FRONT ROW SEAT ……
Dear Readers … I think tonight’s Regular Commission meeting showed all the voters that business is being done once again in LBTS!…It’s going to be a bumpy ride as this new majority plays catch-up with the bogged down agendas filled to capacity and then some in order to whittle them down to size after two years of neglect…. One thing that was impossible to ignore tonight was the way each commissioner on the dais was working toward a common goal and were respectful of each other in the process… The other was the way that none of them were about to let this Colon-Olinzock Administration off the hook any longer or let them skirt the issues or dance around providing the answers that these commissioners were looking for… Finally!…. Yipee!…
We began as always with the pledge and the invocation…and then the Mayor did some housecleaning with the discussed items from the prior night’s Round Table informing the audience which item was headed in which direction… roughly 10 items were now off the 4/12 Old Business portion …Comm. Sasser asked for the El Mar Project to be remain to clarify some issues and VM Dodd wanted to add a date for the next Round Table along with a termination letter for the current leftover boards (P&Z/BOA)…The Mayor wanted to add the 3 month spec. permit for Village Grille that was on and then off this agenda…and Comm. Vincent wanted his New Bus. item to be moved before the TM’s NB item…Director of Development Jeff Bowman looked a little nervous as he presented the Employee of the 4th Qtr. of last yr to Kimberly Williams Code Enforcement officer…..Another Rep. from the School Board Staff came to plead his case for a Resolution to approve the Second Interlocal Agreement…and again this 2nd “bite of the apple” went on way too long…In the end the dais was divided on this sop-gap fix for a long term problem that does not seem to have the answer to stop the potential “bleed” of portables vs boundaries…and as Comm. Sasser said it was “patching it up”…and VM Dodd said it was providing us nothing but a “carrot until 2018″…The Mayor and Comm. Clottey seemed to feel otherwise…Seeing that after much back and forth …including some relevant information asked for and received from the TAtty. …the commission was not ready to sign on…it was sent back to the Round Table and will return for a vote on April 27th… As one Avid Reader said “Vouchers”…
Public comment went quickly with a doctor from El Dorado who wanted to keep the longtime use of his boat being on his property tied to his seawall…hoping for some relief in his sudden code violation situation…John Oughten spoke on Choice the garbage vendor once again and the lack of proper procedures with the notification…along with a disturbing memo he was in receipt of from the Town that he called “Choice-gate”… Mark Brown spoke of the A1A and El Mar Drive projects with questions on their plans…and an idea of use that if possible may kill 2 birds with 1 stone..for the Oriana million’s use… Adam Geesey asked for this commission to carry the ball on moving forth with burying the utility lines….Ray Walowicz asked for a welcome to LBTS sign and a thank you for visiting sign at each entry of the Town…(We hear JohnO was all over this after the comments were made…) …Cindy Geesey had a bone to pick to clarify the actions of Comm.Clottey on the dais at the last Comm.meeting when MPSC members were appointed and her husband and a few of the By The Sea Future connected volunteers were singled out and in her opinion disparaged…She was also not happy with with the Round Table the night before and lack of input…Edmund Malkoon came to congratulate the commission and speak on the Chamber and what was the original look …mid-century modern that was changed in 1994…He spoke of buying the Demko House in the future…(It was offered to the Town to buy a few years back with no takers)…He also experienced trouble with Choice…
Reports …James Barton spoke of the stormwater project and said it was on target to finish in 2 weeks with a presentation……He answered the Mayor that he worked with staff…used resident complaint forms and went to various areas to see the problems in poor conditions…
