Dear Readers…Vaudeville is alive and well and we saw it last night in Jarvis Hall!…At the September 22nd Commission meeting the “program ” may have looked a little lean it was pure the slapstick …with antics galore…and a few sideshows to boot…pun intended!…Remember Vaudeville always ran long…and so does this post……
And Now Ladies and Gentleman…..Curtain Up!….
ACT I…34 signed in to strut their stuff…but these “babes-in-arms ” were “definitely the opening act “..among them were the serious to the sublime…with three among them that are setting their sights on the “big time”…looking to put their names on billboard!…… There were some moments that made many in the audience forget that the “headliners” were still to come…. Ellen Kirby wanted to know about the end of the use of her easement and why it had to be so…and she still has a big increase in her garbage rate…Offspring came to try their luck at the podium…the “Tomato Lady’s daughter…who spoke of “karma” ….and “frat houses”..two subjects not often seen together in one act…perhaps not “feelin” the love we hear the newbie was less than stellar when she walked out of the hall in protest for “bad karma”…and said a shut the F.U. to another residents mother!……( in need of some grapes?) … John Otten…was concerned about the debt and the lack of negotiating the payoff…he spoke of th penalty clause, saying he had never encountered a municipality that had one…He still was awaiting an answer from Chief Perkins about the fireboat…Clamoring for the real deal…the “Tomato Lady” herself, well known around these parts and in outer space… LBTS’ own Roseanne Roseannadanna…such a character who always provides us with her own special shtick …The self proclaimed “Queen of Tomatoes” was “Bein’ penalized” with an ordinance and looking for some relief …but with no response from the dais, she said “I know you guys cannot all answer at the same time!”….producing the first big laugh of the night!…She said SHE, has a “lifeline” …”to Esther” answers HER calls….(it’s all in the CIC-connections)…….(more on this below)….Ron Rogliano spoke of the 1 or2 yd.cubic dumpster and having no place to put it…to get it brings him yet another problem…the loss of the Town required parking spaces…Ray Walowitz spoke about the survey wanting to know who prepared it…saying it was vague and talked about the Commissioners listening…There were those who spoke of the Bel Air signs…pro and con
Bob Fleishman”…In observing the Town Meetings for the past two years, I determined a few things about the lopsided manner in which our Town has been run. Most of the Town Meetings were consumed with the VFD and its development. Very little time was given for passionate debate on other issues. The rest of the time was spent on ridiculing, bullying and lecturing one of our Town Newspapers and anyone who has an opposing venue with the Vice Mayor, the other Commissioner, or the Town Manager. This, of course, includes the disrespect given to Commissioner Dodd and Mayor Minnet. It is known that the best defense is a good offense.Of late, our Vice-Mayor has become quiet as a “Church mouse“. Guess he is preparing to Campaign on just how nice he would like you to think he is. We, the citizens have very long memories. The rants, the lies, the smoking mirrors. A leopard does not change its spots, he just moves them around. Mis-information is constantly been spewed upon us. Not one question from the Public, has been handled as constructive criticism, or even answered and acted upon. Now, we hear from the other Commissioner, he is the duo’s voice, in his little list of rebuttals. But then again, he is also running in 2010 and we know the two of you are inseparable.It is a bit discerning that the VFD has such a rotating door. Will LBTS ever really be professionally protected. We are known as the town to get your training in, and then go forth and seek a real Firefighter’s paying job. “That isn’t saying much“, when the ISO gave the training rating, a very poor ranking“. And yes, although the Department is a “for profit” Corporation, it is US the tax payers, that have a fire assessment, separately, on each and every residence, supporting this corporation. Now understand, I’m for the VFD, I just don’t think there is enough incentive for the body count to remain, and be familiar, with our little town. Where is a Certified Fire Chief in their Department? Have they hired a professional to qualify and train theses novices properly? No. Are they looking? This question has been asked over and over again.In closing, just know, we will be heard, we will get results and we will be represented properly. A “Wolf in sheep’s clothing”, as far as we, the people are concerned, is as transparent as the trail of wrongs, that he leaves behind. We know who you are and we know it is time for a radical change in 2010.
