GROUNDHOG DAY ….
Dear Readers ….at the 2nd League of Women Voters Meet The Candidates Night on February 25th the second candidates to answer the questions emailed in were the candidates running from District 2, Incumbent Commissioner Jim Silverstone and Chris Vincent … This writer is going to have a “Field Day” with the promises Jim”He’s not a nice guy” Silverstone says he made and kept along with the desperate and laughable ones he is making to get another 4 years..without his BFF McIntee… For this writer, Avid Readers know there is no way Silverstone should be allowed to go forward after his full and active participation with all McIntee’s bad acts and his decision to join in, assist and remain mute on a whole host of serious matters…that cost the taxpayers big time in time, money and embarrassment… He should not be given a pass just because McIntee is out of the picture…as he leaves LBTS… I am well aware that Jimmy-boy has used the CIC site to dispel what he says are untruths…They are not and as stated before…just take a look at the Town Website and the 2007 minutes (the only minutes over the last 4 years that provide detail and no bias) and the videos that show all Silverstone/McIntee actions and votes…virtually identical…(only time they were different was when they were orchestrated to allow one or the other to be on the prevailing side to bring the item back up)… Silverstone has been seen 24-7 over at the Furths (perhaps he feels it’s his turn for the full on treatment from Marc & Cristie)… even parking in the Handicapped parking space (prev.post)…That in mind…the 2nd debate between the 2 candidates…
In his opening Silverstone began in the befuddled and disjointed “Norm Crosby” style that old and new find disconcerting…(A woman at SRClub on the Feb. 22nd made reference to the fact she could not understand anything Silverstone was saying… I told her welcome to the club…and asked her if she remembered Norm Crosby…she said she did and laughed at the comparison while nodding her head in agreement)…He said good evening to the “Ladies and Gentlemen of this great place we call home”… He thanked all for allowing him to serve for 4 years saying he believes he has “earned your trust”… He went into his bringing back the VFD and this meeting after finding himself in quite a bind due to the recent 12 month activity report concerning the languishing warehouse out west which he, Mcintee and Colon told the taxpayers would sell and provide “a wash” for the purchase of the crappy hotel next door purchased to house out public safety providers…Silverstone did a “political pivot” and now says the “savings” of having the VFD and AMR allowed for the purchase…(Readers again take a look at the 2008 meeting on purchasing to see what was said).. He also keeps trying to say the “plan” was for a”grand complex for 7 million”..Not true…at the same meetings you will see it was this writer that was the lone voice asking why they would not go that route, I knew we had the money…and that was without the disclosed 11 million (prev.post as stated by auditors at the 2-23-10 Comm.meeting)… I knew we had 6+million from the sewers not going in at Palm Club (designated funds were Capital Improvements..not sewers as Jim claims…if just for sewers…For Jim to be correct in his assertions… it would then be a total lack of due diligence on the part of the Manager and the majority to not have followed the Mayor’s motion to pay it back!…OUCH!)….Silverstone went on to do his “funny math”…(must be what happens when you don’t have a CPA, didn’t finish college and profess to be a financial expert)…by saying we saved 5 million by not going for a complex!…That’s the kind of small thinking that needs to be replaced… He spoke of the Beach Patrol and not having a single drowning since they came to be…That in my opinion, is most disingenuous…One had nothing to do with the other…and a look at the Furth/McIntee presentation of the busiest day (prev. post)…shows much of the saving came from beachgoers and for the Beach Patrol it was really one member who was front and center with some VFD members looking as if they needed attention themselves…The jet ski was useless so close to shore… He spoke again about his role in the website being his idea…but a look at the agendas from his first term in 2006-2007 when Granicus was introduced do not show Silverstone put this item on (in fact a look at those agendas show how very little Silverstone did put on.. A monument to public officials..that was tabled over and over again…A naming of a portal for the Karleys…(the parents of VFD member Bob Karley who keeps on complaining about the north annexing in and accusing people of “spittin’ on us)… and a Citizen’s Review Board )…As for the backup material it was Comm. Dodd and the PIO D’Oliveira that finally got it going after Silverstone followed the false assertions made by TM Colon that it would be too costly (it was not)… He talked of the Town codes being available.. a check on the website shows… “Codified through Ordinance No. 2009-17, enacted March 24, 2009.(Supplement No. 6)”.. and not all the finance budget info is available…To Jim Silverstone a 1.6 million dollar debt for parking is debt “cut virtually to zero”…He did a “feel good” on the artificial reef project (there was some concern written up in the news after this project in the Palm Beach Post…The man behind the project Dr. Goreau http://www.globalcoral.org/Goreau%20Bio.htm )…He spoke of his “multiple hats”…a reference to the “2 hats” label concerning his VDS-Commissioner hats…and said he is “better for this”.. He said he “risks my life” and that was being used against him…HUH?… In what capacity has he risked his life in a VFD capacity..and the concern is that Comm. Silverstone has voted on the VFD when he did indeed receive a salary as the Chief and he sat in a “Shade session” with the Commission and the Town Atty. after the VFD sued the Town and the BSO when terminated…He sat along with McIntee knowing what was transpiring in legal strategy for both… (prev. post)…and he says he receives no monetary benefit, but he will receive a pension…and he ended saying we are strong financially and he has a proven record… I take issue with both..
