CAN’T HAPPEN HERE ….

Dear Readers… this writer was keeping an eye on Miami Lakes to see if former TM Colon and her pals JohnO and KathyO would soon be on the payroll there…Miami Lakes chose to rehire their former TM of 2 years back…at $188,000 with no advertising for anyone else…Seems LBTS is not the only municipality to object to high salaries and benefits for Town Managers and staff …(anyone see Bell California .. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-20/california-official-s-800-000-salary-in-city-of-38-000-triggers-protests.html ) ….At least we are assured Ms. Colon and the double O’s cannot make a return to their Town positions….due to the clauses in her settlement/release …..WHEW!…..

( prev. post July 28, 2010 Settlement/Release…Town of LBTS v. Esther Colon…)

“9. Employment Reference. The Town agrees that if any inquiry is made to the Town Manager and/or its Human Resources Director by a prospective employer of Colon, such individuals) will only inform the prospective employer of Colon’s dates of employment and job title and will not disparage Colon in any way. If an inquiry is made to review Colon’s personnel file or any documents created or maintained by the Town, the file and/or documents will be made available in accordance with applicable law. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a Joint Statement by the parties concerning the pantie’s dispute and resolution thereof.”

“10. No Future Employment. Colon further agrees that she is not eligible for reinstatement and will not apply in the future for employment or work with the Town, its departments and/or agencies, in any capacity.”

……………..

Sentinel….

“Former Miami Lakes Town Manager Alex Rey returning to old job

Miami Lakes has approved Alex Rey as its new town manager with a starting base salary of $188,000.

Miami Lakes will have former Town Manager Alex Rey return to his old job in September, after the town council approved the mayor’s nomination Thursday night.
Rey served the town for six years but left in 2008 during an election cycle to lead the scandal-plagued building department in Miami Beach.
“I’m happy to be back,” Rey said.
Many residents and several council members applauded the appointment of Rey, recognized as a veteran administrator who knows the town.
“We need him and we need him now,” resident Martha Gonzalez Rovirosa told town council members.
Yet Rey’s appointment by Mayor Michael Pizzi drew questions and concerns, as well, including the lack of advertising for the position despite a council directive for staff to do so in April, and the cost of the contract, which gives Rey a starting base salary of $188,000.
In an e-mail to Councilman Richard Pulido, interim manager David Ofstein wrote that a draft advertisement had been prepared in April, but the outgoing manager, Frank Bocanegra, “directed to put the item on hold until further notice.”
Ofstein told The Miami Herald that he “didn’t even realize that it had or had not been advertised.”
“It wasn’t necessarily on my radar screen,” Ofstein added, citing work on the town’s budget.
Some residents shared their disappointment with the failure to advertise the job. Others, like Esperanza Reynolds, questioned the salary.
Reynolds urged the council to consider a salary more appropriate to the town’s size and said “we need to be very mindful of what we pay” officials.
Reynolds calculated that the contract, salary plus benefits, is worth $1.4 million over five years.
Another resident, Angel Gonzalez, quipped: “We’re not hiring LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. We’re hiring a town manager with a financial background who can do a budget and read a balance sheet.”
Rey’s base salary is more than the $168,000 that the last manager Frank Bocanegra earned and is also more than the $135,000 salary cap proposed by Pizzi in a May memo.
At the meeting, Pizzi presented a survey of managers’ salaries, ranging from $165,000 in Doral to $231,000 in Miami Beach.
“A good manager is worth his weight in gold,” Pizzi said.
Under the town charter, the mayor appoints the manager while the town council approves the nomination.
At the meeting, the mayor spent half an hour explaining why he wanted to bring back Rey as the town enters the budget season and is hunting for a new town hall. Afterward, the mayor said he viewed Rey’s return as the biggest accomplishment of his tenure as mayor.
“I think he’s a superstar,” Pizzi said.
The final vote for Rey was 5-2, with council members Richard Pulido and Nancy Simon voting against. Pulido, participating via teleconference while on vacation, said he had concerns with the search process while Simon said the contract was too costly.
“I think $188,000, while you are very well deserving, is not something that this town needs to pay for a town manager,” Simon told Rey before casting her vote.
During the meeting, the town council haggled over Rey’s five-year contract and whittled away some benefits. Those changes included changing the health insurance to a basic family plan; eliminating a $400 monthly stipend for expenses; and replacing any cost-of-living increase with an incentive-based bonus tied to the manager’s ability to cut $150,000 from the budget by the end of the fiscal year.
“I’m a taxpayer, too, and this is my money, too,” said Vice Mayor Nick Perdomo, who proposed many of the contract changes.
Perdomo noted the value of hiring a candidate who does not need on-the-job training. Bocanegra, a former police officer, did not have experience managing a municipality — which “cost the town money,” Perdomo told residents.
Rey’s official start date will be Sept 6. Until then, he will advise the interim town manager on the budget and other matters on a consulting basis, for a fee of $145 per hour.”

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/26/1747775/former-miami-lakes-town-manager.html

28 resumes have been received by LBTS thus far and there is still 16 days to go…….

more to come ….

Tags: Old Town Manager Returns In Miami Lakes, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Scoops, local government

JULY 20, 2010… RIP CURRENTS ….

Just received word a kayaker drowned today in Lauderdale-By-The- Sea …VFD and BSO were on the scene…

Sentinel…

“A man drowned in the Atlantic off Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Tuesday evening.

Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Lauderdale-By-The-Sea’s Volunteer Fire Department responded at about 6:30 p.m. to an emergency call about a man in the ocean off the 4100 block of El Mar Drive, said spokesman Mike Jachles,

Bystanders pulled the man to shore and started CPR, Jachles said. The man was taken to Holy Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/lauderdale-by-the-sea/fl-drowning-lauderdale-by-sea-20100720,0,5348072.story

Tags: Drowning in Lauderdale By The Sea July 20 2010, Scoops
Posted in News, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD

ARE YOU SURE WE’RE READY TO SHOVEL ?….

Dear Readers…as we approach Tuesday night’s LBTS Master Plan Steering Committee meeting (July 20, 2010 at 7 pm in Jarvis Hall) …this writer has some major concerns… I am concerned that the committee is meeting another month and has still not been directed to begin the revisions of the Master Plan… Comm. Sasser brought it up at last Wed. night’s Roundtable…While he received what appeared to be agreement on it being given to the committee it went nowhere and no direction was given to staff…Comm. Sasser stated he ran on having a plan in place in order to discontinue the piecemealing practices of the Town … We hear that would be welcomed sooner rather than later by many of his constituents who are displeased over the push for bathrooms this year …and want them built into an overall plan along with the overall plans in place from the MPSC revising the Master Plan…the Planning & Zoning Board updating the codes and the Comprehensive Plan revisions ….To the Personal Policy Manual and the Purchasing Manual..as well as the Charter by a Charter Review Board…and thinking outside the box on the Town’s staffing….Building Dept… to the big overall long range 5-10 year plan on how to proceed with the Town’s aging infrastructure …Town’s buildings…Downtown businesses which include the long range goals of the Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center  …and of course our destination areas such as El Mar Drive with the hotels and motels as well as the development of residences that anchor it… I have heard many state that the bathrooms being pushed through are akin to the McIntee median walkway… (prev. posts)…OUCH!… One Reader stated the bathrooms should be built by Minto as they build on the north side of El Prado Park as part of their revision plans…Hmmmm……..