Thank you”
Jeff Goldstein spoke of a big snafu at the Hampton Beach Condo…Did the VFD Fire Chief call this one in?…Mr. Goldstein needs to request the VFD-Incident /CAD report (expect a look-see is expected to verify)…..Daniel Halperin talked of Watergate and John Dean as he used them for a comparisons to the current administration….(Town Hall East?)….The female half of the Vice Mayor’s Taco Bell Advisory team strutted up to the podium to hype her Halloween hoopla…a $4000 taxpayer expenditure that the Vice Mayor said later on was for kids that don’t live in town…she ended with this “Don’t miss the ritual right of passage”…to walk the Haunted House (Jarvis Hall will be shut down for 2 weeks)…Ben Freeny came to set the record straight on his exchange at the last budget meeting and was the recipient of a rare apology from Comm. Silverstone…but alas Mr. Freeny’s concerns about the payoff of the notes were dead on!…..Vito Chiarello spoke of the lack of listening that the residents find from those who are sitting above on the dais…Dennis Ritchie spoke of the lack of training with the VFD….Mark Brown spoke of the e-mails…the Commission Round Table. meeting ….and the MIA performance review for the Town Manager, He spoke again of her contract ….compared to her predecessor and the inaccurate statements made yet again by the McIntee and Silverstone from the dais….John Touhy, a retired firefighter said the new $150,000 firetruck should be sent packing….The owner of the little ice cream store by the Pavilion came to say she no longer was allowed her benches out in front…(little did she know …after she jumps through some Colon hoops…she might be granted back the privilege )….Spiro Marchelos spoke of a father and son who caught a 22′ swordfish…and again asked for a stop to attacks on his business….
VICE MAYOR MCINTEE HAS AN OPPONENT IN 2010!….
Edmund Malkoon… “At the last public comments, I was very critical of the mishandling of public records by the Vice Mayor. I also spoke of witch hunts and scare tactics which are causing our citizens to think twice about speaking up. I gave an example of harassment & vandalism that occurred at our home.
What happened the next day shocked and astonished me and many members of the community. The Town Manager, in her continuous role of abusing power and going where she shouldn’t go, asked Mr. Olinzock, the Assistant Manager, to investigate my claims through the Police Department. Why did she not call me instead? At the time Chief Llarena wasn’t able to locate the claim and told him that he needed more information. Later that day, the Town Manager issued a false memo attempting to discredit me. Last Tuesday, I went and spoke with the chief myself. He was able to locate the CAD report and on the following day provided it to Mr. Olinzock.
Did another memo go out to correct the previous one?
Did the members of the commission receive a copy of the report provided?
The Town Manager has used town money and time for a personal vendetta. I ask the town manager: Who directed you to investigate this? Was it a disgruntled commissioner who didn’t like what I had to say? Here is another example of a type of dictatorship that is occurring in this town. Last I checked, we live in a country where freedom of speech is our constitutional right. It is not I who should be defending myself. Rather it is the citizens’ right to hold their elected officials responsible for any wrong doings.
That being said, I just want to make myself very clear.
If this was aimed at scaring me, you’ve failed!
If this was aimed at silencing me, or the voice of the people, you are dead wrong!
I love Lauderdale-By-The-Sea too much to continue to watch it slowly die. I will continue to speak, to hold our representatives and management responsible, and to do everything in my power to see that change occurs in March 2010. This is why, with much support of many residents, friends, and family, I have decided to run for District One Commissioner. It is my hope that together we can ensure the town escapes the darkness and re-enters the Sunshine.
Thank you!”
Lois Marchelos…”I had nothing to say tonight but then I got a phone call from Janet at Kilwin’s. She told me that she had received a phone call from the chamber of commerce asking if they have any complaints about the Saturday night music and if they did, to come to the meeting tonight and complain.
