DECORUM IS DEMANDED….BUT OF WHOM?….THOSE DEMANDING IT…OR THOSE IT IS DEMANDED OF?….

5 PM-  FIRST  BUDGET WORKSHOP…
1.    CALL TO ORDER, MAYOR ROSEANN MINNET

2.    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

3.    DISCUSSION ITEMS

a.    Fire Assessment (Burton & Associates)

BC-Burton and Assoc. were at the podium once already presenting 2 scenarios for the new fire assessment…(previously posted)…the 1st was to decrease it to $126.38 FY 2010..but it would end up increasing it to $130.26 FY 2011/ $134.25 FY 2012/ $138.38 FY 2013/$142.66 FY 2014…Scenario 2 would hold it the same as 2009 $130.00 FY 2010 and it would remain so again in 2011/ $133.90 FY 2012/ $137.92 FY 2013/$142.05 FY 2014…The 2 scenarios are based on assumptions made on;

Revenues and Expenses- calculating from the current Town’s property data  and projected rate increases and growth projections/operating expense projections based upon the FY 2009-2010 Budget, “escalated by appropriate cost escalation factors as provided and discussed with staff.”

Borrowing Assumptions – The Fire Dept. does not currently maintain any outstanding debt. The financial plan developed and presented does not contemplate the need for issuance of debt.

Growth- Property growth is assumed to be 0.95% in FY 2011, 0.97% in FY 2012, 0.96% in FY 2013, 0.95% in FY 2014 “The growth assumptions were based upon planned developments in the Town as discussed with staff.”

Results…the objective was to evaluate the sufficiency of the Town’s current fire assessment rates…they identified future rate increases that would provide the amount of revenue to fund the Department’s cost requirements over a projected period and meet the goals and objectives of the Town. Thus the 2 scenarios above…Burton & Assoc. recommend maintaining the current fire assessment…

BC- Unfortunately the online backup material cut off the full view of the chart and the backup material being available as is the norm in Town Hall on Friday afternoon was not…impeding full access to the charts at this time…including the 5 year VFD Fire Dept. Cost…What is shown though is the years comparison for 2009 and 2010;

Projected 2009-10 Dept. Request/ Projected 2010-11 Manager Recommendation

Salaries-Fire Marshall …o9-10  $87,217./10- 11 $91,578.

Project 5% increase every year

Fire Dept. Pension -FS 175 projected with prior years…09-10 $14,915./10-11 $15,661.

Projected 5% increase every year

FICA- Town’s share of the Social Security 6.20% and Medicare 1.45%…09-10 $6,672./ 10-11 $7,006.

RETIREMENT-contribution to the Fl. Retirement System

Regular class-9.85%…09-10 $8,591./ 10-11 $ 9,020.

Group Ins.- cost of health, dental, life, disability and vision…09-10 $ 7,299./10-11 $ 7,663.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES

FIRE SERVICES

VFD contract…09/10 $ 877,783./ 10-11 $ 912,894

project 4% increase every year-per contract

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS-PENSION ACTUARY…09-10 $7,350./10-11 $.7,718.

project 5% increase every year

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS- PENSION AUDITOR…09-10 $ 5,250/10-11 $ 5,513

project 5% increase every year

OPERATING

CAPITAL OUTLAY

Equipment & Machinery

Vehicles …09-10 $20,000./10-11 $ 20,000.

TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET…09-10 $1,035,077./ 10-11 $1,077,053.

BC- Why a 4-5% increase every year?…Who is the Prof. Consultant(s) for the Fire Pension?…and again why the 5% increase each year…Time for all staff..contractors…consultants and elected officials to forgo the projected yearly increases!…

b.    Millage

‘Town of LBTS proposed millage 3.999o / Gross Taxable Value/1000 $2,117,170./ Projected Income $8,043,233 08-09 projected final

Validated By Broward County Prop. Appraiser For Operating Purposes

(A) millage rate of  3.9990/proposed tax value (6/2/09) $1,940,449./ projected income $7,371,862 95% =decrease of $671,372.

(B) millage rate of 4.3632/ proposed tax value (6/2/09) $ 1,940,449./ projected income $8,043,237 09-10

0.3642 increase in millage to generate 08-09 ad valorem income

4.5795 08-09 Maximum Millage Levy

4.5321 08-09 Roll Back Rate

BC- Lower the millage…(it’s an election year)…after all we are flush with funds..”in the black”…and this year lets get the “emergency funds” back down from lala land …as well as forgoing all increases in salaries as stated above…

c.    Capital Improvement

Including a large photo of the Beach Pavilion completed FY 2008-09…with a 2008-09 YTD cost Grant $$176.548./ Town’s part $214,636.

2009-2010 budget backup shows projected project description/budget/year project adopted

Repair Bridge Terra Mar/ Repair Town’s portion of bridge entering Terra Mar Island/ $125,000./ 2010-11

Townwide Bus Shelters/ Townwide bus pads and shelters, joint program with Broward County/ $85,000./2010-11

El Mar Streetscape/ Design, permitting,& engineering services Landscape,drainage,and underground utilities/ 09-10 $ 125,000. & 09-10 $875,000.

Sidewalk Replacement/ Townwide sidewalk replacement and repair capital project/ 2010-11 $200,000. same amt for 2011-2014/15

Street Resurfacing/ Resurface the Town / south side $350,000. & north side $ 200,00 /2009-10 & 2010-11

Pine Ave from A1A to El Mar Steetscape / tropical passage/ $130,000./ 2010-11

Rebuild Beach Dune-Vision/ Rebuild beach dune east of existing seawall and replant with low growth per beach re-nourishment/ $ 289,000./ 2010-11

Decorative Residential street lighting south & north  / design and construct low level street/pedestrian lighting in res. neighborhoods/ $200,000./ 2010-2015

A1A Landscaping & streetscaping -FDOT project/ RFP preparation, design and streetscape beautification imp. A1A with grant Pine Ave-Terra Mar/ $58,300,$367,000., $280,100./ 2009-10,10-11,11-12

Cost Sharing Beach Re-nourishment/ Town’s portion of Beach Re-nourishment/ $200,000./ 2010-11

Fish Habitat Project/ Coral and Fish Habitat Restoration/ $64,500/ 2009-10

The Capital Improvement Fund is used to account for the capital improvement expenditures as part of the 5 year capital improvement plan…these expenditures are not included in the General Fund operating budget….A Capital Imp. Project must meet the following criteria…Represent a physical improvement/ have an anticipated life of not less than 5 yrs./ Cost more than $50,000. or more…The  Capital Imp. Fund includes funding for the following projects…El Mar Streetscape/ Beach Re-nourishment-LBTS  & Broward County/ A1A Streetscape – LBTS & Broward County /Fish Habits Restoration/ Debt Service

Figures for the fiscal year 2009-2010 Cap. Imp. Fund are on page 5 available online…along full text of the other 2 workshop item…http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/workshopbackup2009.htm

4.    ADJOURNMENT

6 PM SHADE SESSION….
1.    CALL TO ORDER, MAYOR ROSEANN MINNET

2.    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

3.    DISCUSSION ITEM

a.    Shade Session

Pursuant to Florida Statutes 286.011(8), there will be an attorney-client session beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 attended by Mayor Roseann Minnet, Vice Mayor Jerome McIntee, Commissioner Birute Ann Clottey, Commissioner Stuart Dodd, Commissioner James Silverstone, Town Manager Esther Colon, and Town Attorneys Susan L. Trevarthen, Joseph H. Serota, and Daniel L. Abbott.

