WRAPPING IT UP ….
Dear Readers … the July 27, 2o10 Regular Commission meeting lasted 2 hrs. and 11 minutes until 9:11 pm … The pledge said and the invocation by Rev. Hunsaker was given …there were no additions, deletions or deferrals of agenda items…Three quick presentations took place including the campaign promise of Comm. Sasser for a Code of Conduct that accompanies the Ethics Ordinance that was passed on second reading this evening…All 5 Commissioners left the dais and walked to the podium to each sign it and have a photo-op…After a big round of applause the Mayor made two proclamations for Honeybee Awareness Day on Aug. 21, 2010 and SRL North Town resident Betty Pagano Day on July 12, 2010 after it was mentioned at the last meeting she had celebrated her 104th birthday…Next up was public comments …Resident Joyce Murray gave praise to the new Commission…MPSC Co-Chair approached the podium and declared himself as resident to differentiate…he spoke of his interaction with people over the parking meters and recommended that the Commission do something to change the meters to the type that accepts charge cards stating it would improve tourism and revenues…This has been brought up before including from VM Dodd and former VM McIntee who saw it in Buffalo (prev. post) and it is already in the works under the parking study being done and included in the backup …He also commended the Commission and Int. TM Hoffmann and Int. Asst. TM Bentley …Frank Herrman came to make some quips as usual and came through with a pretty good idea while offering his preference of locations for public bathrooms…The Bougainvilla Parking lot (Sandra Booth’s idea and #2 location offered up by the MPSC …prev. post) stating the Bougainvilla lot should be renamed the A1A Parking lot…Comm. Clottey put this on the Roundtable as an addition the next night…There was no more public comments…The end of the month public safety reports were next…no discussion for the BSO report just the Mayor offering up to Chief Llerena “Excellent job”…and a 5-0 vote to approve…The VFD was another matter Chief Perkins came to the podium and VM Dodd again addressed the medical calls…Dodd asked why no cut backs after the Chief spoke about the fingerprinting machine to cut it down…(it’s been like a year since the sliding card was first brought up by the Chief) …The Chief replied they “just initiated the finger” in July and asked Dodd to give them a month to see if it’s working…No other questions the report was approved 5-0…AMR report had no questions and was approved 5-0… The plethora of minutes needing to be approved (many were held over due to VM Dodd’s absence and the looming public records requests from former TM Colon requiring that his portion be correct as well as all others …even more so than usual).. The VM pulled a few (A,D,G & H) the rest were approved and passed 5-0)…The VM stated the minutes were much improved and made corrections on the ones he pulled…after doing so all were approved and passed 5-0…Now let’s see how long it takes for them to be archived online ….The Consent Agenda item for permit parking provided to volunteers and a dumpster in the Bougainvilla Parking lot on Sept. 2, 2010 was approved with no discussion…
Ordinances 1st reading.. 2010-01 was the 24 hr business which was discussed by the previous Commission (prev. posts) and was brought forth by Walgreens…It was addressed by the P & Z Board (prev. post) and Rev. Hunsaker a member of the P & Z Board came to the podium on behalf of the board to state the vote was 3-2 and the 3 for were not “enthusiastic” about it…and approved it for procedure while the 2 against thought it was not necessary… The backup and prev. post does not show it this way…the 3 voting for it thought it was a process for the applicant not available currently just as VM Dodd would state later on ….and the Staff recommended it …. Comm. Vincent showing once more he is not doing his homework asked if this had ever come up before and what was the outcome it wasn’t in the backup …HUH?… He must have been chagrined when the Mayor correctly stated it came before the Commission in 2009 …Vincent asked what page …and was told the “cover page” of the backup…OOPS!… Doing a “Vincent” he stated quickly but it never made it to 1st reading as if that was “cover” for his foible …pun intended… The Mayor concurred it never moved forward ….which was a misstatement ….The backup shows this was on as Or. 2010-01 twice before …Feb 9, 2009 and Apr. 27, 2010 where Comm. Vincent addressed it … Vincent kept on asking the TAtty. if the Town would need to be named as an additional insurer on any extended business …HUH?