WINDING DOWN …. TO WIND UP FOR FALL ….
Anglin Pier …
Dear Readers … the word from those who keep in touch …the Town is quiet…not much going on…as we wind down from summer and wind up for Fall … which will be quite a different story…We have the budget meeting on Sept. 13th at 7 pm…Reg. Comm. meeting on Sept. 14th at 7 pm…The following week is the Reg. Comm. Roundtable at 5 pm on Mon. Sept. 20th…Tuesday at 7 pm is the monthly Master Plan Steering Committee meeting with a presentation by Asst. TM Bentley and perhaps representatives of the plans for the A1A FDOT Project…(no agenda as of yet…will post when received)….Wed. night is the Planning & Zoning Board at 6:30 pm dealing with codes brought forward from previous Roundtable discussions such as these from the agenda ..
“NEW BUSINESS
Request: The Planning and Zoning Board to provide recommendations to the Town Commission to the proposed
amendments to the Towns’ Code of Ordinances.
Item #1: Permitted uses in the B-1 and B-1A Zoning District
At the July 14, 2010 Commission Roundtable meeting, direction was given to staff to broaden the code to become more business friendly. Consultant Walter Keller reviewed the existing business uses and commonly accepted business uses in the B1 and B1-A zoning districts. Walter has provided a suggested listing of uses for your review and recommendations. ( Walter Keller, Consultant )
Item #2: Amendments Section 30-313 (31) Accessory Buildings and Structures.
At the June 9, 2010 Commission Roundtable meeting, direction was given to staff to move forward with drafting an ordinance amending the code to address sheds and storage containers that do not require a permit. ( Jeff Bowman, Director of Development Services )
Item #3: Amendments to Chapter 30-22 Adopting Zoning Relief Procedures ( Town Attorney Susan
Trevarthen )
At the Town Commission meeting of July 27, 2010, the Commission authorized moving forward with amending Chapter 30 “Unified Land Development Regulations” of the Town Code of Ordinances by creating Section 30-22 “Zoning Relief Procedures” to provide for a zoning relief procedure to address possible unintended violations of federal and state laws in the application of the Code or its related rules, policies, and procedures. This proposed amendment provides a preventative procedure to protect the Town from legal challenges, and facilitates the resolution of disputes.
Item #4: Amendments to Chapter 30-501 Adopting Severability Provisions to the Sign Code. ( Town Attorney Susan Trevarthen )
At its meeting of July 27, 2010, the Commission approved the Notice of Intent to move forward with amending Chapter 30, Article VIII, Sign Regulations, of the Town’s Code of Ordinances. These revisions to the sign code enhance severability provisions, resolve internal conflicts, and enhance defensibility in light of recent case law. Several minor changes have also been bade to address inconsistencies and implementation issues identified by Town staff.”
The second and final budget meeting to adopt the FY2010-2011 Budget will be held on Mon. Sept. 27th at 6 pm with the second Reg. Comm. Mtg. the next night, Sept. 28th at 7 pm …
While it may seem quiet out and about to so many …there has been some action going on in town ….and behind the scenes even more so ……
The Pier has been busy with being the background for a TV series (The Glades …prev. posts)…but also for an ad on national TV for a diabetes drug…It shows a man fishing on the Pier…This writer was informed it was done about 4 months ago…So keep your eyes open for it…The funny coincidence was I had the local channel on while searching the guide to record the series The Glades to make sure to catch the Pier episode in the future when this ad came on!…
The Pier alleyway opening is progressing with the aid of the Town and the county to get it correctly striped with the proper signage to be used as it should have been all along…
The Valet service has had some hits and misses in its trial period thus far…One report was distributed (prev. post) with another substantive report coming (?) and some fine tuning will come as well to have it continue on in season…It will be included when the Town Administration and Commission along with the aid of the P & Z deal with the antiquated and stifling parking requirements downtown…
Earlier this summer this writer unfortunately posted misinformation of a business closing after hearing the news from reliable Townspeople who passed on information told to them in the same manner…It was not done maliciously, and after a second business was also cited by quite a few as being closed, only to find it too is open as well …better PR for business in LBTS is needed ASAP …because if the locals are so sure these businesses are gone or going… what about the visitors?…