Now here’s some more concerns that needs to be addressed before the Town uses one dime of the Oriana million (we know there is still a million due to the former TM using the General Fund to pay for anything thus far…prev. post)… A Google of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Hotel Foreclosures brought up the 3 items below…The new owners of the first foreclosure…. Beach Apartments and Eastside Inn… (across from Oriana)… came in front of the Commission to say they would be fixing the place up…Have they begun?…. The second foreclosure ….the Holiday Inn and the Villa Caprice (at the south end of El Mar Drive across the street from each other)….were sold last winter to the same owner that owns the former Clarion (at the north end of El Mar Drive and it too has buildings across the street from each other) as well as the Little Inns I and II …( near Washingtonia Ave. east side of El Mar Drive)…..The owner(s) again added to their El Mar Drive properties a few months back with the purchase of the Rainbow Inn…(on the west side of El Mar Drive and A1A south side of Washingtonia Ave.)…. How do these purchases fit into the total picture of the El Mar Drive beautification project that has a price tag of $4 million (the “whole enchilada”…prev. posts) without the drainage being done?… Are they and will they contribute to the revenues of the Town and be updated to make the taxpayers investment into El Mar Drive the right investment to make?..The next one was a shocker…Minto and Jesse Gaddis (the Broward Taxi King) foreclosing on them …right after we were informed by the Int. Town Manager that Minto is in the process of coming back to the Town to change the plans for their two remaining parcels of land to develop… There sure seems to be cause for concern after reading the following …”The Canadian-based homebuilder had escaped the torrent of foreclosure actions in the real estate bust until April 28, when Gaddis filed his complaint in Broward County Circuit Court against Minto Henry Square over a 5.3-acre site in Fort Lauderdale.” ….Will there be a “trickle down” effect from the Gaddis complaint?… Some safety clauses need to be put in place before moving  forward so the Town is not left with partially built properties on El Mar Drive similar to the ones on Garden Court (prev. posts)… All in all…now is the time for “plans” to be put into place …comprehensive ..full plans ….and not individual items to put feathers on anyone’s cap…. that’s not what the voters voted for….

……………….
Tuesday, January 5, 2010

A German investor bought the distressed note on a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea hotel and apartment property for less than half of the bank’s foreclosure judgment.

Ptolsemaios Property paid $1.65 million to Fifth Third Bank for the mortgage to El Mar Place Developers on Dec. 30, according to Leyla Semenov, a director with Fort Lauderdale-based KW Commercial who arranged the deal. She said it was an all-cash transaction.

The price represents a 58 percent discount from the $3.9 million foreclosure judgment Fifth Third won against El Mar Place in December and a 53 percent discount from the $3.55 million mortgage it granted the developer in 2006. Ptolsemaios is set to take control of the property on March 9 unless a higher bidder shows up at the foreclosure auction.

The properties, at 4321-4341 El Mar Drive, are a block west of the beach. They contain 30 units, with 27 licensed as hotel and the other three as multifamily. The hotels are called the Beach Apartments and the Eastwood Inn.

Semenov said Ptolsemaios officials have experience operating hotels and will make repairs to the properties.

“My client will repair it and use it for hotel purposes, and then market it in Europe and locally,” she said.

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/01/04/daily12.html

……………………….

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea hotels to be sold
• Fifth Third Bank
A former Holiday Inn and the Villa Caprice Hotel in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea are set for public sale after their owner lost a foreclosure judgment.
In a Dec. 8 stipulated foreclosure agreement, Fifth Third Bank won a $27.7 million foreclosure judgment against VCH Properties over the former Holiday Inn.
It also won a $14.6 million judgment against Villas of Caprice Developers over the Villa Caprice. The public sale of both properties is set for Feb. 17 at 11 a.m.
As part of the agreement, Fifth Third Bank agreed not to seek a deficiency judgment against Peter M. Debs and the other individual guarantors under the mortgages.
The former Holiday Inn is now called the Lauderdale by the Sea Resort and Beachclub. At 4116 N. Ocean Drive, it has 186 rooms, a meeting room and a beach café. VCH Properties bought it for $15 million in 2007.
The Villa Caprice Hotel, at 4110 El Mar Drive, has 24 apartment-style rooms. Villas of Caprice Developers bought it for $11.8 million in 2005.
Fifth Third Bank filed its foreclosure lawsuit against the hotel owners in 2008. Holiday Inn took its flag off the property after the lawsuit was brought.

Read more: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea hotels to be sold – South Florida Business Journal

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/01/04/daily45.html

………………..
Thursday, May 6, 2010 | Modified: Friday, May 7, 2010
Taxi mogul Gaddis seeks foreclosure on Minto Communities
Jesse P. Gaddis, the largest taxicab owner in Broward County, has stuck Minto Communities with a hefty fare – a foreclosure lawsuit based on a $12.6 million mortgage.
The Canadian-based homebuilder had escaped the torrent of foreclosure actions in the real estate bust until April 28, when Gaddis filed his complaint in Broward County Circuit Court against Minto Henry Square over a 5.3-acre site in Fort Lauderdale.
In 2007, Gaddis personally funded the mortgage, which had a maturity date of Jan. 31, 2010.
Pompano Beach attorney David R. Roy, who is representing Gaddis in the lawsuit, said the full $12.6 million is outstanding, plus interest.
“It’s one of the largest undeveloped sites in Fort Lauderdale,” Roy said. “And it’s in the community redevelopment area so there are benefits to owning it.”
Gaddis originally owned the property. Should be seize it in foreclosure, he would eventually look to sell it, Roy said.
Minto Communities is selling homes in Artesia in Sunrise, Villas by the Sea in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Porto Sol in Royal Palm Beach, Olympia in Wellington and other Florida projects. It recently purchased property in the Monterra site in Cooper City out of the TOUSA bankruptcy case and is developing green homes there under the name Cascada.
A Minto official did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Minto obtained approval from Fort Lauderdale to build 416 rental units on Federal Highway between Northeast Fifth Street and Northeast Sixth Street, but only after the developer promised to pay for significant road improvements. However, construction never got under way.
Minto Henry Square transferred ownership of the property to Minto Communities for $528,000 in August, but the mortgage was not released.

Read more: Taxi mogul Gaddis seeks foreclosure on Minto project – South Florida Business Journal

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/05/03/daily74.html

more to come….

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Foreclosures on El Mar Drive In 2010, Scoops
Posted in Boards, Local Politics, News, Scoops, local government

IT’S NOT 2007 ANYMORE ……….

Dear Readers …… Another look back in time at 2007 came about after reading today former Mayor Parker…now a candidate for Broward Judge is making some serious charges of ethics against his opponent, Judge Gillespie and his opponent’s campaign treasurer …none other than Sea Ranch Lake resident and powerhouse attorney David Bogenschutz…the same David Bogenschutz who represented former Town Clerk Alina Medina in 2007 when she took the 5th fifteen times!… Many still believe it was Parker who connected the Town Clerk to Bogenschutz and it is still a burning question to us all is who paid Bogenschutz?… We heard Parker was “shopping” these charges around … As this writer posted yesterday concerning Comm. Chris Vincent putting a Parker sign in his yard…it is my opinion Parker does not have what it takes to be a judge…and now going after Bogenschutz…as has done…I would think he’s toast!…
2007 BARING FALSE WITNESS ….EXCERPT -
“It’s pulling apart the already-torn town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. The political career of Mayor Oliver Parker hangs in the balance, as does the livelihood — and possible health — of the town clerk. The Broward State Attorney’s Office has already begun an investigation. And at last week’s town hall meeting, it led to infighting and an emergency trip to the hospital.
It could be a serious crime. Or just a very embarrassing mistake.
Call it The Mystery of the Minutes.
The allegation, in its simplest form, is that Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s official meeting minutes were illegally altered to assist the mayor in his lawsuit to stop the townspeople from recalling him from office. The evidence so far doesn’t look good for Parker or the town clerk, Alina Medina, who is in charge of producing the minutes.”

full story link below…..