Jan called the chamber back to get the name of the person that called her. The chamber said not them. Jan went to her caller I.D. and the number was 954-776-1375.
She dialed the number and lo and behold, she was connected to Town Hall . Is the use of this type of mis-information the way our town should be run.We need an investigation! This is wrong !
We need to find out whose private line is 1375. We need to know who was present at town hall between 1:25 and 2 p.m. If no one will admit doing this, we need polygraphs. This is a serious abuse of Town ethics and a potential criminal violation.
Madam Town Attorney, who has 1375 as a private number. If you don’t remember please take 5 minutes of your time and find out right now, Your refusal, if you so refuse, will speak volumes.
On a happier note, while reading the local comics, an organization called the commission oversight committee gave grades to our commissioners. Three of them performed flawless, but two of them need to try harder. To help the failing two, I will give them a gift. I am having an embarrassing bracelet made up with the letters inscribed WWJD, That is” What Would Jerry Do.” I have to ask this commission if they new who wrote that article and gave the grades. Is there a new group in town that has been formed called the commission oversight committee?
If so, if the writer and leader of the COC is in the hall please rise and take the credit and accolades for your kindergarten grading system.”
……”FFFRANK” came for his customary 3 minutes…it was pigeons “blankety, blank” pigeons ..”I love the pavilion and so do the pigeons”…good for a lighthearted laugh…”Get your Peanuts”….The man with one name…Peanuts…Peanuts…like “Cher or Liberace”…..back from a short stint in Ohio…..his “act” was the nothing new…Where’s the “hook” when you need it…. Nothing beat Ron Piersante…our local Future’s paper deliveryman…He was a “crowd pleaser” tonight…as he spoke of the Vice Mayors “advisors” Mr and Mrs Taco Bell of El Mar Drive AKA Town Hall East”…The “red-faced” Vice Mayor and his pal Jimmy-Boy sat forward and called it a “personal attack”…They were the “hecklers”…The audience was booing the “2-Hats”…it provided the Town Attorney her “line”.. “Clueless Clottey” really brought the house down when she woke up and said…”Did I hear a reference to Mr and Mrs Tom Carr”…and the Vice Mayor said to the Mayor…who was quite “coy”… “It’s clear to everybody who it’s referring to you know it and we know it!”……Mr Piersante was allowed to continue…this time talking of “snacks that squirrels like”…and “firetrucks”….The newly announced candidate’s (post to come) mother was a star in her own right “this is not an insult, this is a correction, a criticism to better you. As a Vice Mayor you are supposed to be updated on all modern technology and how to use it. I was watching the last meeting and I was appalled by your behavior and the way you smiled and laughed like you were a cute little baby that didn’t know how to write e-mail, keep them or answer them. Well, then you shouldn’t be Vice Mayor! Today’s life requires that you know how to handle e-mails and keep them and not only that you have to produce the.” … and stood her ground with the Town Manager telling her she [TM] “you have too much time on your hands, you tangle where you don’t need to and with the wrong people!”…Mrs. Malkoon was not going to be intimidated by Esther Colon!…You go girl!……
Yann Brandt…”Ladies and gentlemen at home and audience, members of the commission. Over 2 months ago, we found out that Chief Gooding was fired. Unilaterally we were told, I could not believe that. So I asked a few questions. I asked for e-mails that that Vice-Mayor sent and received. Exactly 2 months and 1 day later on August 30th, I am told by the not so honorable Vice-Mayor that the e-mails are gone. I made a follow up request for even more dates and receive further not that those e-mails are gone as well. At the last commission meeting we all heard the following. And I quote the Vice-Mayor.
“I have one line I usually use, which says thank you for your email. Vice-Mayor McIntee. I then delete it.” I then delete it.
Florida law requires that public officials be the custodian of public records including e-mails and text messages, the Vice-Mayor has now twice refused to comply with the law and then admitted to breaking it. As a resident and taxpayer I will continue to fight for transparency in our government. I know that other residents stand with me on this and will not allow an elected official to continue to defy our State laws. As the second highest elected official in town, Mr. McIntee, I ask you, comply or step down.