The timing of coincidences has always amazed me…that it happens so often even more so…This writer was sitting at a Cubs game last Monday night and heard the women behind us speaking about this website called Groupon…Low and behold the next morning I received an e-mail sent out by local LBTS resident/Realtor/and new BTSFuture staffwriter Shevaun Steward-Kuhn, (GRI, GREEN Fine Homes Specialist Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Florida 1st www.ShevaunsRealEstate.com Direct 954-817-0606 Fax 954-525-7650) …It’s just one of the many informative e-mails Shevaun sends out …
http://www.groupon.com/fort-lauderdale/
The liaison program this Commission brought forth at their procedural meeting is a success whether it has been under an official liaison designation from the dais or acting in that capacity to either aid a constituent or fulfill a campaign promise…it’s working!…
Com. Sasser has been instrumental in helping the Choice Environmental Services situation as well as working with the Chamber presently on the budget for next year… Mayor Minnet worked successfully with the contract for Ms. Hoffmann as Int. TM and is now again working on the new contract after the 5-0 vote on Aug. 25th… Comm. Vincent though not designated liaison from the dais,was successful in aiding with the Pier alley access and the valet service trial … as well as the public bathrooms…now on hold…. Vice Mayor Dodd has been successful in having so many of the items he championed and were ignored by the previous Commission and Administration brought forth by these new Commissioners taking them on as “liaisons” and having them finally pass …(prev. posts)…He has unofficially been working as a liaison on the Artificial Reef Project with carrying out tests on the original buoy and opening up transparency with those involved in the project thus far…and the new Administration… to try and see if this can project can come to fruition …(see previous post)..
In October the Chamber will again have their Annual Fish Fry …the location this year will be Jarvis Hall …mark your calendars for Oct. 6, 2010!….. Make sure to check their site for updates on business…craft fairs and events… http://www.lbts.com/chamber.html
Commissioner Sasser and his wife Teresa have been hard at work with getting Halloween ready and from the sounds of it…it’s going to make for quite some eye-candy as well as the bountiful trick or treat variety! …This writer will post any upcoming posters and photos when they are available as was done for Easter and July 4th…Stay tuned and get your costumes and Halloween bags ready for one tricked-out event in Jarvis Hall for Halloween 2010!…
Looks like the “goal post” has changed in where the future problems are going to be concerning the sewers and a Town Master Sewer Plan agreement with Pompano Beach… First, the Pompano Beach Commission voted to raise the water/waste last Thursday in a re-do …Our Town Manager Hoffmann caught the lack of proper notice before it was revealed in the newspaper and sent a memo to that effect to the Comms…. That will result in a big “hit” for all the LBTS customers as warned …and while it seems likely that SRClub and SRLNorth Condos will now be expected to pay any surcharge etc…just as other condos in the south and cover any expenses charged to the Town instead of what was covered previously in the behind the Town Hall doors decision made by just a few since annexation..It will most likely be a major stumbling block in any new negotiations with Pompano Beach for a Townwide Master Sewer Plan that tries to include the annexed north end of Town due to the decision made of turning over the new sewers after the change from septic!… This writer is trying to find info on that decision and why it was made…leading to what now appears to be a major blunder!…
…………………
Sentinel …Excerpts…full text link below…
“City commissioners approved a 22.6 percent increase to a typical water bill in the city on Thursday, reaffirming an action they took in July, but this time with many more angry residents on hand.
The commission had to take up the issue again because city water users had not received proper notice about the July public hearings. The extra notice made a difference.
But city officials said the current rates have not covered the cost of providing water and sewer services. The city had to dip into reserves for at least the past three years — including $3.4 million this year — to make up the difference, officials said.
“We can’t afford to let the citizens of Pompano Beach get gouged left and right. It’s too much. It’s too fast,” resident Richard Elie said. “If you want to chase us away, keep giving us these shock increases.”
The increases will appear on water bills in two phases, in September and January. A typical residential customer using 10,000 gallons of water a month will see almost a $14 increase in their monthly bill, to about $75. Someone using 20,000 gallons a month will see a 29 percent increase, or about $25, bringing their monthly bill to about $112.