Chris Vincent took the opportunity to introduce himself to those unfamiliar with him and to again dispel the false statements made that he is some “newcomer” speaking of his being a resident of Silver Shores for the last 8 years and his wife’s family ties to town being 35 years…He again reiterated his reasons for running …the lack of decorum and respect …greater transparency a code of ethics beyond the State code (a jibe perhaps at the probable cause found against his opponent and McIntee with no consequences)…He said he would bring leadership and consensus to the dais and had done so in his own building of his career of building a business (He is an interior contractor who assist with disabled occupants …he’s the guy you call when you need something fixed inside your home or business…property management…no development or being a builder as he has been misrepresented by his opponent’s supporters to be)…He promised to keep the height limits as they are now…saying he doesn’t understand why it is still an issue (He voted for the height limits in 2006)…He spoke of beautification for the Town in terms of maintenance of our community assets and reading all contracts ( another jibe at Silverstone for Jim either lying about the Town Manager’s 1 year salary for termination…plus cost to the Town to pay her legal fees if any litigation should arise…or he too was unaware of the content for 2+ years as he is on record for falsely stating it was the same as her predecessor…(prev.posts)…and the Choice contract as well)…He offered listening, dignity and respect…
Question one was a beaut!…”How this issue could effect you please identify 2 issues where you might need to recuse yourself from voting because of perceived or real conflict of interest.” …Vincent spoke of it being a “commonsense question”…and spoke about if a property he manages came or possibly could come before him he would absolutely recuse himself… It got real interesting for his opponent as many sat forward to hear how he was going to wiggle out of this one…
Silverstone-“The 2 instances I would think of originally would be I have a business in town. I’ve been on Commercial for 6 years and if something came before us that would a conflict of interest, I would make a special benefit from I would recuse myself. That is the standard, am I making a benefit by something I decided on here. Is, is, is it ah, enriching me somehow? That is the first issue.”
BC- Then Jim Silverstone has not followed his own declaration…He is on record for voting at least 2 times on 2 properties owned by a man who is his client, his biggest client some say in his pension business…and one was made as Silverstone lived in the apartment building his client owns…Benefited him…enriched him somehow?…You bet!….Add to that votes as described above for the VFD as a paid Fire Chief…
Silverstone-” I would not join the, the Chamber. I’ve been a member but if I voted on the Chamber’s budget as some Commissioners being a member of the Chamber I think that would be a conflict of interest.”
BC- How is that any different than voting on the VFD?…The Chamber members do not benefit from belonging to the Chamber…Pot-Black you know the rest…
Silverstone -“Um, there’s udder issues in town but the general rule is if if affects me if I benefit from it or I may benefit from it that would be wrong and I would recuse myself from that.”…Too little too late, in my opinion ….
The next question turned to traffic congestion and both were for studies while Silverstone did a Furth-er opportunity to say “no more high-rises”…Next was the first piece of legislation each would pass if elected… Vincent said ethics and Jimmy-boy went for his big blunder on the 22nd at SRClub (prev. post) to bring back a Kitesurfing Ord. that he claimed he had passed…This night he again was incorrect saying it was “tabled”..only 2 days after receiving a memo from the Town Manager with the minutes showing it was “withdrawn” by VM Mcintee as no one was in attendance (exactly as I said it was)…on ethics again…foot in mouth “If it doesn’t benefit anything specifically I would think it would be a bad decision to go in that direction”…HUH?….He did the campaign mantra of the outdoor dining …promoting business (this is the same Commissioner who voted to short the Chamber 2 times and was against an Entertainment District put forth by Comm. Dodd after he was contacted by Silverstone’s Fiancee’)…
A thing of beauty…the stars were aligned when the perfect question was paired with the perfect pair of opponents..