On another note, as next weeks budget meeting is on Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday, I will make my budget comments now. I have been trying to be involved in our budget process. I have now received the copies of bank statements from the town totaling somewhere near 14 million dollars going into the end of our fiscal year. At the last budget meeting we were shown a chart of assets totaling approximately 18 million dollars. Madam Manager, how much money do we have now? Now that we are paying off our two loans. Or do we have 3 loans, as I was told earlier today by your office. Maybe my requests should be answered fully with no information withheld. This is completely non transparent and beyond accounting 101, because you have made such a hodge podge or shall I say ‘shell game’ of our books that no one else could possible understand what you are doing with our money. To be clear, my copies have more black outs than most CIA documents.
Ladies and gentlemen, get upset at what your officials are doing. They are breaking the law and wasting your money. If you have questions regarding what I said, I do e-mails and you can ask me for copies of what I have at NO charge, saving you 100s of dollars. My email is [email protected]
To conclude, madam manager you are trying to run our town into the ground. Your work products are sub par and your staff is not complying with record requests in reasonable time under your direction.
It is time for you to resign and take your dictatorial style elsewhere. Also the commission should rate you with 0’s on their review. But you are obviously scared, as the review should cement your work capabilities to qualify as the assistant to the Town clerk.”
Commissioner Silverstone was heard to say “throw him out”…..hardly a “class act!”…..
A short intermission…
ACT II….Reports…for August…we had Development,Municipal, BSO Police…not ready for prime time…Finance, VFD, AMR….
Public Safety Discussion…The VFD “Little Chief” came forward..with a “teaser” after Comm. Dodd asked him to clear up the comments and questions about the fireboats and the required training……….Chief Perkins said they were “still in training”…it will be a “few more months before they get up and running”….”we’ve had some problems with it”… “when we finally do get all the training done it will be on our website and everybody will be able to read and see what kind of training we do have. HUH?…It’s been spotted out and about…jaunts in the ocean…with the VFD stating it was done with an outside certified trainer aboard…Last budget meeting Comm. Silverstone stated the fireboat assisted in 2 dock fires (a PRR from the VFD was made by this writer…the VFD Secretary and the “Little Chief” did not know what was being asked, I am awaiting a response after they confer with Comm Silverstone and find an incident report…perhaps Comm. Silverstone did a little “McIntee”.)… Asked again by Comm. Dodd about the Captain to hold a license … Perkins said “It’s still part of the ongoing training to see what we need. Another month or so BEFORE we decide what the qualifications are.”….WOW!….Clueless Clottey and Jimmy-Boy “threw” the “Little Chief”…a few “softballs”…like the ISO and the lack of time for training the VFD with “sunny days” to come…the “#3” ISO rating is just over the bend…The 5 trucks…we need 5 trucks…”to help our neighbors”…and if 2 break down…we’ve got 3 “waiting in the wings”…This ain’t no ordinary “red engine” show…it comes complete with “roadies” on call and flown in from Virginia to repair the “vintage” vehicle…(The “ladder truck matinee’ can be seen in the El Prado Parking lot)…. cost $1 an hour…BYOB…”Little Chief” and the “trainers”…Padden, Conn and Senior Training Officer VM/ Dep Chief McIntee…he of the “Cliff Notes-Evelyn Wood” certification….( one 8 hour session from Trainer Jr.?)….Da Deputy Chief looking a bit “thick”…spoke of BSO fire and AMR…throwing out his “Jerry’s special jibberish and jabs”…The Master of Ceremonies…Mayor Minnet…reeled him back (without a net)…for the first time with many more to come….She was showing who should hold onto that center seat and that gavel!….