Even with the increases, officials said the city’s rates would still be the fourth-lowest in Broward County.
Commissioners said the city water and sewer services have to be self-sustaining and pointed to the myriad federal and state regulations that drive the cost up.”
……………….
The VFD should be meeting this week to elect their new Chief …will it be for one year or two?…Will they make changes to their by-laws and SOPs?… Is there still some inside scuffling going on?…Will they agree to a new contract and a lower amount ($700,000 FY2010-2011)?….Will the volunteers show up for calls and drills if the $’s are not there as incentive?…. Will there be a surprise change in other leadership roles?… What about signing onto not controlling the apparatus fund or not automatically receiving a 4% increase for the remainder of the contract?… Will oldtimers come back into the fold to save the VFD?… We will know soon…
Some things never change with old personnel still in tow in Town Hall… A memo sent out to the Commission on Sept.1st was addressed to VM McIntee and Comm. Silverstone!… When the latter was caught by one Comm. another leftover staff member was not the least bit chagrined, we are told…just more of the same old…same old…Time for some more changes after the budget is adopted!…
Speaking of old staff …we heard former Finance Director King left a message for a recommendation for a new job with one Comm. a few weeks back…The Comm. did not comply…Thank goodness after all that keeps coming up after her departure…..As for the former Asst. TM/Int. TM JohnO…He sent the Int. Town Manager two more letters asking for a change in his termination with cause (the 1st June 24, 2010 letter was previously posted with the July 6, 2010 reply from Ms. Hoffmann)… In the subsequent letters Olinzock sent to Ms. Hoffmann on July 21st and again on Aug. 11th 2010 …he made claims in the second letter of a difference in being titled “Acting” Town Manager vs. being an Interim Town Manager and claims of being “polled” by Commissioners along with claims of the need for another public meeting to stop any outgoing checks to terminated Town Manager Colon due to sunshine…as well as claims of Charter violations… He also makes references to eight “attachments” …In the third letter he states he is again appealing the revision to the terms of his dismissal of employment as outlined in the Town Charter sec. 5.5 and states “you are responsible to the Town Commission for the proper administration of all affairs of the Town coming under your jurisdiction and this responsibility is inclusive of the 14 subsections of this section. ” He points out this was his third time addressing in writing this issue with Ms. Hoffmann and ended with “Please provide expedient resolution of the referenced issue. I request that it includes payment of moneys owed for severance, annual leave, and sick leave, as has been standard procedure for terminated employees of the Town.”… Int. TM Hoffmann replied on Aug. 12, 2010 to state as she previously informed Mr. Olinzock she provided a copy of his first June 24, 2010 letter to the Commission asking to rescind their decision to terminate with cause…They chose not to rescind that decision…She stated she would forward the two new letters to them but stated she did not anticipate they will act upon them (She did and they did not act on them)…She also stated that his July 21, 2010 indicated attachments there were none attached!…She stated his letters indicate he is appealing the Town Commission’s action and there is no appeal procedure for an Acting Town Manager provided for in the Charter or Code of Ordinances of which she is aware of!… She went on to state “The Charter is clear that the Town Manager and Acting Town Manager serve at the pleasure of the Commission and may be removed by the Town Commission at any time.”… She further stated that the Town Atty. “advised the Town Commission that their actions in dismissing you and amending the dismissal to be with cause were lawful and opined that the Town has no obligation to pay you for accrued annual leave, sick leave, or severance pay. While it is obvious that you are frustrated by these decisions, you are mistaken in your belief that I have the authority to override the Commission’s decision to terminate you with cause or their direction to not provide any further compensation to you. Given the Attorney’s opinion that you were in the employ of the Town Commission at the time of your dismissal, it is clear that the issue falls under the purview of the Town Commission, not the Town Manager.”… Prev. posts..show an accurate account of what transpired as well as Town archived special minutes…No “polling” took place or breach of Sunshine…Just Commissioners and Town Attorneys doing their due diligence to avert an overpayment independently…Their concerns were well founded in the aftermath of the payouts made to Colon under the direction to proceed made by “Acting” Town Manager John Olinzock!….