The closed session will last approximately one (1) hour.

ADJOURNMENT

BC- Notice 3 Weiss Serota Attys in attendance……Abbott/Trevarthen (former/present Town Attys.) and second on the Law firms’ letterhead…Atty. Serota…No info will be forthcoming from these session until after litigation is over…

7 PM REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING…
1.    CALL TO ORDER, MAYOR ROSEANN MINNET

2.    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

3.    INVOCATION – Reverend George Hunsaker

4.    PRESENTATIONS

a.    Town Attorney to read Town Charter on Decorum (Vice Mayor McIntee)

BC- OOPS!…The correct request would have been for the 2003 Ordinance..not the Town Charter…(previously posted when Comm. Clottey called for a special meeting on decorum)…

Sec. 2-23.  Maintaining order, decorum at Town Commission and board meetings.
(a)   The Chief of Police or such member or members of the Police Department as the Chief may designate shall be sergeant-at-arms at the regular and special meetings of the Town Commission or board. The sergeant-at-arms shall carry out orders and instructions given by the presiding officer or by a majority of the Town Commission or board present for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the Town meetings. While any Town meeting of the Town Commission or any Town board is in session, the members of the public shall not, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings nor the peace of the meeting and shall obey all orders of the Town Commission or board, or its presiding officer, except as otherwise herein provided. All persons attending any Town meeting shall render inaudible any beepers, cellular telephones, or other mechanical or electronic devices while such meeting is in session. The presiding officer shall preserve strict order and decorum at all meetings. Unauthorized remarks from the audience, stamping of feet, whistles, yells and similar demonstrations constitute an interruption to public meetings, are prohibited and shall not be permitted by the presiding officer. The foregoing conduct is unauthorized and, if the individual engaged in the conduct has not been recognized and granted leave to speak by the presiding officer, any person who causes an interruption of the meeting shall be given the option to cease the conduct which constitutes an interruption or to leave the meeting. If the individual fails to cease the offending conduct or to voluntarily leave the meeting and continues interrupting the meeting, the individual shall be removed from the meeting room if the sergeant-at-arms is so directed by the presiding officer, and such person shall be barred from further audience for the remainder of the meeting. In case the presiding officer shall fail to act, any member of the Town Commission may move to require the presiding officer to act to enforce the rules, and the affirmative vote of the majority of the Town Commission or board shall require the presiding officer to act.
(b)   Any person who, at a Town Commission or board meeting, willfully interrupts or disturbs such meeting in violation of F.S. § 871.01, entitled “Disturbing Schools and Religious and Other Assemblies,” may be arrested by those police officers present. This may be done in the absence of the conduct being noted, or the offender being called to order, by the Mayor, chair or other presiding officer. Once any person is declared out of order by the Mayor, chair or other presiding officer and ordered expelled, and does not immediately leave the commission chamber or meeting room, the following steps shall be taken:
(1)   The person will be approached by the sergeant-at-arms and advised that he or she has been ordered expelled.
(2)   If the person does not remove himself or herself from the area, and continues to willfully interrupt or disturb the meeting, he or she may be placed under arrest for violation of §871.01, Florida Statutes.
(3)   Should any person who is ordered expelled leave the chamber voluntarily and subsequently return to the same meeting, he or she is subject to arrest for violation of §871.01, Florida Statutes, should he or she continue to willfully interrupt or disturb the meeting.
(Ord. No. 416, § 2, 3-9-99; Ord. No. 450, § 2, 11-29-00)

BC- Imagine that the decorum Ord. is right above the limitation on being Vice Mayor!…OUCH!…

Sec. 2-24.  Vice Mayor–Limitation on serving consecutive terms.
No member of the Town Commission may serve consecutive terms as Vice Mayor.
(Ord. No. 2004-06, § 2, 5-11-04)

http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=14431&sid=9

BC……. Mayor Minnet’s Commissioner Comments 5/27/09 included the following …..” I would like to address comments made about me in the Times May 8th edition. “Since Mayor Minnet has lost control of the meetings, we must control our meetings and stop the interruptions and yelling from the audience and bring decorum back to the hall”. May I remind all that we had two meetings to discuss this and it was the consensus of this dais to listen to all and hear from everyone. I have reviewed months of meetings and the interruptions from the audience are nothing compared to the interruptions from a particular Commissioner who over and over again interjects his personal opinion, only to benefit his self interest, not public interest. Pass the gavel — don’t make me laugh.”

Better yet…How about a field trip to Boca Raton?….Maybe this time the “2-Hats” will stay?

‘Institute for Elected Municipal Officials
Source: Gail Dennard
The Florida League of Cities and the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government are proud to bring you the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO). This educational program is specially designed for newly elected officials and those with less than one term in office.

The primary objective of the IEMO is to provide elected municipal officials with an intensive academic program that will assist them in effectively meeting the requirements of their elected role. The program offers a comprehensive overview of Florida municipal government, presented by a faculty of top professionals in the field.

The IEMO is a three-day program structured in a Friday through Sunday format. The 2009 IEMO is being offered at three different locations throughout the state.

Created in 1992, the IEMO has assisted more than 1,800 elected officials. Please contact Gail Dennard at the Florida League of Cities at 1-(800) 342-8112 if you have questions or need more information.

Dates and Sites

* June 26 – 28, 2009, InterContinental Hotel Tampa – SOLD OUT
* October 2 – 4, 2009, Boca Raton Marriott

Curriculum
The curriculum is divided into six instructional modules, taught in the following sequence:

* Structure and Functions of Municipal Government in Florida;
* How to Be an Effective Council Member;
* Taxes and Other Sources of Revenue;
* Budgeting and Accounting;
* Understanding the Relationships Among Governments in Florida;
* The Florida Ethics Law and Understanding “Government-in-the-Sunshine.”

These topics were selected to provide a comprehensive overview of the critical issues that are addressed by municipal government officials. It is suggested that participants review their municipal charter, policies and budget to prepare for the classes, and may want to bring these materials along. Speakers will provide hand-outs and resource material.