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2007-01-18/news/baring-false-witness/

DBR:” Judge Gillespie/Bogenschutz accused of conflict of interest by Oliver Parker

Jeff Marcus, chief of the felony trial unit handling Lennon’s case, said none of his attorneys was worried about Bogenschutz’s (campaign treasurer/fundraiser) role in Gillespie’s campaign.

“Each said they didn’t give it more than two seconds’ consideration. It’s a no-brainer,” he said. “Judge Gillespie’s a very good judge, and you don’t try and recuse good judges.”

He also noted what he called Bogenschutz’s “reputation of the highest integrity.”

“The people involved here are well-known to the prosecutors,” he said. “When you look at this particular instance, there are no flags going off in anyone’s mind.”

http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/

DBR EXCERPT…
“Oliver Parker, a Fort Lauderdale solo practitioner challenging Gillespie in the August primary, is crying foul over the judge’s decision last year to use Bogenschutz on his campaign without withdrawing from cases involving Bogenschutz’s clients. Bogenschutz has appeared in several cases before the judge, and some have had favorable results.

Gillespie, who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Charlie Crist last year, is a former state prosecutor and senior trial attorney with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Parker is a Republican who made a failed bid for a state House seat in 2004. His decade as mayor of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea ended in 2008, and he now hopes to become a judge.

Parker’s decision to run against Gillespie, one of five black judges in a county with 90 on the bench, put him at risk of being accused of racial targeting. But Parker, who has countered those criticisms by saying he seeks to push out a judge he calls inexperienced, is now questioning the judge’s ethics.

The judge denies any impropriety, noting he always discloses his relationship with Bogenschutz and gives prosecutors an opportunity to ask him to recuse himself.

“It is strictly a professional relationship, and he happens to be my treasurer,” Gillespie said.

Bogenschutz said there’s “nothing illegal, immoral or in any way improper” about the judge’s actions.

“For Mr. Parker to have to begin to discuss specific isolated matters that he obviously knows not a lot about, and to cast rocks at a sitting circuit judge, seems like a pretty desperate move for someone who isn’t getting traction in his own campaign. That’s what politics has degenerated to in this county,” he said. ”

full story link below….

http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/Web_Blog_Stories/2010/July/Gillespie.html

more to come….

Tags: Former Lauderdale By The Sea Mayor Parker Goes After Opponent Judge Gillespie and Attorney David Bogenschutz, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Politics, Scoops, State News, local government

THE OVERPAYMENT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE …

Dear Readers… After Tuesday night’s meeting and the Interim Town Manager’s report the decision and direction was made for the Town to recoup the overpayment of compensation to former Town Manager Esther Colon.

The Sentinel did a follow-up posted tonight on their website (see below)…with a second “no comment.” from  Ms. Colon and the comment from the Town Atty. that we will just ask for it first…Hmmm…

Verbatim from the Oct. 12, 2009 Special Workshop Town Manager performance Review … … Posted 10/13/09…

“Town Manager Colon-”Thank you Mayor, I know I am not on the agenda to speak but I would like to clarify some issues for the record and most of them I’ll do from just listening to everybody.”

“First let me explain something. I was not hired by the five members of the commission on this dais. I was hired by the five members of the prior sitting commission. I do want you to understand and you can check the record and you can subpoena the previous commission as well as you can subpoena me. My contract was reviewed independently by each sitting commissioner with the Town Attorney. My contract was motioned first motion to approve by Mayor ProTem Chuck Clark. It was second by Commissioner Yann Yanni, it was, excuse me John Yanni. It was approved 5-0. I read an article in the Futures paper and the only commissioner or the only elected official that was truthful in that article was mayor Oliver Parker. Mayor Parker did not like my severance position and like always I like a good little argument. He did not like a one year severance package. I said I worked too hard in this town during the broom sweep campaign. I’m sorry commissioners it was, we got locked out of Town Hall when you won so I was there. I said if that is any indication of what the residents are gonna do during election time I am not gonna put my heart and soul to run the day to day operations of this town unless I have a contract I’m worthy of. I believe I, at that time I had thirty years of public service and that is a contract that five independent commissioners reviewed with the Town Attorney, did not violate any Sunshine Laws and that is the contract they approved. Two of those sitting commissioners are currently on this dais.”

“A couple of months ago this commission started to divide , the residents started to divide. They believe they can use me as a sounding board. I will go and work with Robert Baldwin any day without a problem for one reason. Robert Baldwin never told me what to do, how to do it. All he told me was as long as you obey the law, you do  what you’re supposed to do. I have always done that in my 30+ years as a public servant. I have one fault and I have criticized this commission publicly once, only once. I have not been disrespected this commission. I have been disrespected by many residents on this dais and I have told you all I like you, I don’t like you but I’m gonna come here and do my job and if there’s one thing I will not allow anyone to do. And when I say anyone I mean my brother, my sister, my father , my mother God rest they’re all in peace, I’m not gonna break the law. The one time that I disrespected this commission was when they gave me a unlawful order. Do we remember that commissioners? And I told them you can direct me to do that and I’m not gonna do it. If that’s bein’ disrespectful and rude well then I’d like to see anyone in this commission put in this audience purposely disrespect the law. I am not a puppet. If you all think that Vice Mayor McIntee tells me what to do, boy you haven’t seen some of our good fights. I will agree to disagree with everybody that’s sittin’ on this dais and everybody that’s sittin’ in the audience and my staff who’s sittin’ up there who’s not even a third of them but boy do we have great arguments everyday too. I’ll tell you one thing that none of you know about me is I am a very fair person. You might come to my office and not like what I have to say. I’m sorry, I believe in black and white. There’s no gray. And if that style does not approve or agree with you well then I believe I requested Commissioner Dodd once to make a motion to terminate my contract. I believe that was the day the vote of confidence came and it was 5-0. Even Commissioner Dodd voted, gave me a vote of confidence. I said Commissioner Dodd if you don’t think I’m doin’ a good job then vote to terminate my contract. I don’t have a lifetime contract. Whoever keeps on inventing that story, I’m not a Supreme Court Judge. I’m a human individual like everybody else. If you don’t like me there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m gonna come here, I am gonna do my job and the only thing I ask and I’m sorry if I do have a problem with that word and many others, is that people don’t try to coerce me because it’s not gonna work. I am gonna do here and do my job until this commission or the next commission wants to do it be the Town Manager and I pray to God that whoever follows suit does not allow any resident or any elected official play political games. Because that is what I’m all about. Thank you.”

……………..

Standout comments from Former TM Colon contained above …

“and you can subpoena the previous commission as well as you can subpoena me.”

“I will go and work with Robert Baldwin any day without a problem for one reason. Robert Baldwin never told me what to do, how to do it. All he told me was as long as you obey the law, you do  what you’re supposed to do. I have always done that in my 30+ years as a public servant.”

“if there’s one thing I will not allow anyone to do. And when I say anyone I mean my brother, my sister, my father , my mother God rest they’re all in peace, I’m not gonna break the law.”

“I’m sorry, I believe in black and white. There’s no gray.”

BC- We will now see if there is any “gray” Ms. Colon now believes in ….when Ms. Colon is “asked” by the Town to reimburse us for her overpayment …thus far…

………………….

Sentinel …..

“Lauderdale-by-the-Sea seeks partial return of former town manager’s severance pay

The town commission unanimously authorized the town attorney to recover $69,308 from former Town Manager Esther Colon.

The amount is part of $296,188 in severance payments made to Colon the same week of her April 20 dismissal.