ACT III…Town Manager Report… she was quite shaky in her delivery…perhaps she forgot her “lines”…She did it…it really, did it…she took the “directive” from the Commission on the 14th and paid off the promissory notes the next morning!…OUCH!… The woman who charged the former BSO Police Chief with “fiscal irresponsibility” went in and paid off the notes with no negotiating down the pay off!…. Manager Colon ” With the ELIMINATION of the debt service”…How can she say that when we still have the parking lot $1.6+ million loan?….”I am requesting that the Commission consider approving $16,238 for the receptionist, front desk clerk can go back to 40 hours.” …currently she works 30…and she is also “requesting one of the 4 employees from Finance , we have 4 that work 30 hours, one of them be allowed to go back to 40 and that equates to $16,238 for salary, fica and retirement. …So this writer was correct…our LBTS 30 hour employees make what most 40 hr. employees make in other municipalities…an increase for each of $16,238 for 10 hours…mean they already make close approx. $48,000!…The Commission never addressed the request…The Manager also said she was “bringing it up now, it will be one of the proposed and last changes .”…the “bottom line of the budget will not change.”…Hmmmm…She then went into damage control mode (she’s there alot these days)…answering Mr Marchelos and the unsolicited call to Kilwins about the weekend night music….We heard in the afternoon prior to the meeting that Kilwins received a call wanting to know how they “felt” about the music on Friday and Saturday nights…and if they did not like it they were encouraged to come and speak at the meeting…The store thought it was the Chamber and called the Chamber…the Chamber was not the one placing the call!…The number was on the store’s phone and they called back…and who answered the Town Development office!…We hear the secretary played dumb…then got a little defensive…then went to talk to Asst. TM Olinzock and came back to announce that John Olinzock said NO calls were made from that office!…Louis was notified as well…he too called the number and found out it was the Town!…The secretary told him as well no calls came from there!…The Town Manager this evening said what a few of us already knew…(this was after the break ..after public comments) that the number was the Town Development office…and then she falsely stated a call from there would either be “code compliance or a “citizen inquiry form responded to”…HUH?….Come on!…The Asst. Town Manager later said at the podium it was HE that made the calls!…(more of this type of politically motivated Town Administrative behavior will be seen later on with the Bel Air street signs and with the Malkoon police report)…That was some “plan” the Town Manager and Olinzock must have concocted at the the break…but methinks the Town Manager was unaware her Asst. made his statement of no calls that afternoon!…OOPS!…More stumbling and bumbling came forth…(that’s what happens when you deviate from the script)……..The Manager then stated there was a “resident who made a comment a break-in or some incident in their house (neither comments were said in Mr Malkoons’ public comments)… she said she “told John to please contact the police department because to me it’s rare that the police department does not respond to any kind of situation.” She said “this is no personal attack, this is no personal vendetta. I don’t know where these words are comin’ from, because I have…”and she stopped, looked at the Mayor and said “I’m trying to explain, but obviously nobody wants to listen, that’s okay. I’ll put the “facts” in writing. Why should I sit here and every time I sit here I get interupted and there’s plates it’s”… “I will put the response in writing if this Commission does not disagree with me I’ll put the “facts” in writing.”