Certificate for Completion
A certificate of attendance will be presented within a few weeks of successful completion of the program of study.’

http://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/Events.aspx?CNID=366

5.    PUBLIC COMMENTS

6.    REPORTS

7.    PUBLIC SAFETY DISCUSSION

8.    TOWN MANAGER REPORT

9.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a.    May 12, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes

b.    May 15, 2009 Walk Around Workshop Minutes

BC- The “FIELD TRIP”…(previously posted)…

First Reading:

Comm. Blvd. Beach Pavilion- 200 ft. from Jazz on the square band= 73.5/ Jazz on the Sq.- no music =69.3/ Jazz on the Sq.-with soft music = 84.6/ 100 ft. away from JOTS by newspaper stand- soft music and traffic= 74.4/ 200 ft. away from JOTS by Oriana = 68.5

Code Officer Williams stated above readings were “A” level readings. “C” readings were measured Base levels

Second Reading ;

200 ft away from JOTS by Oriana =71.1/”C” scale = 74.4-no music = 67.1/Different song and less wind = 65.0/ SW corner of El Mar Drive ,100ft away from JOTS = 80.8 “C” scale = 85.9/ 100 ft. west of Village Grille (in front of 101Ocean Rest.) =72.1/ 200 ft west of VGrille (Comm. & A1A  fishing pier sign)- with traffic = 69.8/ Commission agreed music was lower than average/ 100 ft. north of VGrille (High Noon Resort) = 72.0/ 250 ft. north of VGrille (Driftwood Inn) = 68.0/ 300 ft north of VGrille (Driftwood Inn) = 66.0

As previously posted the Comms. decided to have Code Officer Kim Williams do “spot checks and submit her recommendation/ and due to the early hour they also decided to have staff investigate the lights and submit their recommendation for this meeting…They cancelled the next nights “outing”…

BC- Code Officer Williams has been out doing the “spot checks”…Noise Ord. 2nd reading is on this agenda….

10.    ORDINANCES

1.    Ordinances 1st Reading – “Public Comments”

2.    Ordinances 2nd Reading – “PUBLIC HEARING”
a.    Ordinance 2009-14: AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 13 “NOISE” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROVIDE FOR AMENDED NOISE REGULATIONS; AMENDING CHAPTER 17 “STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES,” ARTICLE VIII “SPECIAL EVENTS” TO AMEND THE REGULATIONS OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS TO PROVIDE GROUNDS FOR DENIAL OF A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FOR VIOLATION OF NOISE AND OTHER TOWN STANDARDS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE (Approved 1st reading April 14, 2009) (Deferred at the May 12, 2009 Commission meeting by Commissioner Silverstone pending May 15, 2009 Walk Around Workshop)

Sunny/Clear weather conditions…on 5/15 & 16/09

5/15/09 VGrille JOTS  is as stated above…

5/16/09 Athena was done at the same time 7-8pm  “A” scale at 100/200 ft. North 83.2/70.2 South 80.8/68.5 East 74.4/ 73.5 West 72.1/69.8 …”C” scale at 100/200 ft  North 0 South 0 East 92.0/ West 92.5…. Decibel w/o music 100 ft…North 0 South 0 East 67.8 West 69

Rainy/Overcast weather conditions…5/21 & 22 & 28/09…

5/21/09 VGrille (interior music) levels were taken “A”….”C”…no music…. 10-11pm…0-90.4…11pm -12am…0-89.8

5/21/09 Aruba (interior music) levels were taken “A”….”C”…no music…. 10-11pm… 0-93.5…11pm-12am…0-95.4

No music at 101 on Thurs. nights…

5/22/09 VGrille (interior music) levels were taken “A”….”C”…no music…. 10-11pm…0- 97.4…11pm-12am…0-94.7

5/22/09 101 Ocean (int.music) levels were taken “A”….”C”…no music…. 10-11pm…0-88.7…11pm-12am…0- 91.2

5/22/09 Aruba (int. music) levels were taken “A”….”C”…no music…. 10-11pm…0-91.2…11pm-12am…0-92.2

5/28/09 VGrille (int. music) levels were taken “A”….”C”…no music…. 12-1 am…0- 91.8

5/28/09 Aruba (int. music) levels were taken “A”….”C”…no music…. 12-1 am…0-89.4

BC-Note the loudest music was heard in the west direction…

Levels still shown in Ord. 2009-14 …Commercial noise zone …7am-10pm…75 dBA or 80 dBC/ 10pm-7am…75 dBA or 75 dBC

GOTCHA ALERT…page 12 of the Ord. (6)…. The use or activity intended by the applicant would conflict with planned programs organized and conducted by the Town”… Not included the other GOTCHA…the reimbursement of having a Code Enforcement Officer for noise/headcount as a requirement unless “waived” by the Commission…

BC- Once again the timing of this 2nd reading is wrong!…The Commission according to the backup has not received the Code Officer’s recommendations…just the findings…which only include 1 outdoor reading ..at 7-8pm for the street music..and several for indoor after hours….Direction given was multiple “spot checks” at different hours…So either a 2nd reading will be made without time to fully consider all collected data…or it will again be deferred to a date certain…

b.    Ordinance 2009-24: AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 19-26 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO AMEND THE THREE HOUR LIMIT ON BEACH PARKING PERMITS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; CODIFICATION; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE (Approved 1st reading May 12, 2009)

BC- This is the still outrageous give-away to a chosen few CIC “pals”…unlimited hours of use for $20 a year to go to the beach…still has many shaking their heads!….

11.    COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

12.    CONSENT AGENDA

a.    Commission approval of execution of Amended Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning, Broward County, Florida (Assistant Town
Manager Olinzock)

From the Manager ” The Town has generated from 2003-2007 32 new students  within our school boundary jurisdiction and has issued more than 50 development orders, therefore the Town is no longer exempt from the public school concurrency from the Department of Community Affairs.”…”The Town will be part of the interlocal agreement and be a participating municipality in the school facilities planning process.”

BC- Just in time for the exodus of students from Broward County and the decision to not build new schools!…

13.    RESOLUTION – “Public Comments”

a.    Resolution 2009-15:  A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA RECOGNIZING THE “BUILDING CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY:  BACK TO BASICS” INITIATIVE OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC., AND PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR THIS STATEWIDE EFFORT (Pre-approved at the May 12, 2009 Commission meeting)

BC- No backup online available …due to a “glitch” will update when fixed…

14.    QUASI JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS

a.    Commission to approve variance application submitted by Karen A D’Uva-Bradley, who is the property owner located at 1658 West Terra Mar Drive.  See attached application with back up along with Town consultants review.  (Staff recommends Table to July 28, 2009 as Board of Adjustment will hear the item on July 15, 2009) (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)

BC- no backup…due to either the same “glitch” or due to staff recommendation to table…

15.    OLD BUSINESS

a.    Discussion and/or action regarding Town sign at Commercial Blvd and A1A   – Vice Mayor McIntee (Tabled at the April 14, 2009 Commission meeting by Vice Mayor McIntee)