Interim Town Manager Connie Hoffmann alleged in a May 20 report that there were errors in calculating Colon’s benefit payments for deferred compensation and accumulated sick and vacation leave.

Reached at her Miami Lakes home, Colon would not comment on the town’s inquiry.

“We’ll probably start off just by asking for it and see what happens,” Town Attorney Susan Trevarthen said. “Obviously it’s a matter of great importance to the commission. We’ll seek to resolve this as quickly as possible.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/lauderdale-by-the-sea/fl-lauderdale-by-sea-colon-overpaymen20100527,0,293477.story

more to come….

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Seeks Overpayment From Former Town Manger Esther Colon, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Scoops, Web News, local government

IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK ….

Dear Readers…Looks like the Sentinel got a whiff of the Town’s Colon payout inquiry being finished (thus far) …They had quotes from the Int. Town Manager (we hear they were never responded to by the former manager )…From former Town Manager Esther Colon ” I have no comment”… quite a change from her having plenty to comment on during her days on the dais….The inquiry will be  addressed tonight in the Town Manager’s Report… (prev. post) …Was Colon overpaid?…Was Colon terminated or a retiree?  …And will the Town be reimbursed for the $69 thousand + and whatever else was wrongly received? …In this writer’s opinion…nothing was done with the finances for this self proclaimed “bean counter”, Esther Colon without her direction…knowledge…oversight and consent… She provided big time for herself and her former boss and followed suit with his employment agreements for her staff  denying them what they should have received. from the Personnel Policy Manual …Those “loyal” staff members who will follow her out the door after being terminated are left  to waddle away with empty beaks!…

SENTINEL ONLINE….

“Lauderdale-by-the-Sea commission to review fired town manager’s severance payment

Report alleges overpayment of $69,308 Wages and Pension to Colon”

“LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA

A report about the severance payments to former town manager Esther Colon alleges she was paid $69,308 more than she was entitled to receive.

Interim Town Manager Connie Hoffmann said she will ask commissioners to consider the findings at Tuesday’s meeting. If they authorize her and the town attorney to proceed, Hoffmann said she will attempt to recover the funds.

Colon was fired April 20 and received $296,188, according to the report. Colon’s replacement, her former deputy John Olinzock, was fired a week later.

Asked about the town’s inquiry, Colon said, “I have no comment.”

Olinzock’s dismissal came after officials said they grew concerned about the rapid severance payment to Colon, which led to a lockdown of Town Hall the weekend of April 24.

Commissioners later said that Olinzock was authorized to process payments to his former boss, but that he had also been asked to review the severance payout with the town attorney.

“He did not do that until after the money had already been transferred into her account,” Hoffmann said.

According to Hoffmann’s report, direct deposit payments were made to Colon for:

$169,276 for one year’s salary in severance pay, including $7,499 for a year’s worth of deferred compensation that Hoffmann wrote “was not warranted.”

$41,479 for accumulated vacation leave that included an alleged overpayment of $18,593. “She was getting four weeks’ vacation, two weeks more per year than the commission authorized,” Hoffmann said.

$56,293 for accumulated sick leave that was allegedly $43,215 too much.

“That’s 75 percent more than the policy manual dictated,” Hoffmann said.

$29,138 for comp time.

Also under review is two years’ worth of deductions that Colon directed be made from her severance for health insurance premiums; eye care; dental, life and disability insurance, the report states.

“The question is whether the town is obligated to allow her to do that,” Hoffmann said. “Human resources treated her as a retiree, rather than as a fired employee.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/lauderdale-by-the-sea/fl-lauderdale-by-sea-manager-20100524,0,3031264,full.story

more to come…

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Town Manager Comments On Former Town Manager Colon In The Sentinel, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Scoops, Web News, local government

Lauren Sallan and Professor Michael Coates handle a actinopterygian fossil in their Culver Hall lab Oct. 6, 2009. Sallan and Coates found that an extinction event 360 million years ago set the stage for modern vertebrate evolution. The research was published online May 17 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Credit: Photo by Jason Smith/University of Chicago)

…………………….

Dear Readers… many of you wondered why I made a beeline to Chicago after the landslide win to change the Town Commission/Town Administration in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea to help with my new granddaughter so my daughter could continue on with her Phd. at the University of Chicago …Below will explain it better than I ever could….It’s been amazing to watch my first grandchild come into the world one month ago…and to know that as she grows up she will see what an accomplished woman her mother is… My granddaughter will able to read this first of many important research papers her mother will have published and find that this paper and the others to follow will make big changes in how she and her classmates will be taught in school about the world and how it evolved!…

There have been interviews over the last week and this … and it was picked up by the Tribune as well as other print/web media…so it should also be in the Sentinel tomorrow… Below is the L.A. Times article and a link to Science Daily and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for the full text of her research paper …

L.A. TIMES …
“Ancient mass extinction of fish may have paved way for modern species
A report looks at a 360-million-year-old gap in the fossil record and finds that marine vertebrates were recovering from an extinction event on par with the one that killed the dinosaurs. What happened is unclear.
By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times

May 17, 2010 | 5:56 p.m.

Modern-day lizards, snakes, frogs and mammals — including us — may owe their existence to a mass extinction of ancient fish 360 million years ago that left the oceans relatively barren, providing room for marginal species that were our ancestors to thrive and diversify, paleontologists said Monday.

The report, by University of Chicago researchers, focused on events at the end of what is commonly called the Age of Fishes, which lasted from 416 million years ago to 359 million years ago. That age was followed by a 15-million-year period of relative silence in the fossil record.

Paleontologists had tended to ignore the rarity of fossils from that period, which is known as Romer’s gap — assuming that the fossils just had not been found, or shrugging it off as an unusual period of low diversity. But in a paper published online Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors proposed that Romer’s gap is a sign that the world’s marine vertebrates were recovering from a global-scale extinction event.

That gap left ocean niches bereft of weird, now-extinct fishes like the giant armor-plated Dunkleosteus that had ruled the seas up till then, permitting then-marginal species such as sharks to gain ascendency, scientists said. If they had not, the forms of vertebrates existing today may have been very different.

“It’s clearly one of the most important papers published in recent years” in paleontology, said John Long, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County who was not involved in the study. “Forty-four percent of all vertebrate life went extinct at that point, and that was not recognized before.”

That event was one of the most devastating in Earth’s history, on a par with the one that killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, said Lauren Sallan, a paleontologist at the University of Chicago and lead author of the paper.

And just as the fall of the dinosaurs made room for mammals to rise, she said, this extinction made way for modern marine life such as sharks and the ancestors of modern fish — as well as for tetrapods, ancestors of terrestrial vertebrate life.

The Age of Fishes earned its nickname from the diversity of marine life at the time.

During this period, lobe-finned fishes — descendants of which include the lungfish — ruled the oceans, as did armored fish called placoderms and many other forms of fish that no longer exist. Placoderms, which were a dominant life form on Earth for 70 million years, included a diverse array of species, including the 8-meter-long Dunkleosteus and the much smaller Bothriolepsis, which had arm-like spines near the front of its body.

According to data analyzed by Sallan and her colleague Michael Coates, about 345 million years ago — after the extinction and subsequent 15-million-year silence in the fossil record — the ecological balance of power had shifted. Sharks had risen to the top. Ray-finned fishes, of which there had been a mere dozen or so species that mostly looked like salmon, diversified extensively, leading to the appearance of such creatures as angel fish and eels in the fossil record, Sallan said.

Today, Sallan added, there are about 30,000 different species of ray-finned fish.

Researchers are still unsure what precipitated the extinction. There is some evidence of a period of low oxygen levels in the oceans at that time. Sallan said it is also possible that a miles-deep drop in the ocean’s water level caused the die-off. But the causes of this major change will have to be studied further, she said.