… The TAtty. advised that in the backup it was stated it was in the best interest of the Town not to regulate and explained again this was only for general businesses not restaurants serving alcohol or bars…Comm. Clottey reiterated it stemmed from Walgreens and asserted the public comments that came from concerned citizens were negative…Not so it was 4 for and 3 against also in the backup including this writer who did not think it would be a problem…She asserted a “certain element would be attracted to Town”…The VM thanked the P & Z but added he thought there should be the ability on a case by case basis …Comm. Sasser further gave a wet noodle to Vincent with his correct recollections of this coming up on the campaign trail and the “hoopla” of drinking 24 hrs…He asked for clarification that it did not include that or the Pier.. The TAtty. stated page 2 had language that applied to hotels and piers …Comm. Sasser stated this allows us to approve or disapprove and the TAtty. stated conditions and corrective action was included… Comm. Vincent then spoke of speaking to businesses in town that they were not in favor of it …He added 101 and other restaurants that were not a party to to this Ord. as stated by the TAtty. ..He further stated it was “cost prohibitive”…HUH?… He stated BSO was not recommending it … that too is incorrect…the only concern of the BSO was “pill mills” … The Mayor spoke of the close vote of the P & Z but this writer believes they were again under a wrong assumption of what the board decided…VM Dodd made a motion and it died for lack of a second… That too was a wrong move…It would have only offered a business to be addressed case by case… This began on Oct. 20, 2009…went to the Commission 3 times and the P & Z Board…It required staff time and TAtty. time and sad to say this new Commission cast it aside without doing their due diligence… If they were against it in April…they should have killed it then…. It should also be required for the Dir. of Development to read from the P & Z minutes to represent an accurate description on all votes…Members of the committees and boards should not speak on behalf of the committees and boards at public comments unless asked to do so by the Commission …
Ordinance 2010-10 was the ordinance for the changes to be made in with Choice Environmental per Comm. Sasser’s liaison role (prev. post) …He was asked to explain it and he did…In public comment resident Marie Chiarello came forward to speak about there being no fines on those who put out too much garbage beyond the container …Diane Boutin concurred and addressed the user fees…The TAtty. spoke of the general penalty in the code of ordinances that covers all ordinances …Dir. of Development Jeff Bowman spoke of the Special magistrate and then this topic disintegrated into the abyss of perpetrators who abuse the use of one container…with way too much talking by the Commission ala the block party discussions… It was put back on track by Comm. Sasser although Comm. Vincent had one more comment about not wanting to”create the trash police” and leaving it to the staff’s discretion……The Mayor asked the Int. TM what other communities do and Ms. Hoffman replied large towns have an in house person who goes around to check …LBTS has code enforcement to write it up ..She and Jeff will see how often and provide a report in Sept. …The Mayor asked to move forward and the VM/Sasser motioned and 2nd for a 5-0 vote…
Ordinance 2010-12 on fire hydrants and standing pipes …not to landscape or screen them within 7.5 ft…The cover page stated this was supposed to be added with others in 2009…Hmmm…found in another Colon-admin. “pile” somewhere?… There was no public comment and no Comm. discussion…passed 5-0…This writer’s questions…. what time frame is afforded to current “offenders” to rectify it and how may are currently in non-compliance with this ordinance …Has the A1A project been advised of this coming down the pike?…
Ordinances 2nd Reading …Ord. 2012-04 on amending the Administration chapter concerning the Town Commission and elections …No public comment …VM Dodd had a few lines he felt were redundant and the TAtty. stated they could be removed …sec. 7.4 ws removed and it passed 5-0..
Ordinance 2010-07 Ethics …Public comments came from BTSFuture Editor Mark Brown again commending them on this ordinance being enacted…VM Dodd thanked the Mayor and Commissioners for making this happen…As a Comm. it was Dodd that brought this forth using a Miami version to introduce what he was asking for…(prev. posts) unfortunately the past majority shot it down (2-hats) and the former TM used a portion of it concerning the “Cone of Silence” not introduced by Dodd to later take a shot at Dodd on his talking to a potential vendor insinuating he and any others had broken the LBTS “Cone of Silence” …This writer quickly posted LBTS had no “Cone of Silence” in place and in another lame attempt for the Colon Administration to cover their blunder they produced the Miami backup…A PRR produced the fact that LBTS itself did not have it on the books!… Dodd expressed” it was a shame it was necessary” but it was with “too many hats”…He said he was proud to make a motion…The Mayor concurred with his sentiments and Comm. Sasser made the 2nd for a 5-0 approval of the Ethics Ord….