BC-A look at the cover page for this item shows what a mess this one is…”Tabled at January 28,2009 Commission mtg. By Vice Mayor McIntee to Feb 24,2009″…”TABLED AT THE FEBRUARY 25,2009 COMMISSION MEETING BY COMMISSIONER DOOD”….”TABLED AT THE MARCH 11Th Mtg. By Vice Mayor McIntee”…”DEFERRED TO JUNE 9,2009 BY Vice Mayor McIntee At THE April 14,2009 Commission Meeting”…WOW!…The backup only includes the minutes…not even the previous backup from the search for the owner…no FDOT info and no Atty. info….Either it’s late to the Commission…non- existent or another GOTCHA!…Time to stop the madness….leave it alone…on to the banners!…Call a truce!…

b.    Discussion and/or action on custom banner locations and cost (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)

BC- backup shows the Comm. comments from 5/26/09 minutes …(previously posted)…Staff recommends these locations- Four corners of Ocean Drive and Commercial Blvd./ North and South entryway on Ocean Drive…(Where’s El Mar Drive and north and south entry to El Mar Drive?)../Cost…showed a 3/24/09 proposal from DEKRA-LITE located in Ca. single sided banners (must be new Municipal Parking Banners)..2  total was $357.00

c.    Clarification of Ordinance #2009-10 – adding Beauty Shops, Hair Salon as an permitted use in Business District B-1-A (Commission Silverstone)

BC- this one was kind of strange that Comm. Silverstone put it on…due to Comm. Clottey addressing this section of the 2009-10 Ord. about businesses allowed in the Business District…asking to include beauty shops…

16.    NEW BUSINESS

a.    Commission approval of execution of Florida Department of Transportation Local Agency Program Agreement FM # 418022-1-38-01, for landscaping on SR A1A from Pine Avenue to Terra Mar Drive (Assistant Town Manager Olinzock)

BC- again nothing online…”Glitch”?…will update when put on…

b.    Discussion and/or action to create a Citizen’s Advisory Board (Mayor Minnet)

BC- It’s a great idea with backup provided and a personal attached intro relaying her vision of 5-7 citizens to provide assistance and/or recommendations to the Town Commission…unfortunately it will likely be met with resistance…and the Mayor should hang onto it until after she is re-elected in 2010…and has a majority that is open and receptive to new ideas and inclusion of those who would offer use of their years of specialized expertise!…

c.    Discussion and/or action on moving tax payer’s money from one account to another with or without Commission approval (Commissioner Dodd)

BC- Comm. Dodd is right on the money with this one…(pun intended)…There is too much mystery surrounding the “movement” of funds..with only one person holding the knowledge of it all…along wiht the still disturbing act of taking monies from proprietary funds such as the Sewer Assess. Fund and putting it into the General Fund…By the By…under Capital Imp. is nothing about infrastructure for the sewers…(Parking Funds were also put in the General Fund)…

d.    Discuss and/or action concerning sending a delegation to Tallahassee for the June 18 hearings concerning the designation of Broward’s section of A1A as a scenic highway. This stretch of A1A does not meet most of the decision makers’ perception of a scenic highway. The local FDOT representatives will not be attending the meeting due to budget cuts.  They believe that there are enough points of interest along this stretch of A1A to warrant this designation but stressed that the local communities should attend and present their case (Commissioner Clottey)

e.    Send letter to businesses in Town requesting that they use paper instead of Styrofoam products (Commissioner Clottey)

BC- Comm. Clottey is now the “Green Commissioner”…What gives?…So how did Ms. Mohler know ahead of time what Comm. Clottey put on the agenda …(letter to Town dated 6/3/09)…defending the use of styrofoam products Aruba Beach Cafe’  uses…It is this writer’s opinion…that Comm. Clottey needs to get out of the business’s business…with her noise ordinances …anti-2 day events… slights about what constitutes wine and food..revealing business leases…and now no styrofoam containers …Time to find some projects in the north end of town…..How about the beach access  entryways…or better yet the reason we voted you in…the budget?…(How could I have been so wrong!)…

f.    Discussion and/or action concerning hosting the February 4, 2010 meeting of the Broward League of Cities. LBTS has not hosted this meeting for a while and this is good and inexpensive way of showcasing our town and businesses to the leaders of other Broward communities – $400 (Commissioner Clottey)

17.    TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT

18.    ADJOURNMENT

Backup online…http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/backup2009.htm

All meetings (except Shade Session) will be on Comcast Ch.78/ online at Town Website…use link above…

Will post  overviews after the meetings…

more to come…

Tags: LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local goverment, Local Politics, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Opinions, Scoops, local government

NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT YOUR PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHER…

A look at the LBTS Commission “Field Trip” on Noise…( 5/15/09)….currently being shown on Comcast ch. 78…(available on the Town website later today…http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/) shows that McIntee like MacArthur makes sure to have his personal photographer ( Marc Furth) following behind him to photograph his every move!….

By the way what was the decibel meter reading on the wind?….

This is one outing you don’t want to miss seeing!…

more to come on the content later…

Tags: local governmennt, Local Politics, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, Opinions, Politics, Scoops, local government

LIGHTS…CAMERA….ACTION…THE RESCUES…BY THE LBTS-VFD AND GOOD SAMARITANS…

Dear Readers…It was quite a day yesterday in LBTS… a look outside this writer’s window in the morning…showed a sea wrought with whitecaps….A troublesome sight to behold as we watched all the swimmers going in despite the treachery that awaited them….

As previously posted we saw that evening the familiar white T.V. Camera trucks from Channel 10 and Channel 6 news…

Below…the text from both interview with links to the sites which may have the videos on soon…

CHANNEL 10 NEWS…. 5/17/09…. 11 PM

Channel 10 news showed in their opening the photo of LBTS-VFD Capt. Ron McGirr and an unidentified FF on the LBTS-VFD Sea Doo…as the Anchor Charles Perez said ” Rescue at sea caught on camera after a day of rough surf”…

At 11:07 pm…Charles Perez said ” High winds made for rough conditions on the beach today where several people had to be rescued after nearly drowning within hours of each other.. Julie Sommers (standing in front of the newly installed post #7) joins us now live from the beach in Lauderdale- By- The- Sea with the pictures of quite a dramatic rescue,Julie”…

Julie Sommers said ” Good evening to you Charles. This lifer preserver post here behind me is one of several installed just three days ago and already today proved priceless. Because on this stretch of sand alone five people who would have drowned this afternoon were saved.’

BC- Next was the interview with the young men previously posted across from the LBTS fire station around 8 pm….

Julie Sommers-” As the sun set this evening surfers strapped in their boards and described the thrills of a rough day on the water can bring”

The young man responded -” It was pretty fun”

Julie Sommers- ” Fun for you guys though can be dangerous for swimmers who aren’t strong enough for rip tide.”

Young surfer- ” I actually warned a couple people today about the rip current.”

Julie Sommers-” You were warning some of the swimmers out there?”

Young surfer-” Yeah, some of the kids, so yeah they didn’t really know what they were doing.”