Sallan said the popular view of evolution was to think of it as a steady improvement — as evidenced by the idea that tetrapods, or four-footed life forms, “conquered the land,” somehow defeating now-extinct species.

“But by finding this extinction event,” Sallan said, “basically, [we show that] those kinds of progressive stories can’t be used anymore.” Luck — bad and good — plays a huge part in what species come out on top, she said. “There’s no reason for dinosaurs to die 65 million years ago except that they got killed by an asteroid.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-fish-20100518,0,203315.story

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100517152518.htm

Full text paper…(PDF)…

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/05/05/0914000107

more to come….

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Former Resident Publishes Important Research Paper, Lauren Cole Sallan Publishes In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Scoops
Posted in News, Scoops, Web News

THE NEXT ONE’S UP FOR GRABS ……

Dear Readers… As the former Town Manager and her trusty side-kick JohnO look for yet another municipality to conquer …they are not alone in their quest for “catching the brass ring” of big bucks in salary-benefits- and accrued and unused holiday/sick leave to add to their growing nest eggs…the perks that most certainly leave these government workers sitting pretty in their twilight years…courtesy of the taxpayers, many of whom will be struggling themselves when able to retire and not knowing what was offered up to those who ride the merry-go-round of a Town Administrator’s professional life by way of their elected officials when the dotted line of those brand new contracts are signed!…

In part 1 (prev. post) was the newest Town Managers to hop back on board their solitary gold horses and take another spin…In part 2 we will look at a few more of the recent firings and hirings…and what was offered to get them out the door… or in ….along with who take the merry-g0-round …It makes one wonder if they have a special pass …reserved “horses …and get added miles credited for the number of times they gone round and round!….

CAPE CORAL …A FEW FAMILIAR NAMES ….

“Cape Coral city manager job pulls a pile of interest 75 applications arrive for manager position — There may be a bargain out there waiting to be picked as the next city manager in Cape Coral. The city has received 75 applications for the seat resigned by Terry Stewart last November, but an initial review has reduced the stack to 29 applicants. The application period ends April 30. Many of the applicants listed a preferred salary. Stewart’s pay was $165,000 a year, and he worked up to that over an eight-year period. Only two of the dozen applicants who listed a preferred pay level put down a number higher than Stewart’s. Applicants from Cape Coral are Interim city manager Carl Schwing, retired financial services executive Gary King and former international executives Michael Siegel and Thomas Leipold. Previously, City Councilman Peter Brandt said he’d like to see someone from the private sector get the job. But so far the search has turned up candidates mostly with government careers and a few from the business sector, according to a review of the resumes Tuesday by The News-Press. Someone who can get projects completed would be good for the city, said resident Tony Sanderlin, 30. “It seems like these roads are always under construction,” Sanderlin said, gesturing toward Santa Barbara Boulevard and Hancock Bridge Parkway. Two-thirds of the applications come from southeastern states and the remainder from as far away as California. Almost all applicants have a master’s degree, often in public administration. The most distant applicant appears to be Deborah Edgerly, former city manager of Oakland, Calif. She served under former Mayor Jerry Brown, but was removed when a new administration came into power, according to her application. City council members will start their discussion after the application period closes. They made a false start Monday on the impression the period had closed April 15. But Mayor John Sullivan explained in a memo to council members that the city had already paid to advertise the position through April 30 and will keep the job posting active to get the most return for its money. Cape Coral businessman Jerry Valchine said he hopes the city finds someone with the qualities of Ronald Reagan, including fiscal conservatism and an ability to work hard and be a visionary. Valchine, who owns Pack & Send Gifts on Hancock Bridge Parkway, said he wants a manager who can produce a conservative, balanced budget.”

BC- Below are two of the applicants that also put their names in for the Interim TM position on April 26th (prev. post)…

“Mark Lauzier – Coral Springs
•Experience: president, owner The Budget Experts
•Education: master’s in public administration, University of New Haven
•Other: assistant city manager Pompano Beach for nine years

Michael Mahaney, Deerfield Beach
•Experience: Deerfield Beach city manager until last January
•Education: MBA, James Madison University
•Other: Nassau County administrator, Fernandina Beach, three years”

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100421/NEWS0101/100420092/Cape-Coral-city-manager-job-pulls-a-pile-of-interes

…………………..

THE RECENT POMPANO BEACH PAYOUT FOR THEIR FORMER CITY MANAGER …..

“Unpopular Pompano Beach manager gets $140k for quitting The Pompano Beach City Commission wasn’t too impressed with their manager of about two years, Keith Chadwell. But he’s getting a nice parting paycheck even though his contract didn’t call for it. Chadwell submitted a letter of resignation at last night’s city commission meeting. He proposed that he leave June 12, be paid nine months salary (that equals about $140,000) in exchange for agreeing not to sue. The commission quickly agreed despite the fact that his contract calls for that sum if he was fired — not if he qui. Asked if the deal was a good deal for taxpayers, Mayor Lamar Fisher said: “No comment. I think the action by the city commission was in the best interests of the city of Pompano Beach.” Earlier this year, City Commissioner Rex Hardin made a motion to fire Chadwell but it failed on a 3-3 vote, he said. Commissioners have said that Chadwell failed to follow through on their direction and when interacting with the public. Hardin said he was the only commissioner to reject the severance last night. “I didn’t feel it was appropriate to dole out taxpayer dollars in that manner as basically a bonus for leaving,” he said. Word had spread to commissioners that Chadwell might resign. But City Commissioner George Brummer questions whether someone nudged Chadwell to quit. “It certainly looked like this thing was staged,” he said. “Somebody worked this thing out.” Chadwell said in an interview that he has another ”opportunity” in the public sector but declined to be specific except to say that it isn’t in Broward. He said that people on behalf of the mayor — he wouldn’t say who — negotiated with him for his departure. “The arrangement under which I am leaving was certainly negotiated — there was an amicable quid pro quo,” Chadwell said. ”

BC- Tells those in LBTS who really believed our former TM would have left w/out her big payola severance they are working with a few too many screws loose!…Again, originally TM Colon wanted a 5 yrs severance!..

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/05/unpopular-pompano-beach-manager-gets-140k-for-quitting.html

…………………

THE RECENT CITY MANAGER FOR POMPANO BEACH SEARCH…WITH OUR LBTS INTERIM TOWN MANAGER FRONT AND CENTER LEADING THE SEARCH …..

New Pompano Beach City Manager Could Be At Work by December  And then there were four. Next month Pompano Beach commissioners will interview the final round of four candidates vetted by The Mercer Group for the city manager position that could pay $175,000 to $195,000. They are: –Dennis Beach, who has served as city manager in Fort Pierce for over 13 years; –T.C. Broadnax, a former Pompano Beach assistant and deputy city manager and currently one of the assistant city managers in San Antonio, Texas; –Gary Shimun, Davie Town Administrator and former assistant city manager in Pembroke Pines; –James Twombly, former city manager in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Connie Hoffman, senior vice president of the consulting firm, will bring the four finalists to city hall for interviews for one-on-one meetings with each commissioner as well as one at a time before the full commission on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. Hoffman also will have the candidates meet with senior staffers, take them on a tour of the city and hold a public reception on a date to be determined. Hoffman said the new hire could begin working by December or January, depending upon whether they are leaving a job or selling a home. “The commission had said they would do an independent background check on the candidate they select, so that will add some time to the selection process,” Hoffman said. Despite the economy, Hoffman said it’s not a buyer’s market for cities looking for new chief executives. “People who have a job they are secure in tend to be more conservative about looking right now,” she said. “When you are a city manager and put your name out as looking for a job, your city commission can get upset about that and it can cause rifts. The other issue is people are afraid they can’t sell their homes to move to a new community. It’s affecting the market for recruiting.” Hoffman said despite those issues she is confident about the four candidates city leaders are considering and called them “excellent.” The winner of the job will replace Keith Chadwell, who resigned in June, two years into a five year contract, to become one of three deputy city managers in Durham, North Carolina. Chadwell’s replacement will oversee 716 employees and a $215 million budget.”