Dear Readers, I sat in the 2nd to last row…I have one “Chinette” paper plate that say “MARCH 2010″…but no matter, the Town Manager is zoned in on me!…I turned my head, held my plate in front of my face in order to not disturb her and whispered to answer a question from the Malkoons (mother and son) if they should be allowed to respond to her inaccurate account!…The Town Manager’s skin is getting thinner each week!…
The Manager did go on…”I do want to tell this Commission that the memo I wrote was from the facts given to me by the police department. If they were updated recently I will put the “facts” in writing., but believe me I have no personal, it doesn’t exist it’s not me. But with that I prefer to put it in writing.”…
BC- Mr Malkoon went to the BSO on Tuesday the 15th…after hearing of the memo and the accusation…The Chief found the CAD report while Mr Malkoon was there…and we hear…the BSO sent a memo to both the Town Manger and Asst. TM on Wed. Sept. 16th…A week later…the memo was still not distributed to the Commission!…That’s totally political and personal…and she was in my opinion purposely deceptive on the dais……the issue was NEVER with the BSO or lack of police response to the Malkoon residence, it was with “midnight vandals that “tour” the town”… and the Town Manager knew that “fact” from the get-go!…OUCH!…
Not finished with her act …the Town Manager then did what has become her M.O. when countered with facts…she veers away from the question …and goes outside the “lines”…Mr Brandt asked about a 3rd loan that suddenly was included in his PRR…..His question did not include that he wanted it payed off…but SHE went off on it…saying it was a “proprietary fund” and she hoped the Commission would not ask her to pay if off because it’s “like a business” and the receipts from parking will pay if off…Hmmm. Let’s see…. it’s for the Bougainvilla “WHITE ELEPHANT” parking lot…and the Town Manager thinks the revenue from that lot will pay off the loan…the empty lot…Has she done a cost analysis to see the income from the lot…. the cost of keeping the loan vs. paying off the loan?…Where are those figures?…We know how well versed she is in the Town’s “parking business” with the broken down handheld devices and the parking RFP!…OUCH!…(Note to Commissioners…follow-up questions are a must!)….Mr non-CPA Jimmy-Boy Silverstone tried to wrap his head around finances…HIS head…enough said…The Town Manager “speakin'” his language said it was “KAfoozin”…the “operatin’ fund”…and added “we redact” ..in response to Mr Brandt…She talked about the grants again skewing the reality of what transpired to suit her needs…It’s sad, really sad to watch someone on their way out!…The Vice Mayor said “let’s put this in layman’s terms”…saying if we paid off the proprietary debt for parking we would still “be solid”…the Town Manager said “NO”…The Vice Mayor went into campaign mode (campaigning from the dais)…taxes are down…the Town Manager is being “viciously” attacked…the “proof is in the pudding”…and the “people out there (far out there) “know in their hearts and minds”…in other words… re-elect the “2-hats…you re-elect 4 more years of this Town Manger”…it’s a package deal!…WOW!…Three’s company?…
ACT IV…Commissioner Comments……(vignettes to come)…but here are some off the most memorable moments…The Mayor said the residents should contact them stating we cannot “e-mail all the Commissioners”!…(VM McIntee has no e-mail…per the Town website …prev. post./ how about his VFD e-mail?)…Clueless Clottey lived up to her “stage name” this evening…her time away did nothing to jar her memory…she did a repeat performance on the “Scott Gooding” termination STILL unable to get the point…all she was being asked to do by the “WILL of the people” was to vote to “DIRECT” the Town Manager to reconsider her decision…There was squirming among the audience…yawns and giggles…when Clottey said she was “good at it” (being Commissioner) and that she does “a decent job” she’s “fair”…The comments heard…”she hasn’t got a clue”…”she is so out of touch!……Note to Comm. Clottey…stay away from the nightly “hosing”….and “Town Hall East!….Commissioner Silverstoner…the “answer man” trying out his “Carnac”… answering “pecifically” to the best of his ability…..Comm. Dodd took the time to be prepared and discuss the e-mail debacle……the trust of the people…the path we have been led down and the map we need to find to get back on course in 2010!