Julie Sommers- ” It was not just kids that needed rescuing. These photos capture some of the terrifying moments when two tourists from Holland (Photo shown of FF Mark Conn) were rescued this afternoon by volunteer firefighters who patrol the sand here .” ( Photo of Dep. Chief McIntee/ Cat. Ron McGirr and 5 FF by life ring)…

Julie Sommers-” Because the city cannot afford lifeguards.”

BC- Looks like the Dep. Chief came back to the station this evening for an interview…

Dep. Chief/VM McIntee- ” The rips, I watched them take them like a rubber duck in the river, right out and my eyes just popped out. I watched it.”

Julie Sommers- ” And then he and others raced into the water as couples screamed for help and yes that gash on his cheek is from the rescue effort, a rogue wave he said that slammed into the rescue board. A minoe injury worth the bigger pictur.” ( Videos shown by ATV with closeup of McIntee’s cheek )

Dep. Chief McIntee- ” If the volunteer fire department wasn’t there as fast as we were those people wouldn’t be going back to Holland in a plane, they’d be going back in a box.”

Julie Sommers- ” Just before that couple was saved firefighters pulled another woman to safety and moments after the rescue to the north good Samaritans pulled two other people to safety.” ( She held up the life ring that says “property of LBTS”) ” And Charles in that case they (the good Samaritans) used these life rings that had just been posted here on the beach.”

Charles Perez- ” Very lucky to have the right people there at the right time.”..

http://www.justnews.com/video/index.html

CHANNEL 6 NEWs……5/17/09…. 11 PM…

11:05 PM…

BC- Channel 6 showed the same photo of Capt. Ron McGirr on the Sea Doo

Anchor- ” Dangerous rip current threatened the lives of several beachgoers across the south Florida coast today including a group of five in Lauderdale- By- The- Sea. Thanks to some quick thinking by volunteer first responders they all survived.”

Reporter- (on the LBTS beach in front of a group of warning signs) ” This is an unsupervised beach area so you are really swimming at your own risk and that’s exactly what these swimmers were doing and five nearly drowned.”

Vice Mayor/Deputy Chief McInteee- (on the beach in the afternoon) ” As we walked towards the beach approximately 20 feet from the beach we observed two people to our right on the ocean side hit the water and the riptide just picked them up and took them right out like a rocket. They started screaming for help.”

Reporter- ” There are no lifeguards here at Lauderdale By The Sea beaches, but the volunteer fire department happened to be nearby, they were nearby at another emergency”

BC- A photo was shown in the Minto sales office beachfront parking lot of VFD photog Marc Furth, Dep Chief McIntee, FF Mark Conn, Capt. Ron McGirr and an a VFD- FF…and a photo of McIntee and VFD-FF’s with the 2 ATVs and AMR )

Reporter- ” The volunteer first responders on jet skis were able to reach these two swimmers in time.”

Dep Chief McIntee- ” The bottom line is if the volunteers were not there those people would not be going home in chairs, they’d be going home in boxes.”

Reporter- ” The two people rescued are tourists from Holland spending the weekend in South Florida. The rescue was captured by the department’s photographer.”

VFD- Photog Marc Furth- ( Video with McIntee) ” I shoot pictures for the volunteer fire department and they use those for training purposes. I was able to be there in the very beginning to the very end of this.”

Reporter- ( as pictures of a rescue boat was shown) The other three swimmers who had close calls on Sunday were rescued by other beachgoers. Now officials are putting out these life preservers all over on this stretch of beach just in case anyone needs a rescue.”

BC- While we are all thankful that all those swimmers were saved today, a closer look at these reports shows that the VFD  were on patrol yesterday and were able to save some of the swimmers…but the others were saved by “good Samaritans”…and the report from Channel 10 stating …” Because the city cannot afford lifeguards.” along with Channel 6 reporting….” This is an unsupervised beach area so you are really swimming at your own risk and that’s exactly what these swimmers were doing and five nearly drowned.”…and…”The other three swimmers who had close calls on Sunday were rescued by other beachgoers. Now officials are putting out these life preservers all over on this stretch of beach just in case anyone needs a rescue.”…should make it time to put the Clottey recommended referendum item for LBTS lifeguards on the March 2010 ballot!…After all…today is Monday…when the VFD does not patrol as often as on the weekend…and we also face the Memorial Day weekend…and much larger crowds of swimmers…

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/

UPDATE…In today’s Sentinel Local section…including a photo of LBTS-VFD Capt. Jud Hopping making a  rescue… by ‘ Marc Furth,correspondent’ ( Really? McIntee BFF-BTSTimes Editor/Owner-Town photog-VFD photog- 4th of July Event coordinator…now he’s called a correspondent? )….with the accompanying text…

‘Firefighters make Rescue’ ‘ SAFE RETURN: Capt. Jud Hopping, left of the Lauderdale-By-The- Sea Volunteer Fire Department, works to bring Tine Kristensen back to shore after a  rip current dragged her and Brian Spencer out to sea. Hopping and another firefighter who were on the beach near the 4300 block of El Mar Drive, rushed on a water scooter to save the pair. They were assisted by four other firefighters. The victims whose hometowns and ages were not available, did not need medical attention. “These people would be deader than a doornail if we weren’t there,” said spokesman Deputy Fire Chief Jerry McIntee, who is the vice mayor of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.’

BC- Again, it is time for some serious discussion about how this town is portrayed…our P.R….perhaps Comm. Clottey was correct after all concerning  Town PIO d’Oliveira being ready in such circumstances…A look at the comments made by VM/Dep. Chief  and now (according the the Sentinel) VFD Spokesman McIntee in the last 24 hours…should give rise for great concern to the Town, VFD and for businesses that rely on tourism ….On the one hand we cannot be talking about charging $400-500 a night to become a “resort destination” ( VM McIntee/ Cristie Furth previous 5/13/09 meeting LBTS agenda/meetings cat.)…and then have comments made such as these by McIntee about our beach and what awaits the travelers!…

more to come…

Tags: lifeguards, local government, Local Politics, News, riptides, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, Places To Go, Politics, Public Safety, Scoops, Updates, VFD, local government

BSO TO COMMEND  ….DEPUTY JOHN MELBOURNE….

from the BSO press report…

‘HEROES HONORED AT BSO AWARDS CEREMONY

As he helped evacuate a medical building where there had been an explosion last week, Deputy John Melbourne noticed two people – an elderly woman and her 4-year-old grandson – lying inside a burning hyperbaric chamber. Instead of waiting for fire rescue personnel, Deputy Melbourne rushed into the burning chamber and lifted the boy, who was still holding his grandmother’s hand, from the flames.

For that brave act, Deputy Melbourne will receive a Medal of Honor Wednesday at the Broward Sheriff’s Office annual awards ceremony.

10 a.m.
Wednesday, May 6
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Amaturo Theater
221 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale

Other awards recipients include BSO employees who have excelled, good Samaritans who made daring rescues and individuals or organizations who partner with BSO to provide crucial services to the community.

Media are welcome to attend the ceremony. Contact BSO’s media relations office for a complete list of award winners’

GRUMBLING IN THE BACKGROUND….