Resolution 2010-16 this was amending the chapter 30 code of ordinances to allow pet grooming in certain business districts/ provide Zoning relief procedures/Accessory Buildings and Structures /Amending Chapter 30 Article VIII to provide severability provisions …(prev. posts) …no public comment …no Comm. discussion Dodd/Vincent …passed 5-0
Commissioner Comments… The Mayor spoke of the evening being historic with the passage of the Ethics Ord. and the accompanying Code of Conduct…She relayed a story from her regular monthly Pelican Hopper Tues. morning ride and also what buses can be used for a $3 ride to the airport…She spoke of the budget meeting held prior that evening and implored constituents to contact their Commissioners addressing the millage rate thanking staff for a “tenuous 4 months” and applauding their efforts…
Comm. Vincent brought forth an article he said he read about “Branding” cities…He read from the article and went on to speak about the Chamber …the slogan and what this could bring to LBTS to unite the community …bring economic development and get out the word on LBTS’ assets and strengths…He added he read it “over and over again and was dumbfounded…ecstatic”…
…He stated “If this Commission votes to support the Chamber”… adding the brand it idea moving forth with creative thinking …challenging citizens to brand ourselves as the finest little town”…YIKES!… Last person to introduce “Branding” …the Comm. to his right…Comm. Clottey when she was on her slogan bent…(prev. post) and stating again her marketing skills …
Commissioner Sasser opened with stating he a “had a couple of points, some philosophy and a joke” …He thanked staff and said proud to work with the “team” up there on the dais and that team makes sure they are accomplishing something…He spoke of what’s important the projects and the plan and how he sees things coming from the business world coming into government …stating government being “slow as a pig going through a python” …that was the joke…He stated we need the right data to get the right answers and stated he would be saying “plan” a lot because that’s what he campaigned on …not piecemealing …He stated the need to not throw a wet blanket on efforts…to plan first …which was a nod to stopping efforts of the MPSC in the El Mar /bathrooms committee decisions recently made and now on hold in order to get the Master Plan done first…
Vice Mayor Dodd stated it was “Good to be here” and thanked for all the support and deferrals to await his return…he stated while away he wasn’t idle that he visited Henley on Thames and attended one of their planning and recreation meetings. They have similar problems since there was a “long discussion on of all things toilets. They have some that need repairing and we are trying to install some. Everyone in Henley was an expert on toilets just as I’m sure we all have years of experience in this field and won’t be afraid to speak out. On the next day the mayor organized a meeting of many of the people who came to LBTS and enjoyed our hospitality. I agreed to come back to LBTS and put the issue on a commission agenda to see if there is support from the commission to revive the sister city program. I feel it is a win-win for both towns – We promote their city and they promote ours. The ball is in our court and I will be seeking the full commission support at our next meeting so that the chamber can start discussions and promote an interchange of ideas.” He went onto his monthly report on his Hillsboro inlet meeting….which met on 21st July and four main issues discussed were… “the new work boats that should be launched this week and be here in about three weeks. The sale of the old boats was authorized in accordance with the bids received… the new boats will be upgraded to a commercial specification regarding fire fighting equipment as well as fuel shut-offs.”…He addressed the millage but misspoke stating the was proposed millage was the same as last year. He meant it will end up being the same from the majority on the dais’ statements (prev. post) but was voted 4-1 for the Int. TM proposed 4.299…He did state that “as the property values do not decline further the inlet commission will hold the rate the same next year as well.”…
Comm. Clottey stated she agreed with the Mayor on Pelican ridership and she herself had actually used the $3 dollar bus rides to the airport stating before the name change on her street it was difficult to get transportation to the airport …HUH?… She liked Frank Herrman’s idea for the parking lot name change …She spoke about hurricane preparedness…and brought up the people not wanting bathrooms anywhere but on the beach and not as an asset for the businesses…At the budget meeting Comm. Clottey showed her disdain for the Chamber once more and their receiving extra funding for the Welcome Center…In 2000 Prof. Clottey wrote something much different on tourism for Lithuania …”the authors recommend that the Lithuanian Tourist Board allocate more resources to informing potential tourists about Lithuania and to the development of a relationship marketing program with past visitors….”….Hmmm……
“Tourism Analysis, Vol. 7, pp. 67-73
1083-5423/02 $20.00 + .00
Copyright © 2002 Cognizant Comm. Corp.