The Gorilla came for his first visit of the night…It was when the 2nd Report was addressed with the A1A Enhancement Project and Asst. TM JohnO came to present …He spoke of the PBS&J… utility companies …Pomp. Bch and getting the boards in place for one large meeting…He did his usual dance of acting like we the taxpayers and the commission just don’t get it…when it comes to this project…But tonight it was JohnO that didn’t get it…at first…Comm. Sasser asked him specifics about PBS&J and what they were doing for the money…He finally got JohnO to say the design…Yep, the Sasser walked him down the aisle a little bit and to place JohnO has not seen in a while…his place in the scheme of things…answering to the commissioners and offering to get them what they are asking for…JohnO began to fold like a shar pei as Sasser made it clear he wanted the designs to be shown to the MPSC before the state…He did not allow JohnO to throw out all the reasons why it could not be…until finally JohnO was offering even more…PBS&J and FDOT and possibly more than 1 big meeting …3!… VM Dodd asked for a report with the real matching funds …which somehow changed from 600 thou to 300 thou for us vs 800 thou for the government…Hmmm…Comm. Clottey wanted the residents to understand the requirements as well…basic principals…and the Mayor prevailed in getting info top the committee before their Tuesday April 20th meeting…
The public Safety portion of the meeting brought the VFD Fire Chief and VFD Fire Inspector-LBTS Fire Marshal Pain to the podium…It was a request of VM Dodd’s…He wanted a rundown on the April6-7thgas leak incident (prev. post)…as well as making mention of being in the dark with no alert from Town…and added that to the Round Table to discuss…Perkins came up and handed it off to Paine… Paine stated he was the “Fire Code Official-Volunteer- Battalion Chief-Fire Inspector”…He went through the case stating a call came on the 7th from owner in Orlando of the smell of gas…he told the caller to call 911…911 dispatched the VFD and he went through the order of which truck came first…the hoses and the staging …He spoke of the evacuation the BSO traffic assist…and BSO and Ft. Lauderdale coming for a Hazmat call… He answered questions about the pilot light…the smell …a possible ventilation fan problem and why they chose to break the glass on the front door vs an inside french door or a costly fire door…He spoke of the life safety issues that brought him there the day before and to shut the business down …unfortunately that report was not provided to the commission… and while at the podium the leak was made to sound like a small situation at best… The incident report though states “standing outside the structure, Sq-12 smelled gas coming out the door.”… Asked about the seriousness …Paine did use a scary scenario when recounting a gas leak in Davie that was devastating…He was asked about wearing “2-hats” and any conflict …he appeared to take offense and recounted his positions in town from his start here and after the “reorganization (Fire Marshal Stevenson was terminated)…and ended with this “No, not a problem right now.”…Hmmm…. Also no questions were asked about a prior incident with a ventilation fan problem last Memorial Day…This writer put in a public records request… after hearing and verifying that VFD stayed at the hotel instead of closing it down…collected $16,000 and possibly split the funds with the Town….
The Comm. took a break…
They returned for the Town Manager report …and she called PIO D’Oliveira up to speak of his ole in media releases…Chief Perkins also came forward and spoke about the role he was supposed to play when the PIO was not there…He did not do that on the 7th…as D’oliveira said he was out sick…The release will now go to Comms as well as press…but the Commissioners said that was not enough…again for the Round Table said VM Dodd…The TM tried 2x to pin it on the BSO saying “BSO said when we know, you’ll know”…HUH?… The Manager went on to her first progress report that did not contain the content desired by the commission… What she had was the Bel Air signs…Public Safety Bldg…and Broward Sheriff’s office for the 2011 contract coming up… The VM wanted the Choice info on the report…she deferred to the TAtty. who basically said we are waiting to hear from Choice…who was met with a month ago and said we would hear back in a month or month and a half…She could contact them, and add the billing problem cited at public comments…JohnO said this was the first he heard about it…Really?…and that he sent an e-mail to Choice (JohnO sent an e-mail …hear that Comms.?)….Comm. Sasser asked for this to return to the Round Table and for all commissioners to bring what they want on the progress report …so nothing falls off the radar…. Mayor Minnet wanted info on the “Wings” parking lot delay of being completed…seems the Wings has different people in place who want the video from the meeting long ago where the deal was made for 10 parking spaces for their apartments in the municipal lot…They want proof there was no assigned spaces…This writer recalls there was not…The atty. told them the same… standoff for now….The Mayor asked about single stream recycling…JohnO walked up and gave the single stream rah rah…as the Mayor looked at him quizzically due to his assurances …what we all thought to be so as she proceeded to read a memo from the Tm that started “as you recall” saying we ere working for single stream…that some Commissioners and residents didn’t want it and she was going to do a survey (prev. post)…For the Mayor…check mate!