We hear there is some major grumbling going around about the accolades bestowed upon BSO Deputy John Melbourne and his quick response when entering the scene in the aftermath of the hyperbaric explosion to rescue the little boy and bring him safely outside…The stories swirling  around are that VFD Chief Perkins was there also.. and the Chief was involved in the rescue…Sad to say…who was actually  first…is the scuttlebutt…making the rounds…at various meetings and within the departments……

According to a BSO Officer who was on scene…Deputy Melbourne was the first to go inside…The Deputy had years of bomb squad experience and was highly knowledgeable about explosives…..He entered the building… taking a face mask that was available inside and proceeded to extract the child who was atop the grandmother…Staff it is said made that retrieval possible by taking the steps required in opening up the chamber……The Chief and the VFD did arrive and did help with removing the grandmother…who came out after the boy….AMR  we are told was not allowed in immediately due to the fumes…and precautions requiring the proper gear needed to be in place before the fire department entered….The Officer went on to explain that the call was made by BSO that airlift service would be required for the two badly burned victims……and direction to assist the VFD in all aspects controlling the scene were also given to assist in the dire and overwhelming situation they all found themselves in…The condition of the boy and the grandmother was shocking to many who arrived to the call….The airlift, we are told took only the boy due to having trouble with the tracheal tube insertion of the grandmother, and BSO Air Rescue followed protocol by sending one of their Air Rescue personnel along with AMR for ground transport to Broward General….BSO worked side by side with AMR and the VFD, but from many observers it the account was the same…BSO was in charge…calling the shots….

As we await the incident reports ..(to be posted upon receipt)…all involved should congratulate themselves for a job well done…with a special nod to Deputy John Melbourne…..

more to come…

Tags: BSO, hyperbaric chamber, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Opinions, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD

Dear “Master Of Ceremonies” Commissioner Clottey,

I see the BTSTimes has sent out a “News Flash” for the Monday April 6,2009 Pavilion Ribbon Cutting Ceremony…

While I know you worked hard to bring forth the 35 minute entertainment with your role as the “conduit” between the Town and Lynn University, I also know that it was a matter of just a few weeks of your time.

I also know that with this experience you should fully understand this writer’s total disbelief and disappointment that as the “Master of Ceremonies” you have overlooked the inclusion in your program of Master Plan Steering Committee Vice-Chair Sandra Booth.

Mrs Booth was instrumental in bringing this project to LBTS, and her time spent in this process was much longer than the time you yourself spent as the end of this addition to our town was well within sight.

To have  A. I. student  Edwin Forbes and the A. I. Instructor Menish on the program without her is really too hard to comprehend.

I am counting on you to rectify this situation, to correct what can only be called a travesty, before the festivities begin. To assure her this was a mere oversight and give this fine citizen the respect,appreciation and recognition she so richly deserves on behalf of our town.

Though the program sent did not specify the officials and attendees, I would further hope an invitation was extended to the previous Town Commission and the previous Master Plan Steering Committee members as well, for this writer sat through the many hours of time they along with then-Chair Sandra Booth gave to make this pavilion project a reality.

Sincerely, Barbara Cole

Tags: Opinions, Scoops
Posted in Opinions, Scoops

DID THE Mc-GAMBLER WIN THIS ROUND?….

The BTSFuture’s is out…and the Explosive issue I thought was in the coming…was not quite the “firestorm” I was expecting….

Did they “flinch”?…

Did they buy into the veiled threats of a lawsuit from the Vice Mayor?   (previous post…3/25/09 LBTS agenda/meetings category)

Or is the paper trying to be PC…at least on the front page?…

This writer knows that times are hard for print journalism…high costs…and limited advertising revenue…But Jeez…Editor Brown…you had the FEC investigative report…and put in a few of the discrepancies ( for more …previous post…scoops category…FEC investigation)…below the fold…It’s your front page “header” that’s got me rattled!…

I can just see it now…McIntee holding up the “Two Commissioners Cleared” …claiming victory to his minions…that you “flinched”…you “balked” at his dais “salvos”…then swiftly pulling the copy away…before anyone has a chance to read page 5…with the much more credible “header”…”MCINTEE AND SILVERSTONE ESCAPE GUILY VERDICT”…..

I am hoping Dear Editor…that you are well aware of this “move”…and it was a tactical …in it’s nature…that you, yourself.. still might be a “seeker” of the truth and in the throes of following through with  the “invitation” offered up to you by the Investigator in her her conclusions…

I am counting on the former Commissioner from the north end of town…to follow suit and carry on calling attention to the FL. Ethics Commission of the defiant acts seen from this Vice Mayor/Deputy Chief in a follow-up ethics complaint…For those “invitations” were included in those reports as well…With the self-proclaimed  “untouchable” 2-Hat” wearing “enforcer”…opening the door  for a repeat……He’s on record with back-up materials for purchasing on behalf of the VFD….on video announcing his purchase for the latest VFD $11,000 pumper truck…and should be watched for voting on the VFD while his son is gainfully employed by the department as a Training Officer…benefiting from the Vice Mayor’s votes….

Don’t get me wrong…the story was fine…and the rest of the “hard hitting” articles…were what those not drinking the Kool-aid have come to expect…but this below the fold headline…in this writer’s opinion was a major misstep!…

Also of note…The Pavilion…in trouble…still so many “loose ends”…frantic to make it appear all is well by Monday night at 7 pm…YEP…7 PM…not 5!…..Along with the excellent points for lifeguards …and the recap of our loss of Scot Fowler…(due to McIntee’s ego and no one within the department to stand up to him)…Editor Geesey…using John Lennon….in her  “Give Peace A Chance” editorial…HMMM….Future’s Editorial…John Lennon/ BTSTimes Editorial George Carlin!…(Flashback!) ….Wonderful inclusion by Yann Brandt…a young innovative LBTS resident…who was “knocked” around by Clottey/Silverstone and McIntee…who only deal in “targets” and “personalities”….never the issues…of late…Lots of non-political additions…cooking…travel (Doc Lawrence)…community…wellness…giving it a well rounded “feel”…and two surprising additions….. “Kudos” to AMR from Publisher Arker…for the fine care and follow-up he received …(With a tip that this writer will act on…to be McIntee free within the confines of my abode…I have on record a notice sent last November to the VFD/AMR that McIntee is not allowed near my family…at either residence…for medical calls…but just as Michael Arker has done I will also provide this permanent instruction at my front security desk…better safe than sorry…)…and the kicker…the Letter to the Editor…from Louis Marchelos…contained on page 4….. a copy is below….(We hear the Town Manager has sent a memo to the Commissioners and instructed staff to not speak to them…on anything…Another act that shows clearly this Town Manager is in way over her head!)…Take a look!..Then see for yourselves…Readers why every Commissioner should be voting for an Annual Town Manager Performance Review!…

online….http://www.bytheseafuture.org/

The Letter….