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.
RESEARCH NOTE
A Replication of the Lennon, Weber, and Henson Northern Ireland Tourism Study Using Lithuania as the Target Destination
Ron Lennon and Birute Clottey
Andreas School of Business, Barry University, Miami, FL 33161
This study examined the decision variables used by German travel consumers when making certain travel decisions. Data were gathered in March 2000 at the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin. ITB is the leading trade fair for the global tourism industry. The authors investigated Lithuania as a potential travel destination. As a result of this research, the authors recommend that the Lithuanian Tourist Board allocate more resources to informing potential tourists about Lithuania and to the development of a relationship marketing program with past visitors because this segment was found to be more predisposed to visiting Lithuania than the average German. Overall, Germans were found to have favorable tourist consumers’ perceptions of Lithuania as a tourist destination and as a safe place to visit.
Key words: Consumer behavior; Tourist decision making; Eastern European travel; Lithuania
Address correspondence to Dr. Ron Lennon, Andreas School of Business, Barry University, Miami, FL 33161. Tel: (305) 899-3507; E-mail: [email protected]”
http://www.cognizantcommunication.com/filecabinet/Tourism_Analysis/ta71abs.html
……………..
Old Business was the public bathrooms…This writer prev. posted the NIMBY’s in town …and even after the vote from the MPSC (prev. post) for the El Mar Parking lot as #1 and Bougainvilla Parking lot as #2 …MPSC member Bob Eckblad felt it necessary to send an e-mail though he stated he was uncomfortable doing so…to the committee and the Commission wanting it in El Prado park stating it was a public park and it should not matter what Minto wanted …also stating it was close to the beach…many beachgoers and should contain a baby changing station as well…This writer inquired from a longtime MPSC member if the e-mails being sent from committee members to members and/or Comms. has ever happened before…the reply was an emphatic “No!”…former committees did not even know who would be at the meetings…Such actions along with the Malkoon misrepresentation at the podium when addressing the Comm. (prev. post) …on the A1A project before the majority changed its stance …e-mails…as well as not wanting Comms. to speak at MPSC meetings…has led many to wonder if they are up to the task of the Master Plan as well as giving the Comm. pause on the bathroom project going ahead…due to the members themselves having 2nd and 3rd thoughts on location and need this year…Dir. of Development Bowman gave the background of the process and the presentation given to the Roundtable and then MPSC (prev. posts)…He provided the 2 location choices made by the MPSC (El Mar/Bougainvilla Parking lots) and asked for direction to approve $150,000 for the construction on the bathrooms in that location …He added the letter asked for by the Commission for input of any concerns from the BSO …Chief Llerena stated law-enforcement concerns for adequate lighting …landscaping for visibility from the roadway …graffiti resistant exterior finish hours of operation and maintenance … Comm. Sasser thanked staff and the MPSC but felt the project should be switched on the CIP for the Master Plan revision and acknowledged Comm. Clottey’s comments on the response after the the choices from residents and businesses including the e-mail from Bob Eckblad after the meeting …Comm. Vincent stated he “concurred” with Comm. Sasser and that this was “one of my pet peeved projects”…that bathrooms are important to tourism but stated he had second thoughts on it and nobody was “knocking of staff doors” for it so to be prudent the Master Plan revision should come first… The Mayor added she too agreed and stated that appropriations for the vision process should include “some types of public restrooms” …also stating the need for a plan first which would be discussed the next night at the Roundtable…VM Dodd made a motion to table the project until after the Master Plan revision … The Mayor added it would be part of the process…Next up was affirming Comm. Sasser as the Chairperson for Halloween …passed 5-0…