So where do old Commissioners go anyhow… Some leave town …head north and go golfing…
“• Treasure Coast Golf Scores: Aug. 5, 2010 » TCPalm.com
Aug 5, 2010 … PIPER’S LANDING. White Hats (7/28): 1, Craig Harlan, Robert Marshall, Jerome McIntee, Wayne Schrader. White Hats (July 31): 1, … D Flight: Jerry Horne def. Lou Deangelis 5 and 3. Round 4, D Flight: Emil Kapcar def. …. Business: e.g. salon. Location: e.g. Stuart, FL. Powered by Local.com …
www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/aug/…/no-headline—spt_golfscores_c2/ – Cached
• Treasure Coast Golf Scores: July 8, 2010 » TCPalm.com
Jul 8, 2010 … Men’s Day (June 30, 2-Man Scramble): 1, Jerry Todd, Paul Krause, 57; 2, Dr. Tio, … PIPER’S LANDING. White Hats (June 30): 1, Craig Harlan, Robert Marshall, Kimber Vought. White Hats (July 3): 1, John Duffy, Jerome McIntee, …. 10 troubled Fla. banks Updated 8/26/2010 at 10:25 p.m. 7 comments …
www.tcpalm.com/news/…/no-headline—brief_spt_tc_golf_scores_c2/ – Cached”
Some get married … (congrats) ….and may claim to be happily out of politics …but offer far too much input for this writer’s comfort level to new Finance Directors …if the heads- up is so….when they are not qualified CPAs …having no degree in finance and falling hook, line and sinker for all things Colon in the past…Advice to the new Finance Director…any questions on past finance call others in Town and John Thompson…
Others who have been sidelined even longer…try and fail for public office…as they decide whether to remain in LBTS or make a new start in Lighthouse Point?…. While one El Mar “stakeholder” claims he too is out of politics while a big yellow buoy sits out front his motel …Hmmm… guess “politics” by Blackberry doesn’t count?….
This writer is told the CRA issue brought up in previous posts has some thinking it will be the cause du jour to sink the new majority and new Administration…That’s only so if the previous players are again successful at parsing words and throwing out half-truths and fear-mongering… They failed to do so in the last election …and should again even if they have any traction left in Town…This writer has written we need to bring back the possibility of the CRA and other comparable ways to decide how to revive the stagnant town left in the wake of the all or nothing gang when it comes to development in Town… I merely want all avenues re-opened and all those who are knowledgeable in how to succeed to come back to the hall and participate…
That being said…we now hear the “which comes first the chicken or the egg”may be in play as well…as the Vision Meetings need to come before the Master Plan Steering Committee makes any revisions to the 2005 Master Plan …with the P & Z coming in the middle…
Lilly 4 & 1/2 mos…1st haircut (Nana cut her bangs)/playing the piano on the stand and play….
Last up…this writer will be coming home in November …December and each month after that as Lilly grows (5 months on Sept. 18th) …It allows for Nana and Papa to make it back regularly… and yes …..Lilly will make the trek next spring as well! …
Happy Labor Day Readers….
more to come….
Tags: Boards, Former Employees Of Lauderdale By The Sea Still Writing, Lauderdale By The Sea Anglin Pier Backdrop To Series & Ads, Lauderdale By The Sea Businesses Are Open, Lauderdale By The Sea Has New Valet Service In The Heart Of Pelican Square, Lauderdale By The Sea Impact And Future Sewer Rate Plans, Lauderdale By The Sea Oct. Chamber Fish Fry On The 6th/ Halloween In Jarvis Hall Looks Scary Good, lauderdale By The Sea P & Z Sept. 21 2010 Agenda, Lauderdale By The Sea Town Commisison Liaison Program Is A Winner, Lauderdale By The Sea VFD To Vote For New Leadership/Contract With Town, Lauderdale By The Sea Vision Meetings/CRA?/ P & Z/ MPSC For The Future Of The Town's Development, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Scoops, Sea Ranch Club, VFD, Where Do Old Lauderdale By The Sea Commissioners Go?