…..Vice Mayor McIntee talked about 1 woman who he said came to him and told him to carry on…He’s hitchin’ onto to that poor woman and his imaginary friends”…”somewhere out there”……sadly trying to quote President Kennedy’s “ask not” …. as he addressed the root of all the problems in our town ….”33 feet”…If we get the people to vote for “33 feet” townwide”…then the small hotels will magically become “art deco”…the “fabric of our neighborhoods” will change and we will become whole…I see the “healer’s” hands all over this epiphany!…Question is…just how much of the Mc-Furth 33 ft. Referendum is already written up?… He went on to talk of evilness…mean and nasty people…to that I say “FLASHBACK!”…(see below)…
ACT V …. Consent Agenda….”one ringy…dingy”….from Town ….and Clueless Clottey asking for 3 months to remain.for the Friday/Saturday special events..I call that political interference from town staff (read above)…and more “fiscal irresponsibility” ….It means the businesses need to come back next month to re-up for the next 3 month…costing more time for the town staff and the Commissioners on the dais!…Give the businesses a year and give the Commissioner 3 months!…. The noted change in strategy for the Chamber in these pre-re-election day…still produced some questioning about the $5,000 allotted to them, with the Vice Mayor in the dark….. and noticeable jab from the Manager that if the Chamber doesn’t want the money they don’t have to spend it…Contempt from the Manager is a constant companion when it comes to our Chamber of Commerce , the ONLY RFP this Town Manager really,really wanted to put out!……Now that’s the one SHE would be happy to read aloud…..The Pelican Hopper…Hop..Hop…Hoppin’ to the tune of $58,092 for the Town…it was voted on by the Commmission…and when it was discussed…the Commission said no…but the “direction” wasn’t given and here we are today……The Manager said it was a 1 year deal…but seems to this writer there was a change in monies not long ago and the Commission needed to vote to “continue” the service until the end of the agreement…OOPS!…Also, conveniently left out of her responses …while saying other municipalities would live to have the “$44,574” from the County grant…she neglected to tell all of the other communities who cut back on the days and hours of bus service to lower their portion…OOPS!….Comm. Dodd asked for a re-evaluation in 3 months to see if a stipend would be required…I still say 5 fire trucks…no waiting …hitch a ride ….
ACT VI …. Old Business…the Bel Air signs…Another political play by the Town Administration…guaranteed to get someone’s knickers in a bunch…The current Bel Air Civic Assoc.board was on the fast track to getting a change in their signage…the Resolution was drafted before the Commission (at least 3 members) saw it on the dais…A little exchange between board member Malkoon and the Town Manager caught the Manager yet again in a less than truthful response…She said she did not receive the whole package in time to give it to the dais…Mr. Malkoon was informed she had…a few after meeting exchanges with Bel Air board members who saw the online meeting…and the VP of the board countered the Manager with the “fact” he delivered it to her himself…The Manager, true to form took offense…and went on the defense..full throttle…she sent e-mails to counter the claim…leaving out the most important point…She then sent out a mailing to all the residents of Bel Air to let them in on the boards decision …something NOT done for the entryways…Now here’s where it gets fun…
We hear a woman from Bel Air, after receiving the Town’s letter contacted the Town…Asst. TM Olinzock…He returned her call and when she told him of her desire to not have the signs…her opinion of the board, and those Commission members who live in Bel Air and voted on them…The Asst. TM informed her that it was NOT a “done deal”…that the Town would rather “spend the money elsewhere” and advised her to go around with a petition…because if only a “handful” of people are against it, the Commission might change their mind!….Can you imagine…the Asst. TM went behind the backs of Comm. Clottey and VM McIntee …If it was he on the other end of the phone!…YIKES!… A petition did arrive at this Commission meeting …from a woman in Bel Air…perhaps it was she who heeded the words of the Town Administrator?…The Comm. did indeed take a step back…A survey will be done…and the outcome …will be known next month on where the monies will be spent!….