New Business was to decide on an auditing company for the annual audit from the three presented by the Audit Committee (7 had replied to the RFP)… Int. TM Hoffmann joked this was “near and dear to the Commissioner’s heart”…(prev. posts on past audit “suspect”debacles with the prior administration)…She also took the opportunity to introduce new acting Finance Director Doug Haag…(finally a TM who did the proper intro for a newly hired key dept. head )…Mr. Haag stood to a round of welcoming applause… She stated they had 7 responses but one was non-responsive and was notified of such…The six remaining were turned over to the committee who got to work and used a criteria to recommend 3 to the Commission … 1. Grau & Associates 2. Cherry, Beakeart & Holland L.L.P. and 3.Nowlen, Holt & Miner P.A. … The current Audit firm Marcum Rachlin long used by former TM Colon was rated 5th in the end but came in tied for 2nd on the price…They responded with a $45,000 charge $10,000 below the previous contract with Colon that was done without Comm. approval (prev. posts)…WOW!….The scores were given by the committee and the Commission by State Statute could only choose from those three …Also if the Commission did not go with the first choice they needed to state the reason…The committee consisted of Comm. appointees John Oughten, Ray Wolowicz, Chair Ben Freeney and alt. Patrick Murphy …It was stated an error was made in the RFP for responding to 4 optional years after the 1st year so the audit was for one year only leaving the Commission to either go out with another RFP next year or renegotiating with the company they choose this time…The Mayor gave the three companies 3 minutes to speak and answer questions… Grau and Assoc. came up first and Mr. Grau explained he was a stand alone firm doing only audits of which 90% are governmental followed by non-profits and private sector…He responded that his pricing was appropriate …The company has 13 employees and came in at $32,000 (prev. yr. $55,000from Rachlin ..prev. posts Miami lakes and others approved audit companies for $35,000 for next fiscal yr)… No questions from Commission…Next up was Cherry, Beakeart & Holland L.L.P. …the representative Mike Weinstein sounded to this writer like a used car salesman …as he spent time on his connection to LBTS living over the bridge and visiting “Louie’s Diner when he was around”…OUCH!… He stated they were a larger firm 600 employees and they have a “big backroom to support city with their audit”…OUCH!… The cost for them was $48,000 with no specified amt. in yr one…No questions came from Commission… Nowlen, Holt & Miner P.A. representative came to the podium and stated he would be in charge …the firm was established in 1961 and they were larger than Grau and smaller than Cherry …30 employees do government and non-profit audits no private sector and asked for questions…They came in at $$52,500 but $5,500 was specified in 1st yr and calculated out due to the error in the RFP…leaving the cost at $47,000 …Mr. Oughten came forward after the Mayor acknowledged him in the hall and stated it was not an easy decision …each firm was respectful and “this engagement must take into account some of the transgressions of the past.”… The VM thanked the Audit Committee and spoke of the constructive changes to the RFP along with their deliberations …He stated it was a personal victory that he pushed for for a long time…The Mayor stated it was an important process and stated the 35% price portion and her concerns about that making the 1st applicant significantly lower than the rest…She recommended they “look at everyone a little evenly”…Comm. Sasser who had prior to these comments stated he was recusing himself from the vote but wanted to participate in the discussion (per the new ethics ord.) agreed with the mayor’s sentiments and added it needed to be somebody the Commission feels comfortable with and that a multi-year contract was important…The Mayor asked if the Commission wanted a few minutes to review it and decide…The Int. TM stated the snafu with the RFP and explained the decision to go ahead with it based on the response and while it gave Grau an advantage Acting Finance Dir. Haag had checked all the firms out and all were good …with some concern over Grau’s low cost he researched elsewhere and found Grau’s charges existing to those municipalities were also low while receiving a good recommendation on services provided ..The TAtty. weighed in to confirm the RFP mistake and the decision to go ahead …The Commission could choose any of the three but if they did not pick #1 Grau they would need to state why … Comm. Sasser asked if all were on a 1 year agreement and the TA stated yes…She added they had the option to renew… The VM again made the motion to approve Grau & Assoc. with a second from Comm. Clottey..It passed 3-1 Mayor Minnet voted no and Comm. Sasser was recused from the vote…Of note included in the RFP per the Audit Committee the Auditor will look into the past years $15,000 purchases by the former TM …to see if anything was purchased “broken up” to meet the TM threshold of not needing Commission approval…unfortunately due to the settlement/release signed last week by the Comm./Colon…now means if any improprieties are found…no action may be taken…UGH!…