BC- $175-195,000 for 716 employees and a $215 mil. budget… former TM Colon $162,000+ for a town with 20+ employees and a budget of less than $15 mil!….

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/10/new_pompano_beach_city_manager.html

……………

FORMER TOWN MANAGER BOB BALDWIN …. LIFE AFTER LBTS … WILL HIS LBTS FINANCE “HIRE” FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS?…. WITH ANOTHER FRONT AND CENTER MOVE FROM INT. TM HOFFMAN …

Last time this writer posted in any length about Bob Baldwin it was to post his attempts to find another top spot outside of his Lake Worth gig…(the town LBTS Human Resources Mgr. Kathy O’Brien/TM Esther Colon said he was compensated for while working in “on leave” to the tune of $30,000+ despite his memos/contract stipulating his “consulting” stints “up to 10 weeks” were to be unpaid) …He tried for Pompano Beach…and Dania Beach …and ?….. According to the Lake Worth blogger Baldwin had some issues as she described the new City Manager….

“As an objective of performance reviews is to compare one person to another at the same job level–who do we compare her to? Bob Baldwin in Dania? Susan Stanton is paid $150,000 a year. Bob Baldwin was paid $170,000 when he was city manager in Lake Worth, a guy who never showed up for work and one of a few for whom I hold responsible for the state of our City today. Doesn’t Susan deserve better? I propose a two or three year contract with a raise. Not only is she underpaid in this job but Lake Worth has one extra component most cities do not have–a Utility department. For a city of this size, her pay is under the scale. She informs the Commission on everything she knows that is going on in this City working unbelievable hours to turn it all around.”

http://lynn-a.blogspot.com/2010/03/evaluation-of-susan-stanton.html

“City Attorney Larry Karns will negotiate a contract with Stanton. The city is offering Stanton an annual salary of $150,000, a $500-a-month car allowance and other benefits.

Stanton could not be reached for comment today.

She has offered to start work two weeks after her contract is final, said Connie Hoffmann, vice president of The Mercer Group, which conducted the city manager search.”

http://wildirisbooks.friendsofwildiris.org/our-community/lgbtq/susan-stanton/

BC- According to the Commission minutes from Nov. 25, 2008 in Dania Beach when their City Manager Plato wanted out, the Manager asked to move his retirement up to Dec.31, 2008 and keep his severance package until April 30, 2009. He would continue on the payroll until that date…The Commission concurred with his request to retire and the date…and mention was made for the payments of unused sick and vacation time…and added the the Manager would continue to accrue more vacation sick and vacation time between Dec. 31st and April 30th…One Comm. agreed to health ins. benefits but not to continuing to accrue the sick/vacation time…With that the City Manager withdrew his Dec. 31st request if he could not receive his benefits..but offered to forgo only the sick leave accrual … Another Comm. thought all benefits should continue …while another thought the pension benefits were ok…but not the accrued sick/ vacation ..citing salary, retirement and health ins….In the end the Commission approve the Dec. 31st retirement without the accrued sick/vacation accrued from Jan 1, 2009-April 30, 2009 ….

On Jan 17,2009 Dania Beach had a City Manager Interview Workshop…at 1:15 pm…

Bob Baldwin ….portions of the interview….

“Robert Baldwin, applicant for city manager, provided an overview of his work experience. He said he has identified and dealt with complex problems in both service delivery and administration. Mr. Baldwin keeps the Commission informed and treats them all the same. He indicated that staff and elected officials think he is loyal, ethical and professional. A single event he is proud of is the annexation in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea; however he was unable to bring the city together, in spite of charter changes he suggested. He indicated once they started communicating with the residents they began to come around and become part of the city.”

“He said he would be accessible to the public and Commission, and that he returns calls and tries to solve problems.”

“Mr. Baldwin advised his career has been in Broward County, and he is familiar with the players, which would help in dealing with the county. He commented that in order to get things done, you have to have confidence in your staff and delegate. Department Heads are hired to do a job and should be allowed to do it; you can be hands- on in a small city, but not a large city. Mr.Baldwin said Lake Worth is a great community but it is a city in chaos. He noted that one of his weaknesses is he gets close to employees and it is hard to leave someone without a job.”

“He is currently working on a policy manual for green initiatives which he will completer before he leaves lake Worth.”

“Mr. Baldwin would like to see a community work together, and the only thing you can do is to reach out and make them feel like part of the community.”

“He said code compliance officers are going to customer service training because they need to put a better face on code compliance and how they enforce the code”

“Mr. Baldwin believes he has a record of getting the job done with integrity and respect and he will use these same qualities in Dania Beach. If selected he wants to work as a part of a team with Commission, staff and citizens.”

BC- Quite something…when you compare the Lake Worth bloggers of the outgoing Manager Baldwin and his presentation for a new position… and what we here in LBTS recall…from him and his “hire” former TM Colon….

On Jan.20, 2009,  the Dania Beach City Manager Selection meeting took place at 7 pm…according to the minutes the firm of Colin Baenzinger & Assoc. were the chosen search firm …the same firm that was used for Pompano Beach when Baldwin was in the running for the job ..(prev. posts)…and neglected to do a full background check according to a series by JP Bender of the Pompano Sentry on the Manager hired (Cadwell)… The candidates were read aloud with the Comms. votes…Robert Baldwin was ranked #1..by 4 Comm. votes… seeing Baldwin as the most experienced…

BC- The question now for the newest merry-go-round “riders”…murmurs that City Manager Bob Baldwin will hire Colon/Olinzock in Dania Beach?….. Or will Colon/Olinzock (some are surmising they must be a team…with promises made….due to his actions as Int. TM with her payout and his own termination with no payout until a full inquiry is done and reviewed by the Commission)….head for Miami Lakes… North Bay…Hallandale…Fort Lauderdale…etc…etc…etc…. And of course…who will “catch the LBTS brass ring”…

Note to all those “brass ring” municipalities …..GOOGLE!….

Part 3 is next….

more to come….

Tags: Cape Coral City Manager Search, Dania Beach City Manager Bob Baldwin, Lake Worth City Manager Stanton, Lauderdale By The Sea Interim Town Manager Connie Hoffman, Lauderdale By The Sea Town Manager Esther Colon, Pompano Beach City Manager Search, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Scoops, Web News, local government

LOOKING TO GET ON THE MERRY-GO-ROUND ?…….

Dear Readers …. who among us knew Town Managers in so many municipalities were on such a merry-go-round in losing their positions at the same time …And who knew that merry-go-round had so many of them just changing horses on the carousel… From the looks of it…it’s a familiar group of professionals who unlike their ardent Kool-aid drinking supporters know full well it’s a given in their chosen field… to climb on board and take a spin to be “Top Dog” in another Town or City ….