ACT VII…New Business..No need to “oversee” the FMIT ….(municipal insurance)….and Choice Garbage went the way of BSO…per the Administration…blame the company…threaten the Town that another RFP will be needed if we change the code…Shades of threats made in the past…so the remedy…..a 1 cubic yard dumpster for about 20 accounts…BUT those dumpsters require an enclosure and that requires permits…and that requires a process…and that could include some variances….and that brings the Town more fees…..CHA CHING!… Way back when …when I sat in the very first garbage pre-meeting…I warned the Asst. TM of the problems…big time problems from having the garbage can per dwelling…STOP IT NOW!…Change it to “need”……Choice isn’t going to fight it, unless they drastically changed from their pre- contract stance…It’s the Town Manager digging her heels in!…And the “lame excuse” of working on getting together with Choice, staff and Town Atty…sounds like the VFD and fireboat training……. Don’t ya hate it when you’ve seen this show before!…Resolutions ….out came the hoops…JUMP…JUMP…all you businesses…come and jump through the hoops…The Manager and the Commission are offering a “door prize” …Are you one of the lucky ones…to be allowed a bench…a chair…a table…to encroach on public property…it’s anybody’s guess…and it’s an election year!…
RFPs…what’s an RFP and what’s a bid?…”Truth or Dare”…… We again endured the inept responses from Commissioners (especially Clottey)…who were ill-prepared and ill advised as she asked the Town Clerk to come to the podium to read a declaration that was not even close to the reality of what transpires in opening the bids in this town…This was more Town Manager led payback….( the recurring theme throughout this evening’s show)… Comm. Dodd made a motion to change the purchasing manual…(our law per the Town Manager/Town Atty.)….Commissioners Clottey misrepresented the data provided in the backup……the Mayor read the backup showing the “facts”…and the Gang of 3” fell all over themselves to affirm the nonsense they’ve been fed…Comm. Dodd repeated his motion…
“We change the processing manual to read – My first motion – change the purchasing manual section 4 (a) to now read – All timely received bids shall be publicly opened, read aloud to include the name of the bidder, the town, the bid number and the bid value. Contractors present at the bid opening have the right to visually inspect the lowest bid if requested. The staff will announce that the bids have not been evaluated for mathematical errors and responsiveness.”…
The “Gang” again insisted it already said that…and then they finally voted yes to the change…thinking it was no change at all!….
BEFORE THE 5-0 VOTE……
Page 19. 4a.- “All timely-received bids shall be publicly opened in the presence of witnesses at the place and time designated in the RFP.”
and NOW…
4a-“All timely received bids shall be publicly opened, read aloud to include the name of the bidder, the town, the bid number and the bid value. Contractors present at the bid opening have the right to visually inspect the lowest bid if requested. The staff will announce that the bids have not been evaluated for mathematical errors and responsiveness.”
BC- On September 30, 2009 the Public Safety Complex bids are to be received…but the Manager changed the advertisement on that one and now we will see if the Town will honor the Commissions vote and the purchasing manual…..
The discussion and/or action to return the right to make a motion to the Mayor …This writer went to the podium and expressed my regret and offered a heartfelt apology to the Mayor for being an active participant in the plan to make her her new position as uncomfortable as possible courtesy of the Mc-Furth Gang and the CIC…(prev. post)…She graciously accepted my apology……and for that I am most appreciative…I seized this opportunity to set the record straight!…The Vice Mayor tried to revert back to actions that brought this past “kool-aid” drinker to think such acts were acceptable…distorting the truth…. calling “them” and “they” mean..nasty and evil!… I implored all voters to make a PRR for old videos from 2006-2007 anything not online…(look online at the videos,at the minutes as well & Google)…and see that compared to the Vice Mayor led actions to disrupt the past Commission/Administration…what is happening in the present…is NOTHING!….GET IT STRAIGHT!… As I left Commissioner Silverstone remarked the difference is back then it was for the truth…I yelled from my seat..”LIAR”..and got a warning…and responded “it was worth it!…It was!… The “Gang of 3” fell on their collective CIC-Mc-Furth sword and said it was done this way for Roberts Rules…BUT the Town Atty. informed them we “never adopted Roberts Rules!”.. Figures!….
After all their nonsense ….all totally predictable …Comm. Dodd tried to make a motion…the Mayor thanked him but said it was not necessary… and perhaps, she was right……for after all…… in the world of Vaudeville…there are always the show stoppers……the ONE act that really fills the room…the one that leaves them all “beggin” for more….and for this TOWN show…it’s “The Vice Mayor and the gavel”…… Slapstick at it’s best… at 3hrs and 50 min.in… http://lbts.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=255
Let’s go on with the show….
more to come……….
Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea 9/22/09 Commission meeting, local government, Local Politics, Scoops