“Do you feel it’s appropriate to challenge residents to a debate during a commission meeting or ask questions back and forth or wahtever. Why or why not?… (Silverstone has challenged from the dais during Commissioner comments and in the By The Sea Times in his Comm. Comment column residents to debate him…and he has used his comments to answer back to residents who came to speak at public comments)…
Silverstone-” Well, I ah, our form of government I think promotes a, a communication between both parties. If, if only , you’re only hearing one side of the story at one time you’re no getting the whole picture. It’s doing a disservice for everybody.”
BC- Seems Silverstone et al are not happy they can no longer go along with no counter of the facts…OUCH!…
Silverstone-” I’ve been begging for a debate for the last couple of months (longer) because I’ve been accused of, of, of doing some ah, ah things which were wrong. But, but, the but, the misinformation which I think is affecting everybody’s judgment in a way to vote here and I think it’s done intentionally.”
BC- Yep, intentionally to keep the voters from being “hoodwinked ” in 2010!…
Silverstone-” The key would be to, to debate the issues bring forth I mean that’s the best way of getting both sides and and hearing both sides and coming up and making your own minds up. In a sense we’ve been kind of ruled by mob rule lately and that’s unfair. I think it’s unfair for the rest of the residents. I, I promote debates on critical issues because you have to hear both sides.”
BC- So Silverstone doesn’t trust the voters can read and do their homework…they can only decide from a debate…Silverstone believes it is “mob rule” when the hall is no longer filled with his old supporters…I ask the voters again..go online…and look at 2006 and 2007…unfortunately the videos do not go back far enough…you would need a friend who has kept the DVDs to see this current “mob rule” is no such thing compared to the CIC- Broom Boys of 2005-2006-2007 in their prime!…
Vincent responded “I personally would never challenge a resident of our small community to debate.”..He spoke of being available by phone t speak to anyone as needed …for any concerns…How udderly approachable!…
The firehouse question arose…Vincent felt it was not feasible at the current time with the purchase of the public safety building and the need for a plan that offered where we are going with out town…alluding to the much discussed Master Plan to be addressed this next year…Silverstone was predictable in his want of a new firehouse but his words raised “red flags” for this taxpayer…and should get a rise out of those who have ever donated to the VFD Booster Fund…
Silverstone- ” The Volunteer Fire Department has wisely planned on this years ago. They have raised money for a new building fund. There’s quite a bit of money in the bank right now sitting there for this very purpose.”
BC- How much…and why did the VFD not offer up to pay for it before or after learning we did not get the grant the Town Manager applied for?…
Silverstone “We need to have something in the future. Right now we bought a, a enclosure right behind us which will last us for a couple of years. We’re gonna need a new building. We have a lot of equipment and it’s more of a housing area for the fire trucks.” …He spoke of the logistics of the public works garage and the perfect spot of where the Development trailer is for a 2 way drive- thru station for all 3 providers…He then went on the “Free money” train of saying “there’s a lot of money out there” for grants…saying “So that’s the direction I’d like to see. We, we’re to go on to because we NEED IT!”
BC- According to the CAFR report we have 28 VFD vehicles/30 BSO vehicles…the canopy cost over $20 thousand and we were told it was required by the ISO and would help our rating…That amount of money for only “a couple of years”…Hmmm… fiscally responsible?… Also the equipment as previously posted ALL the firetrucks were NOT needed according to the ISO per their meeting…and the VFD recently were going to discard one McIntee led purchase of a truck (The VFD Board voted it down)…So if the VFD can build the drive-thru that will sleep the Assoc.members…have at it…otherwise…lose the extra truck and fix up what you have…until we have a plan…
Lights for turtle season and how to have a greener town…. Silverstone again was loose with the facts after a very weird and disturbing start “I would address the lights during turtle season by, by introducing myself as Jim Silverstone”…HUH?…He was quite amused by himself and went on to talk of putting “blinders on these lights”…and being in a “phase to correct” the situation stating the Town is getting the lights “certified”…HUH?…calling it a public safety issue saying we would be doing every light…(Since when?)… Silverstone did not answer the green portion of the question…. Vincent agreed it was public safety and critical to address it with the experts …he addressed the green question with asking residents and businesses to recycle…stop using Styrofoam at restaurants…
The Town Manager question was asked and Ms. Smith chose a PC one out of the bunch..”The performance of our current Town Manager Esther Colon has been criticized by some. Do you think she deserved it. What would we stand to lose if she was no longer here?”