…The Mayor asked about the energy stimulus funds and the TM stated they are waiting for the RFP waiting to submit name on list…Really?… We hear a list just came out and LBTS was not on it….Comm. Vincent took the Manager and the Town Clerk to task for the keys incident and the gas leak…He too wanted proper notification and also wanted the lack of the key to Town Hall and the story being told by the Town Clerk that she made every attempt to contact all the Commissioners dealt with…The Manager skirted it…and then threw the Town Clerk under the bus…only to state she was human it was a mistake and perhaps Comm. Vincent could address this with them in private …HUH?… Com. Vincent didn’t fall for the familiar ruse that used to stop commissioners in their tracks…He sorted out the mistake aspect and spoke of the false statement being made…and VM Dod concurred… The Tm actually apologized…Comm. Clottey joined the chorus of dealing with Choice although her statements of different pricing for different customers in town leading to a big lawsuit against the Town was right up there with her old BSO fear of calling claims…She also was having problems getting e-mail from town on her Blackberry…(Windows 2000)….This go round the minutes were approved…Really?…
Comm. comments were actually Commissioner comments…about Easter By The Sea …its success…congrats all around to the Chair, Christine Vincent…the volunteers…Interior Digs…Comm. Sasser’s mini cooper…and the fun that was had by all ages…children to volunteers…comments from most on the Round Table being a work in progress…as they try to head in the Adventura direction per Atty. Weiss….Condolences to the Marchelos family…the census…Earth Day… Congrats to Scott Gooding…and some discontent about the possibility of no fireworks this year..Easter By The Sea came in at $1918.07 with 6 full boxes of decorations for next year!…Kudos!…
Consent agenda items…no discussion…extending tree trimming…turtle shields on lights on El Mar $3,018 and 3 mo. special event permit Village Grille…passed 5-0
Resolutions…2010-05…opposing the local bill proposal to create the Broward Ind. Fire Dist…no public comment…passes 5-0
Resolution 2010-07…on procedures/protocol for Town Commission…deferred back to next Round Table for additions …tweaking..
Mark your calendars…2nd Round Table Friday April 16, 2010 4 pm Jarvis Hall….
Resolution 2010-08 MPSC …appointing the member’s…passes 5-0….
Resolution 2010-03 Ocean Energy …no public comment..passes 5-0
Old Bus. April 12th…left on the agenda… 15 d. Capital Imp. wkshop …Mon.April 26th….
15 G. El Mar Drive project…Comm. Sasser still had questions and asked for backup never provided on the grant…(He’s not chasing grants..a campaign promise)…He spoke of the Ocampo contract from Dec 10, 2009…(prev. post)…and wanted information on the CCNA Consultant’s Competitive Negotiation Action …and VM Dodd chimed in as well on wanting information from the Town Atty. to verify claims made the night before by the Town Manager… The Town Atty..responded she had not been sent the information…but would look into it…WOW!…The TM tried lamely to “clarify” her statements made …and it was not adding up…Comm. Sasser wasn’t falling for it …stood his ground and now low and behold both companies will be at the MPSC and the TAtty. is now going to see all the paperwork…The Mayor said there seemed to be 2 different stories…yep!…
July 4th chair…Mayor Roseann Minnet…with a $45,000 budget a very short time to see if fireworks are even possible…The Town should have gone for an RFP in January… 3 years of past July 4th info requested by Comm. Dodd …(prev. posted the last 2 4th side by side …and 2008 actually cost less )…
Old Bus. April 13th…Hillsboro Inlet …back for a 2nd 2 yrs…VM Dodd motion made by by Comm. Vincent..2nd by Comm. Sasser…4-0 (Clottey voted for him after all her shenanigans)… VM Dodd abstained…
Lighting in Jarvis and Comm. Vincent called JohnO out again when it was revealed thsi was no apples to apples RFP it was phone calls and piecemal and DOA…Round Table….
Bus shelters…This writer was a little disappointed in the vote…after some more discussion…still not verified for its urgency…Comm. Sasser came up with a plan worth a vote from all…move ahead with the contract…but go to MPSC next Tues. with the design as requested by a new MPSC member…. OOPS…3-2 Sasser-Vincent voted no…
New business special meetings…now at 24 hours…not 6 ..BUT…still with 2 commissioners rather than all being able to call it on their own…another OOPS!… revisit this one asap….