Tags: local government, Local Politics, loclal news, Scoops
Posted in Local News, Local Politics, Opinions, Scoops

A SIMPLE SIGN….SIGNS ON A 3RD VOTE….THE “NEW” CIC MAJORITY IS NOW IN PLACE!….

Well….well….well….”we’ve” got a liability problem in this town…”We” need to get this crisis straightened out…”We” need to spend $500 and besides “We” FINALLY HAVE 3 to 2!…MCINTEE,SILVERSTONE and CLOTTEY…WEEEEEE…..

Unfortunately….”We”, the townspeople now also have it splashed front and center …front page news…in the local paper …from our neighbor to the north …The Pelican…’Lauderdale-By- The -Sea vice mayor takes on role of code enforcer’…which starts on the front page….continuing on to page 5 under the header ‘Harassment’…. with the litany of VM vs the Marchelos brothers…(previously posted here )…from the VM’s wife yelling out in Jarvis Hall that Louis was “texting” in the hall…The event port-a-potties…The visits from code enforcement “messengers”…The stalling of opening the pier egress voted for 4-1 months ago…….The Dec incident of the Vice Mayor and his wife showing up and making a scene at the Athena’s outdoor dining…and the slew of code warnings that have been constant from the “Vigilante” nightly drive bys…including for a table inches over the boundary line….(Does the Vigilante carry a measuring tape?) extending to the latest “gotcha”…the Pier sign…and the cost this too will bring to the town ala McIntee using the Town Attorney as he has before …..for the retraction early on from the BTSFuture…Greenfest and now this ….

“We’ the townspeople now also face a lawsuit…possibly costing the town  big bucks all for one “Vigilante and his sidekicks to “Huff and Puff” like those they claimed they would replace!…YIKES…

The fallout…from the 3-2 new dais majority vote on Consent agenda item 12 j….was this letter was received by the Town ….

LETTER TO THE TOWN…..

3/26/09…

‘Dear Esther,

After the commission voted to engage legal counsel to determine ownership of my pier sign in spite of my offers to share information with the Town, I consulted with legal counsel. Counsel has informed me that the commission’s action has made this a contestd matter with broader implications than a friendly dispute.

All further communications will be through litigation counsel. I fully expect this to only be resolved after certain parties are placed under oath and all hidden agendas are exposed to the light of day.

As a show of good faith, not to be construed as acceptance of the bogus liability argument Commissioner Silverstone and Vice Mayor McIntee, I have placed liability insurance on my pier sign including the Town as additional insured.

Thank You,

Louis Marchlos

Fisherman’s Pier Inc.’

more to come….

Tags: LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local papers, Local Politics, pier, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local News, Local Politics, Opinions, Scoops

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS…..

Dear Readers…a few weeks ago Michael Mayo wrote an article about the March Municipal elections…and the cities and towns who will either change to November  only or retain March……He included LBTS among those making the switch to November after our  2010 March elections….

This writer gave him a call and left a message that the new commission had repealed that move on May  27, 2008 with Ordinance 2008-12 …which passed 5-0 at 2nd reading…

Mr. Mayo called me back and informed me the Supervisor of Elections still had us going to November elections…He said he was going to call the Town Clerk before he moved forward with a correction in the paper….I have seen no correction (may have missed it?)…so I decided to check with the Town Clerk…

From: Barbara Cole
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 11:25 AM
To: June White
Subject: March elections

Dear Town Manager White;
Recently I spoke to Sun Sentinel columnist Michael Mayo after he wrote an article including LBTS among those to have only Nov. elections after March 2010. I informed him this was overturned in May of 2008 and gave him the date and the ordinance number.
He called me to say the SOE office still had the Town going to Nov. He said he would call you before calling the SOE or doing a correction in the paper.
Could you please tell me if you heard from Mr. Mayo? If the ordinance was sent into the SOE? If the Town cleared it up with the SOE, if you did receive his inquiry?
I thank you for your time.
Barbara Cole

— On Mon, 3/23/09, June White <junew@lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov> wrote:

From: June White <junew@lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov>
Subject: RE: March elections
To: barbarafcole@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 11:55 AM

The Supervisor of Elections site does not list Lauderdale-by-the Sea for election in November.  Please check their web site.

June White
Town Clerk
Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

BC- My response….

I checked  (link below…scroll down) and it shows elections for LBTS March 2010/ Nov. 2012..but not  March 2012
which should be the next municipal elections…Please let me know if you did receive a call from Mr. Mayo and what you find out.
Thank you.Barbara Cole
http://www.browardsoe.org/content.aspx?id=212

BC-Response from June….

Please look again….

3/9/10 and 3/13/12

BC-My response….

Thank you for your time…I think I looked too quickly at the 11/6/12…right below LBTS in the column…instead of the header…..Was that always there or did it need to be fixed as Mr. Mayo said?…again, thank you for your response…Barbara Cole

BC-I sent a quick e-mail to Michael Mayo…and received a fast response…

From: Barbara Cole [mailto:barbarafcole@yahoo.com]
Sent: Mon 3/23/2009 12:08 PM
To: Mayo,
Michael
Subject: lbts election dates

Hello, I was looking for an update on the LBTS return to March elections after
the May 2008 repeal…We spoke a few weeks ago. Did you speak to the Town Clerk?
I saw the Municipal election dates were correct on the SOE site and wondered if
that was changed after your call? Was a correction put in the Sentinel?…Thank
You, Barbara Cole

On Mon, 3/23/09, Mayo, Michael <MMayo@sun-sentinel.com> wrote:

From: Mayo, Michael <MMayo@sun-sentinel.com>
Subject: RE: lbts election dates
To: barbarafcole@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 1:13 PM

hi barbara –

yes, thanks to your alert eyes, i called the town and the SOE office (which was
unaware of the rescinding of the november switch)…The SOE updated its list
after we got confirmation that elections will remain in march, and a correction
ran in the sun-sentinel on march 13…

take care and thanks
mm

BC-My response back to Mr. Mayo….

Thank You!

BC-Response to Town Clerk…..

No need to reply, heard from Michael Mayo who gave me the answers…Thanks again, Barbara Cole

BC-Yep…. looks like we are set…March 2012…That is…. Unless we repeal the  2008 repeal after March 2010!….

more to come…

Tags: local government, Local Politics, News, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, Politics, Scoops, Updates, local government

OUTRAN THE RAIN….

Beat the rain…to Disney…No rain…just beautiful mid-70’s…(check out sister site…link at top)…but faithful readers have informed me of the news……a few updates….

We hear the LBTS Garden Club’s event Saturday afternoon was a huge success…no rain deterred the many!…The local “By The Sea” newspapers came…expect full page spreads in each to come…next week and the week after with the winners…and more…

Floods we’ve got floods…at the pavilion…seems the run- off comes from Aruba…down hill from their lot…and maybe accelerated by covered drains?….Drainage was to be addressed ….The picture sent to this writer shows a swimming pool….not quite what was ordered!…Let’s hope no rain is coming our way on April 6th…YIKES!…

There’s a story on the pavilion by Fallon Patterson….in this week’s Hi-Riser….online at Sentinel…LBTS/Broward…..Some of the story is positive and she interviewed the “Right” people…some is correct…some is news to us…and some is “revisionist history”…by way of those who neglect  to provide all of the facts….