Vincent was “diplomatic” in this writer’s opinion stating she had a performance review as required by her contract and the Commission gave her their reviews…he said he would honor the contracts requirement…but he did not say what would happen to us if she was “no longer here”…
BC- Come on!…Who thinks anyone is irreplaceable or the sky will fall without this Town Manager no matter if you support her or feel she is the first real change needed? …
Silverstone did a “Brian Piccolo” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfI_HT39eeM sob, sob…He said he was around for Baldwin (her predecessor the one without the years severance pkg.) and for her first 2 years and “I have never seen a public official work harder than our Esther Colon. She’s not perfect by any measure. Nobody’s perfect by any measure. But she knows those numbers better than anybody I’ve ever met in my life.”
BC- You bet she knows the numbers better than anybody else…case in point the holding onto the $6.8 million and not letting go of the financial statements…Always so smug when only she could answer to McIntee yes we have the money…and if there was any doubt of her being the only one who knows the numbers the CAFR Report for 2009…and the 13 million dollars…”Our Esther Colon”…Yep, yep…
Silverstone-“I have to have faith that the reporting being done is correct. If not everything else falls apart. We’re very lucky to have Esther Colon. If she leaves it would take a miracle to find somebody to replace her a strong as she is.”…
BC-Gayle Sayers…”I love Brian Piccolo”…I do believe there was football after Brian was gone…no offense…
Here is the question and the answers that make the choice between these 2 candidates clear and easy to decide…
“What do you think has cased the divisiveness in Lauderdale- By- The- Sea? What would you do to improve relations between opposing sides to help bring the Town together?
Silverstone-” I think as in many major problem it’s usually compromised of smaller problems. The annexation was a problem it brought up a lot of anger. But the current state of our federal government is bringing up a lot of anger. People are losing values in their homes and unfortunately we’re the first line here. That you and sometimes we get unfairly focused on this anger.”
BC- What?…When was the last or for that matter the first time any public comment was made on the above assertions…WOW!..
Silverstone-” The to, to promote the, the, the dais to promote, I still believe because we were allowed to, the public was allowed to attack us, which was against our rules this has caused an environment that’s festered hate and it got out of hand.”…
BC- Again 2005-2006-2007 ….enough said…
Silverstone ended wanting to do what he did not do in the last 2 years…follow the rules on the dais…and as we all saw with McIntee off the dais…it was easy…
Chris Vincent-” First of all I don’t think the divisiveness was started because of the annexation of the north. That’s blaming the north for bringing anger into the town. I find that despicable to even say that. I’m sorry to even comment on that now. We are one town. The divisiveness started here at the dais when my opponent sat in my living room 4 years ago and promised decorum and respect to our citizens and residents. He promised fiscal responsibility. He promised transparency and ethics. All these promises made were promises not kept. I as your commissioner will promise to bring decorum to this dais to bring this town together and unite our town once and for all as one town.”