BC- more on Miami Lakes to come…

APRIL 20, 2010…. Miami Herald…

“Miami Lakes town manager resigns in order to keep pension The Miami Lakes town manager resigned Monday, prompting the Town Council to name the director of planning and zoning as interim manager. Frank Bocanegra, the town manager since January 2009, submitted his resignation, effective May 31, in order to keep state retirement benefits he accumulated during the past five years. The town’s director of planning and zoning, David Ofstein, will take over as interim town manager in June. The two top administrators are expected to work together during the transition. “I don’t think we’re going to miss a beat,” said Mayor Michael Pizzi. The new interim town manager already has two tasks from the Town Council: find $200,000 to cut from the budget and advertise for a full-time town manager. The post of town manager was Bocanegra’s first foray into municipal government. He previously worked as the town’s police commander with Miami-Dade police. The resignation came at a special town meeting Monday night, at which the Town Council was poised to consider giving the manager a one-month leave and then rehiring him in June. The move was designed to allow Bocanegra to comply with a state deferred retirement program, keep about $500,000 in accumulated benefits as well as his job with Miami Lakes. Instead Bocanegra submitted his resignation. “It was the best decision for me and my family,” he said. During the meeting, the mayor and several council members praised Bocanegra for his service to the town and viewed his resignation as a way for a clean, amicable break. The Town Council voted 6-1 to pay Bocanegra a $58,000 severance package, including $8,000 for sick leave and vacation pay. “I’m not sitting next to a stranger. . . . I’m sitting next to someone who has served our community honorably,” said Councilman Richard Pulido, who called the severance package a “financial wash.” The town attorney, Mitch Bierman, said the town would have to contribute more than $50,000 to Bocanegra’s retirement under the state deferred retirement program if the manager continued working. Councilwoman Nancy Simon opposed the severance package. “We’re giving away $58,000 for free,” Simon said as she cast the lone dissenting vote. Earlier in the meeting, Simon said the contract between the manager and the town does not grant a severance package or payment for accrued leave if the manager resigns with less than 60 days notice. “There was no reason to give anyone a golden parachute,” said Simon, who also questioned the timing of the issue. Bocanegra will be eligible to reapply for the post of town manager. He told The Miami Herald is considering joining the private sector as a lawyer. Bocanegra, 56, was hired as the town manager of Miami Lakes in January 2009 with a starting base salary of $165,000. His current annual salary is about $168,000. Bocanegra is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s law school and worked as a police officer for 33 years, including three years with the Hialeah police. In 2005, Bocanegra entered the Florida Retirement System’s Deferred Retirement Option Program, also known as DROP. The program allows participants to accumulate their benefits and grow them at a compounded monthly interest for up to five years while they are still employed. When the five-year period ends, the participants have to end their unemployment. If not, they forfeit their benefits. For Bocanegra, that five-year period is up May 31. To keep his benefits from the past five years, Bocanegra has to retire for at least a month by at the end of the period. miami lakes, fl.”

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/20/1588503/miami-lakes-town-manager-resigns.html

…………………

APRIL 13, 2010…Miami Herald…

“North Bay Village city manager fired, vice mayor demoted He packed his briefcase and headed for the door, now as the former city manager of North Bay Village. Matthew Schwartz was fired in a 3-2 vote by the North Bay Village city commission in a tumultuous meeting Tuesday night. The termination comes after months of failed motions to get rid of the manager, who has been accused of micromanaging the city’s troubled police department. Schwartz grabbed the microphone before leaving the meeting. “I wish you a lot of luck,” he said. The motion to fire the city manager was made by commissioner Reinaldo Trujillo, who was demoted from his position as vice mayor during the meeting. Trujillo and George Kane shuffled seats mid-meeting, so Kane could take up his new spot as vice mayor. The crowd booed the motion, made by commissioner Frank Rodriguez, to demote Trujillo. Schwartz has suggested he may file a lawsuit against the city.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/13/1578212/north-bay-village-city-manager.html

OTHERS…

Hallandale as we speak is going to call a special meeting…to remove their Town Manager…

Homestead terminated their TM in Feb.

Deerfield terminated their TM in Jan.

And so and so on and son…round and round they go…where the Town Managers stop…we do not know…

more to come…

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Town Manager Colon Had Company, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Scoops, Web News, local government

HOUSE FOR SALE P.R. PLOY OR SORE LOSER?…..

Dear Readers…This writer heard a few days ago that an article was being written based on accusations still be perpetuated by former mayoral candidate Joe Couriel and his CIC “Newbie” “Galpal” Liliana Pomerada…It is online …in Spanish  …it is translated by “Google”… So any mix-up you see with gender is from Google…as well as any misinterpretation in the translation….also due to the software program…

From the meetings and BCBTS 2/9/10 post…

“BTSTimes in 2007…

The audience was incensed and one resident screamed out in disgust, accusing the Mayor, the attorneys and the developers of being thieves! ( This resident is from Cuba and could not contain his anger towards this happening in his country.)… Yep, it’s him…Mayoral candidate Joe Couriel!…”

Feb. 9, 2010….

“At public comments resident Bob Schuyler spoke about that article and included the following statement “Then a local resident from Cuba called all involved thieves.”……

“Joe Couriel the Furth-CIC-endorsed candidate for Mayor came to speak and he said this as he ended his comments…” Um, thank you very much and ah, by the way I did call out thief. I was pro, very proudly removed from the audience at that time…..”

“….Joe Couriel acknowledges this writer wrote the truth in 2007.”…..

“Right after Joe Couriel, resident Chuck Gress was called to the podium to make his public comments which ended with this ” We’re a democracy and not a dictatorship. You want your like run by a Dictator move to Cuba. Ask yourself this, ask this, how many people are on the nightly news with stories being reported about them making rafts out of coconuts and plywood trying to paddle to Cuba?”

“Town Manager Esther Colon took the microphone “As a Town Manager, as a individual born and raised in this country with Cuban parents I take that statement to be derogatory! So maybe you need to read the U.S. Constitution. But any commissioner that allows residents to talk about ethnicity that is really sad!”

http://lbts.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=287

Readers will recall …as Manager Colon so often says…there was NO slur or racist remark made that night…The audience was being riled up by a losing campaign and a losing Administration who thought they might have found something to turn their campaign around…

It was despicable on Feb 9th…..It was despicable on Feb 23rd… It was despicable when they tried to get more mileage out of it March 1st….but were prevented from doing so by the video of Pomerada and the police report that showed an encounter on both sides…all the way through to their Campaign Manager’s March 6th BTSTimes News Flash that was dismissed as to its accuracy with an e-mail sent to them by LBTS-BSO Police Chief Llerena concerning the statement they falsely sent out in that e-mail claiming the BSO was protecting them from their opponents….offering it up for validity for their claims… (prev .post 3/6/10)

An excerpt of Chief Llerena’s e-mail …which was never posted by the BTSTimes in a clarification or correction…

“From: LLerena, Oscar
Sent: Sat 3/6/2010 3:47 PM
To: bluesea@comcast.net
Subject: BST News Flash Clarification

Dear By The Sea Times Editor,

In response to your 06 MAR 10 “news flash”, I am pleased to see that our efforts to promote public safety are noted.

I also believe it important that you offer clarification to your readers regarding some of your statements, specifically, “Thankfully, BSO Chief Llerena has been overseeing this group to make sure the intimidation
stops and citizens are free to campaign without being harrassed [sic].”

As a result of the unfortunate incident on 01 MAR 10 at the intersection of A1A and Commercial Boulevard, we received reports of inappropriate conduct from candidates and supporters on both sides of this election. These disturbances quickly stopped once we were summoned and responded to the scene.

As I stated at the 04 MAR 10 Commission meeting, I urge all residents to accept responsibility for their actions and not let their emotions get the best of them during this political election. To state that the BSO Lauderdale-by-the-Sea district has been overseeing “this group” may lead a reader to mistakenly believe this is an instance of biased-based policing.

BSO does not tolerate biased-based policing, regardless of race, color, creed or political affiliation. The LBTS district strives to maintain the peace while protecting the rights of all individuals.