THE GORILLA WAS NOW FACE TO FACE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION ….THIS TOWN MANAGER …
Commission approval to proceed with RFP 10-03-01 Audit Services… remember the Feb 9, 2010 meeting when the Town Manager had the top 3 companies from the RFQ come to make presentations to the Commission (prev. post)… She wanted her pals at Rachlin…and this writer asked one of her Rachlin presenters how he got there to present…he told me through the auditing committee….I asked who is the auditing committee…2 of the Commissioners had no clue…the question was never asked..but much to her displeasure…the TM did not get her choice of auditors and the process was to go for RFP…Comm. Vincent read from the purchasing manual and the requirement for an RFP and an auditing committee…He asked for explanations on the prior RFQ vs this RFP…The Manager got her back up and said the RFP was due VM Dodd…that the RFQ was null and void… They were starting from scratch…Comm. Vincent asked who was the committee before the RFQ…no response was forthcoming from Colon…The Manager spoke of the Finance Director…The Mayor read it was the Manager…Finance Director and an external Finance Director…The Mayor wanted to know if someone else could be added to the committee… The Manager said she would leave that to this commission…The Tatty. said it was possible and the RFP could add that… It seemed once again this Town Manager was going to dance her way around answering the question…who was on the audit committee before the RFQ in Feb.?….Comm. Sasser did not let that happen…he called her on it again…and again she tried to not answer…he persisted…She turned to the Town Clerk and asked if it was Chris Wallace from West Park…The Town Clerk was perplexed …How could the TM not know?… Comm. Sasser said it was a simple question…and he understood the RFQ was null and void… but who was the person…The TM said we’ll get you the information tomorrow…JohnO came up and said the West Park Finance Director is Chris Wallace…FINALLY!…The Town Manager as the Mayor called for an extension for the meeting as it was no 11 pm…could be heard to say “this is too much”…VM Dodd asked mote about the RFP process…and the TM got combative…thinking he did not get it…the qualifications vs the cost…He “got it”… and so did she!… Comm. Clottey was concerned about the time and a deferred decision to April 27th…but she too thought price was an important factor…and wanted to see both…The TM used Choice and their contract as an example…The Mayor asked for a summary at the end to make comparisons easier…The TM did not get the point and spoke of the RFQ …Comm. Sasser said he wanted the RFPs opened up…and the Mayor reiterated having another person on the committee…the Maanger said they had to be municipal…The audit will be addressed on the 27th…
This writer sent a Public Records Request to Finance Director Wallace after the meeting…and will post the response and the requests as they arrive…
To:
Cc:
barba[email protected]
Dear Director Wallace;
I am making a public records request on verifying that you were the external Finance Director placed on the audit committee for the Town of Lauderdale By The Sea for the Audit RFQ that was presented to the Commission on Feb 9, 2010.
Our Town Manager said you were and I would appreciate your reply to affirm this as fact along with any correspondence asking you to fulfill this role and your final decision on choice of the top 3.
I also am asking if you have done this for our town prior to this year.
Please acknowledge receipt of this PRR and please let me know when the request is ready so I can send you the cost to cover the charges.
I would prefer e-mail responses if possible, otherwise let me know the postage costs as well.
Barbara Cole
954-295-7122
Address 5000 N. Ocean Blvd. #412
Lauderdale By The Sea, Fl. 33308
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WEST PARK ONLINE INFO…… CHRISTOPHER WALLACE-
West Park contracts with New Community Strategies for the management of its Finance Department. Christopher Wallace has over 25 years of experience with government agencies serving as a Finance Director and Budget Officer. He has received several awards for financial statement presentations, and was a charter member of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Budget Review program, advocating the use of program and performance budgets. Mr. Wallace holds over 16 certificates in specialized education and training relevant to government operations and cost studies. Mr. Wallace has also been directly responsible for all aspects of procurement and contract administration.
Mr. Wallace is known as a leading advocate of performance measures and assessments, and has conducted more than 20 management and performance studies. Mr. Wallace also conducts fiscal impact analysis studies addressing land use, annexation, and service delivery issues. Mr. Wallace also provides consulting services to units of local government and developers and financial planning services to organizations and individuals.
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Thanks to the new commission… We were going “bananas” for way too long!…..
more to come….
Tags: Assistant Town Manager John Olinzock, lauderdale By The Sea April 13 2010 Commisison Meeting, Lauderdale BY The Sea Manager Esther Colon, Lauderdale By The Sea Mayor Roseann Minnet-Vice Mayor Stuart Dodd-Commisisoner Chris Vincent-Commissioner Scot Sasser-Commissioner Birute Clottey, Lauderdale By The Sea VFD, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Scoops, VFD, West Park Finance Director Christopher Wallace