‘A student-designed pavilion on Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s beach is set to open next month after years of planning and quick construction.’

BC- Correct…

‘The pavilion, with construction costs estimated at $371,000, is located at the end of Commercial Boulevard in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s business district next to Anglins Pier. It was designed by Eddie Forbes, 29, who entered the contest as an industrial design student at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.’

“I’ve always lived and grown up on the beach, so it’s a beach design,” said Forbes, who graduated from The Art Institute in December. “Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is kind of a small town between big cities, and I wanted to keep that.”

‘Forbes, a Fort Lauderdale resident, won $500 for his beach design, which is currently dubbed the Commercial Boulevard Beach Pavilion, and plans to attend the ceremony with his parents, who live in Georgia.’

“I go down there every week to take pictures and catalog them,” Forbes said.’

BC- Great to see Eddie was interviewed….

‘The ribbon-cutting ceremony April 6 will conclude years of planning. Work began on the structure last December because Florida environmental regulations prohibit construction on the beach during sea turtle nesting season, which is March through October.’

BC- Not quite sure this was so…….as Minto/ Oriana built during those months much closer on the beach…than the pavilion….

“I hope it’s a wonderful meeting place and the first taste [people get] of the beach and our town,” Commissioner Stuart Dodd said. “It’s a great asset to the town.”

BC-It is the hope of all…no matter how we got to this point…

‘Sandra Booth, co-chairwoman of the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Master Plan Steering Committee, asked several schools to participate and said the 15 Art Institute students who ultimately entered were graded.

“It was a win-win situation for both the town and the school,” Booth said.’

BC- Nice to see Sandra Booth was front and center…She was responsible for bringing the A.I. of Ft. Lauderdale and LBTS together…for the pavilion and the El Mar Drive project…to be decided on 4/14/09….

‘The pavilion has a stage and shaded seating accommodations. Restrooms were discussed, but the commission ultimately decided against installing them, said town spokesman Steve d’Oliveira.
Other features include drainage improvements for storm runoff, landscaping and acoustical elements for concerts. Information was not yet available about public rentals.’

BC- Come on…There is no “stage”…”Acoustical elements”…..get real…we have no walls…not even storage closets for the stage/concert….as was mentioned by the Manager to Comm. Clottey…..Recently at one meeting…the Manager said she did not know we wanted concerts…despite the the fact that the previous Commission directed the architects that was exactly what they wanted….along with bathrooms…The restrooms were voted down because the new Commissioners were not informed about the extension we received from Broward county…and never allowed an opportunity to see the change in plans and the final rendering…Drainage improvements….see above…OOPS!….Public rentals…1st we heard about this one…

‘The town commission is discussing the installation of a clock within the structure.’

BC-This was discussed at the 3/10/09 meeting…$3000 was the price talked about…per VM McIntee….

‘Construction caused some controversy, as Commercial Boulevard is a one-way street east of U.S. 1. The construction periodically caused road closures for delivery of materials and made it difficult to maneuver through the business district.’

BC- Correct…correct…correct…

Full text link below….

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/lauderdale_by_the_sea/sfl-flhrbpavilion0319hrbmar19,0,5609702.story

We hear Bougainvilla was a washout…Washingtonia-Seagrape Drive have a flood at the entry of the new sidewalk…that increases with the day…and number of downpours…making it wheelchair UN-accessible!…

Forget the blacktop…fix the water problems first…..

Back tomorrow….catch up on the previous posts…the agenda/the ISO/and more….

more to come…

Tags: News, pavilion, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, Politics, Scoops, Updates, local government

LET’S PUT ON A SHOW!….

Who knew?….LBTS would become a comedy…. a song and dance and a tragedy all in one short year!….

We’ve become Andy Hardy’s Lauderdale- By- The- Sea…with all the “players”  acting like “Let’s put on a show!”…Problem is, they all want the lead role…There’s no director and no one can follow the script…

Hell, there is no script…they’re just making it up as they go along!….

It’s incredible not only do you have a Town Manager taking center stage…over the  Commissioners …when the LBTS form of government clearly spells it out… she’s supposed  be the trusty sidekick…her name to appear below the title…not above it….

Nobody said Manager Colon would be a one woman show…a one- act play…Manager…Finance Director….Ordinance writer……Code “sweeper”…..Architect…and the only one with the keys to the back door…

For those looking for a “Revival”……we have  the VFD  A.K.A.  “Vigilante’s Fun Day”….back again for a return engagement…….the “star” of this Melodrama wears many “hats”…and has so much up his sleeve…..calling for numerous “costume changes”…He’s an elected official…a Deputy Chief…a purchasing agent…a code enforcer….a “deal maker”…..a “one man band” on patrol…… and  while waiting to “leap tall buildings in a single bound”…he “practices” by chasing ambulances…at the drop of a “hat”…(sorry could not resist)…looking for a way to make that grandiose “leap” to Super-”Jerro”…after spending way too long stuck in this “B’ movie rut…….of playing washed-up old detectives…always in the little “hokey” towns…never the big cities!

“Let the Sunshine In”…the Mystery everyone’s talking about….the plot thickens…depending on version…Is it the old standard ……the abridged version…or one of those experimental Improv groups?

And …oh, my God…isn’t there anything new?…We sit down…after paying large for this coveted ticket…only to realize in a few short minutes we’ve seen this “act” before…We’ve heard these tired old  “lines” so many time we can start to “mouth” along!….Buyers remorse…and a no refund policy enforced!

We shake our heads in disbelief…As we all agree …(at least those on the right side of the aisle)…they “could have just phoned it in”…They bring no originality…to their character…no believability…We just don’t buy it…They should fire their acting coach……go back to class and start all over….learning the basics…or get  the hell out of the business…Just get off of the stage!….

What.?..it’s a done deal…we’re stuck with it for 1 more year!…..1 more year before they can re-cast?…Who made “this” deal?…Who signed this contract?….”They” must be right up there with Bernie Madoff…the banks…and the mortgage brokers….what were “they” thinking!….

When do the auditions start?……Is there anyone waiting in the wings?…

What is it we’re looking for…to make the next show a giant hit?….

Whoever shows up…this time around…make sure to check their resume….look for inflated claims…what looks too good to be true….and beware of those “headliners” from up north!…Especially those with brooms…for it’s a fact….stagehands can never be Matinee idols….

Just remember folks…audience members…even “CATS”…finally bit the dust….

So hold on ….don’t despair…..

A new cast of characters….must be preparing…. somewhere…. to make their debut…

Coming to a theater near you……. in March 2010!….

more to come….

Tags: Local Politics, opinion, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, Opinions, Scoops