The audience could not contain their applause!…
BC- How many voters will be able to relate to that?…That alone should decide the election…If all those who allowed the “Broom Boys” in their living rooms and no longer would do the same come out to vote…YIKES!…
Next was the coral reef question…and Chris Vincent answered first with his being all for the project as a diver of 20 years…and an advocate for protecting this asset…Silverstone clearly rattled by Vincents response …could no let it go without responding…
Silverstone-” I have to comment on the last issue here, when I said annexation I didn’t say any side. Annexation was a problem for both sides of the town. I never said that. Another case of misinformation.”…He went on to answer the PC response…coral reef …good…environment….good and it will “bring tourism BACK in town”…HUH?…He said it had been proven oversees…Really?…”It’s gonna put us on the map!”… Pure McIntee by the heir-apparent…
The parking problem…as Comm. Dodd often says Silverstone was a little “wobbly” with his account of limited inventory…more business…the impact more business might have on the residents and he would “NEVER that line to impact the residents in this town negatively.”…How exactly does that work with more outdoor cafes … and all the tourists coming for the coral reef once we’re on the map?… Vincent was quite amusing as he described the experience we have all had as he did a little “ditty” travelogue describing the jaunt over the bridge headed for the square and finding no parking …heading north or south on El Mar and passing up the Bougainvilla parking lot due to the poor signage (and location of the A1A drive-in)…
The quest was beautification and as Vincent was answering rudeness rang out loud…CIC newbie Lilliana Pomarada walked up during the meeting and handed questions to the timer…he chose to stand up instead of timing right as Chris was answering… more bad form from the LOWVs… Chris said he would address the drainage..the sidewalks and the medians…using the recommendations and consensus of the Town’s boards and residents…Silverstone talked about running again because “There’s a vision I haven’t completed”…and he did the now obligatory Furth campaign talking points of over the bridge (Little Red Riding Hood comes to mind)…He was so irritating to those of us who have been involved for some time…He spoke of doing so many things that he and his “Gang” poo-pooed”…such as entryways…color palettes for the buildings and then…(This is for you Sandra Booth, yep, again) Surfside http://www.townofsurfsidefl.gov/ and what they have to offer…We should follow suit… UGH!…Long ago the MPSC had plans for the entryways…Pelicans and the Mcintee-Silverstone-Furth led commission shot it down and stopped it in 2008…Long ago Michael Arker introduced a color palette for buildings…and as Avid Readers know it was Sandra Booth the Chair of the MPSC in 2007 who brought the Surfside Architect Elizabeth Plater-Zybert to the MPSC to offer up her expertize…She was ignored…and it was Jim Silverstone and Jerry Mcintee who did everything they could to demean and try to keep Mrs Booth from returning to the committee… http://www.dpz.com/ WOW!…
The closings …out of order…
Chris Vincent
“I want to thank everyone here and at home for your interest and support in this election.
We can use this election to turn the page and have a fresh start without loosing sight of our town’s history, charm and community spirit.
We can restore decorum and respect to the dais
We can restore trust in government by ensuring a code of ethics that holds officials to the highest standards of integrity and prevents conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
We can move forward on town plans and contracts, making fiscally responsible decisions by listening to our boards and committees.
We can maintain and grow our business community by working together to find solutions that meet the common interest of residents and businesses.
We can and we will maintain open green space while enjoying the beach and ocean views without obstruction.
At the end of the day the future of the town is in your hands, where it should be.
This is your opportunity to have your voice heard and participated in this very important election. My name is Chris Vincent and I am asking for your trust and vote.
Thank you”
Jim Silverstone thanked the LOWV and thanked everyone for listening “with an open mind”…he said “some of you would like you to believe what we say. This involves trust.”…He played the experience card…and said that’s what he brings to the table…He said he had earned our trust…and he has more to accomplish…He blew this writer away with his final promise…I just could not believe it!…He said if he were re-elected he would lower the millage rate now that the $6.8 million had been paid back!…
Dear Readers..Do yourselves a favor….take a look at the meetings online…at the budget meeting for the millage it was Commissioner Dodd who said to lower the millage rate…and Commissioner Silverstone who was against along with his majority!…They spoke of the impact!… What a joke we had $18 million dollars!… Now he wants to make that promise…why not go all the way Jimmy…promise no town taxes next year…and we would still be ahead!… Talk about a last ditch effort to pull out ahead…unbelievable!…
Silverstone continued ” I promise to unite the town even if I have put you all in a room and hide the key until we work it put. Because I believe at the end of the day we all love this the town. Please vote for me, Jim Silverstone. I kept my promise we are a better place. We are Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.”
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words…and this one sums up his 4 years….. When he thinks no one is watching…
Please voters….no more “Broom Boys” this time around ……Even the thought of the smaller one is enough to make this writer bristle!…
more to come….
Next District 1 Candidates Sasser vs Evans….
Tags: Laiderdale By The Sea Candidate Chris Vincent, lauderdale By The League Of Women Voters Lauderdale By The Sea meet The Candidates Night Feb. 25 2010, Lauderdale By The Sea Candidate Commissioner Jim Silvrstone, local government, Local Politics, Scoops
