue to expect the best from those I employ as a taxpayer/ resident/ voter….continue to hold elected officials and administrative staff accountable……
Because you see…when all is said and done…It does not matter to me if the name of these people have changed…It does not matter to me if the Majority in charge is different…it matters to me what my administration does…It matters to me what my elected official does…it matters to me….Now that really says it all!….
more to come….
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics | Tagged LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics | Leave a Comment »