The next NB item was the necessity of an Aug. meeting…YEP!…it is necessary and will take place on Aug. 25th with a 5:30 pm Budget meeting/New Town Manager meeting that will allow public input for the budget portion…28 TM RFPs have been received…A 7 pm Reg. Comm. meeting will follow… In discussions on the RFPs Comm. Clottey brought up again the lack of meeting the Charter requirement from some applicants and they should be weeded out before they are included in discussion…The TAtty. being tactful towards “Clueless” who brought this up before and was shot down by the TAtty (prev. post) over the Int. TM educational requirements…The TA stated Ms. Hoffmann’s degrees could be seen as on par with the Charter… The TA stated the Commission should go through collectively and staff with her assistance would come up with a list to rate them…Clottey kept up her stubborn stance and was called on it from the VM in trying to deny an applicant…Comm. Clottey stated she brought this up at the Roundtable (and it was addressed by the TA) and she wanted the Commission to go back and look at the Charter…The TA once again spoke of the “role of interpretation” …ARGHHH….. Please Ms. Hoffmann if you are still considering a permanent position…”Clueless” Clottey is gone in 2012!…
Comm. Sasser put a date certain on for the Commission to go to the TAtty. Weiss suggested change of the Adventura model of one Comm. meeting and one round table …The TA stated a section of the code would need to be changed (as she stated prior thus the concern to set the date) …The Mayor asked for the implementation to be be done for the Aug.meeting…The Mayor also asked about the tradition of Aug. meetings being on or off looked int and incorporated…Actually the off for Aug. meetings occurred after 2004 according to the archives…The TA said that was in the procedures the Comm. adopted and Aug. meetings could be cancelled…
The TM report included the progress report and the TM said she would keep it short.due to the budget..and addressed the 2 incidents that occurred the kayaker who drowned and the flare that was detonated on the beach (prev. posts)…She also addressed the snafu found with the retirement benefits she found she was receiving …She asked Finance Dir. Haag to look into it…it was a requirement from FLOCities and the state… The Mayor asked for Haag to check with the state …a follow-up memo came last week it is a requirement for all Town Managers…She spoke of the projects list and some items not being on it that were asked to be included prior to her employment…She will go over those prior meetings and add them in… Comm. Sasser asked for the districts to be included so it did not end up being forgotten …as well as the Mayor and the TA including the necessary time frame prior for the study in preparation for the Jan 2012 date for the report by FAU… The VM added updates to the progress report for the Sea Lord and Seagrape…She addressed the sewer rates and SRC sewers (prev. post) …Comm. Clottey again asked about SRC and the north end of towns and not raising their rates …The Int. TM clearly uncomfortable with this line of questioning once again from Clottey while this is being investigated replied the north end pays Pompano Beach directly (therefore they are paying the increases Pomp. imposed since 2003)… and she added they pay a 25% surcharge to Pompano for being outside the municipality… The south end south of pine and SRC pay Fort Lauderdale who took over the billing for the Town and they have not had a sewer increase since 2003 ..The Mayor finally cut it off and stated again they needed to get all the information …let staff do its job …The TM concurred…Comm. Sasser agreed and said this was an emotional issue …needing the correct information …
Of Note…. while looking into the SRC sewer subsidy and who made the decision within Town Hall …(although former TM Colon cannot be charged with any wrongdoing if found due to the 7/28/10 settlement/release …prev. post) …the Town needs to also look into why any portion of town pays through- the- nose to Pompano Beach when we provided the new sewers in the north end that they collect on…
Of Note: … in the backup was the Pier alleyway…it was stated a traffic meeting took place with Int. Asst. TM Bud Bentley last month and a look into the Oriana walkway was needed …STOP!… Get this on in August…Get rid of the entryway to the beach in that alley..The only users are the guys who live in the “beer can Christmas tree” apartment across the road …Make it an open egress for the Pier parking lot…with no restrictions…especially since it was NEVER voted to be closed by a Commission in the first place… and because it should be fully functioning before the drainage project is started next year to rid ourselves of “Lake Colon” once and for all!….
The Town Atty only stated a need to readdress a motion made for the notice of intent for the resolution and it was done by the Commission as instructed ……
Adjourned at 9:11 pm…
They made good time….especially for a well timed marriage proposal for Mayor Minnet that followed at the Blue Moon Fish Co….(prev. post)…
more to come…
Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea July 27 2010 Regular Commission Meeting, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Public Safety, Scoops, Sea Ranch Club, VFD