We are proud of the fact that throughout this election campaign, we have done our best to address any breaches of the peace, regardless of political affiliation. All allegations of inappropriate conduct or criminal mischief were addressed quickly and decisively. We have not been notified of subsequent campaign-related disturbances after the unfortunate incident last Monday.

Again, we appreciate when the public we serve recognizes our efforts to promote the public safety for the Town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

Best Regards,

Chief Oscar Llerena
Broward Sheriff’s Office
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea District”

Joe Couriel’s campaign and that of his running mates were based on fear-mongering …and falsehoods…and they lost big time 2-1…on March 9, 2010…. because of who they were running against and the full-out negative campaign they ran ….

In this writer’s opinion for this “professional” news reporter to take this story and publish it without getting all the facts before his deadline … he now joins the cast of “characters” (Couriel/Pomerada/Furths/ Silverstone/McIntee/ CIC/ LOWV’s Moderator Carol Smith/Town Manager Esther Colon/ Comm. Birute Clottey/ former candidate Marjorie Evans )…in putting a “black eye” on LBTS!….

This reporter obviously did not watch the 2/9/10 video or the 2/23/10 …..He must not have spoken to the Chief of Police…He did not speak to the Mayor and he did not speak to Mr. Marchelos until after he submitted his story…saying his deadline was that morning (Thur. 3/25/10)….

There were no series of “injuries” at any meetings or any outdoor confrontations…as Mr Couriel states in this story….

This writer has made a Public Records Request for the Incident Report…I cannot believe a BSO report would state ” the  Cuban” as is written in this story…(if it is not a Google translation error)….Also, there was no “lawsuit” that we are aware of … just a police report containing both sides of the complaints…
Public Records Request
Saturday, March 27, 2010 3:10 AM
From:
“Barbara Cole”
To:
Oscar_LLerena@sheriff.org
Cc:
barbarafcole@yahoo.com
Dear Chief Llerena,
I am requesting a copy of the police report for the March 1st incident at Commercial and A1A involving Joseph Couriel and Louis Marchelos.
I have just read a story online that was translated with Google.
If the translation is accurate there are a few statements I find disturbing.
The reporter states (again if the translation is correct) that the BSO Report refers to Mr. Couriel as “the Cuban”.
It also states that there were “injuries” at the Commission meetings and at the incident on March 1st.
Also stated is there was a lawsuit.
Please advise me when I can pick it up.
Thank you, Barbara Cole.
A link to the story …. http://southflorida.elsentinel.com/noticias/fl-elcom0327lauderdalebysea-20100325,0,6472021.story?page=1

There were also no racist remarks made in Jarvis Hall on the 9th…Nope..just Liliana Pomerada throwing something at Chuck Gress who made his remarks during Public Comments ….those comments were taken out of context for this whole trumped up story….(prev. post)….including in this new article ….. where he was misquoted ….

The Reporter also wrongly states Joe Couriel was in the Korean War…(an insinuation made from the dais during the debate) …as previously posted Mr. Couriel was drafted in the Vietnam War and served in Korea…

This reporter needs to retract and clarify his story to retain any journalistic credibility….again, in this writer’s opinion….

http://lbts.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=292

As previously posted …..Joe Couriel has put his house up for sale (prev. post)…Question is…is it a ploy for more P.R. or has he realized what he has done by  escalating this “racism in LBTS” story?….He  has erased any contribution he said he made to this town when he ran?..In this writer’s opinion…..

………..

THE POSTED STORY ….. w/link below…..

“Denuncian ataques racistas en Broward
Empresario cubano dijo haber sido víctima de ofensiva campaña al postular a alcaldía de Lauderdale By The Sea
Por Enrique Flor, EL SENTINEL
25 de marzo, 2010 ”
Puede comunicarse con Enrique Flor en el 954-356-4087 o en leflor@elsentinel.com”
Broward reported racist attacks
Cuban businessman said he was the victim of an offensive campaign to run for mayor of Lauderdale By The Sea
By Enrique Flor, THE SENTINEL

(GOOGLE TRANSLATION)….

March 25, 2010
A former candidate for mayor of the tourist city Lauderdale-By-The-Sea claimed she was victim of racist attacks with insults by Cuban immigration status – to the point of receiving spit in his face during the general election campaign of March 9.

Businessman Joseph Couriel, 62 and born in Havana, said the injuries occurred on several occasions, including in public hearings the city council, and were uttered by people suspected of supporting the Mayor Roseann Minnet, who eventually was re-elected.

“I said from ‘Cuba as a pin …’,’ Cuban returns to the island ‘or’ queer ‘among other insults,” complained Couriel, who migrated to America in 1961, when he was 14 as part of Operation Peter Pan, a shelter program for 14,000 children of parents who were opposed to Fidel Castro.

The climax of the attacks on the former candidate would have happened on March 1. According to the police report filed that night by the police Couriel to Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Cuban was spat upon by Elias Marchel, owner of Greek restaurant Athena By The Sea

The aforementioned police report obtained by the Sentinel, argues that the Cuban had been being harassed and intimidated by supporters of opposition candidates while on a political campaign, at 6:45 pm that day, at the corner of Commercial Boulevard and Ocean Drive, where the restaurant is located.

“My fans were in the opposite corner and had been harassed, I crossed to where they were supporters of the mayor Minnet, and suddenly I began to be insulted, but I did not respond, I am a quiet man, until I spat Marchelo in the face, “said Couriel.

The Sentinel was seeking Marchelo version. A manager at the restaurant said the business owner was busy in a meeting, but would contact you later. At press time there was no response.

However, Marchelo Couriel denied having spit on a complaint by the next day the police of that city. The lawsuit alleges that he was Couriel Marchelo who “tried to provoke a discussion.” The report also argues that Marchelo surrendered to police a video taken by his wife on the facts.

For his part, Mayor Minnet – in response to a request by the Sentinel – said there were two reports of the same incident, saying more information could be provided by the chief of police of that city, because she was not when happened.

Regarding the alleged grievances in public hearings, Couriel said several of the insults occurred in the assignment of 9 February, but they were never registered, he said, because “were uttered out of the reach of video cameras in the room mayor
However, at that time, City Manager Esther Colon, of Cuban origin, was a warning to stop derogatory statements after the intervention of a neighbor who said “this (Lauderdale-By-The-Sea) is a democratic system, this is not a dictatorship, but they like to return to Cuba.

Another video of municipal meetings, February 23, recorded on audio and image Liliana Pomareda Couriel follower of asking the mayor to put a stop to racist comments.

“Freedom of expression is protected by the First Amendment (…) but please stop all this negativity,” said Pomareda, who maintained that Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is a town (located between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach) with a Hispanic small minority that deserves to be respected.

Meanwhile Couriel, who served in the Army in the Second Infantry Division in the Korean War and then graduated as a business administrator at Florida International University, recalled that he had never before been the subject of such attacks.

“I’ve been married 39 years, I have a son and two grandchildren, and had never been treated this way,” said Couriel, whose furniture company in Hialeah offers employment to workers of various nationalities. “I decided to run for mayor because I thought it good to have an alternative, but what happened here is a total loss of respect

http://southflorida.elsentinel.com/noticias/fl-elcom0327lauderdalebysea-20100325,0,6472021.story?page=1

more to come…..

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea By The Sea Times Newsflash, Lauderdale By The Sea Liliana Pomerada, Lauderdale By The Sea Losing Candidates Perrpetuate Fear-Mongering Slurs, Lauderdale By The Sea Mayoral Candidate Gives Story Of Racist Remarks In Lauderdale By The Sea, Lauderdale By The Sea Wrongly Accused of Slurs, Scoops
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