WE DON’T NEED A JAIL CELL …. A COST SAVING ALTERNATIVE….

Dear Readers…It’s really worth the link to see the minutes from the past… and the January 9, 2007 meeting was the mother-load in terms of all the ins and outs of that time…politically! The previous post showed when the heat is aimed their way…the “2-Hats” did a 180 in 2009 from their 2007 dais diatribes for the will of the people to speak!…Well right after that is the following…

THAT WAS THEN….

New Business item 14 D. page 25..”DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING FORMING OF AN INDIVIDUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT (COMMISSIONER JERRY MCINTEE)..

“Commissioner McIntee commented that at the present rate, BSO is costing the Town $6 million per year and it would go up another $1.2 million in 4 years. He noted that BSO is pricing itself out of the ball game.”

He went on to talk about MIAMI GARDENS who had just started a new police dept. with the assistance “of a nice federal grant”…Comm. McIntee said he had done some research and found there were such federal grants available to towns and he thought this was the way to go in LBTS…..

“Commissioner McIntee thought bringing back the Town’s own police department would be better for everybody because POLICING WOULD BECOME PERSONAL AGAIN because they would know everybody in town. HE DID CONGRATULATE THE SHERIFF ON DOING AN ABSOLUTELY GREAT JOB AND SAID HE COULDN’T THINK OF ANYTHING NOT GOOD ABOUT THE POLICE ENFORCEMENT THE TOWN NOW HAD EXCEPT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. He also expressed his concern that the Town had too many policemen per capita. Commissioner McIntee also commented that if the town had its own police force that it still received mutual aid from BSO such as homicide detectives and photo units because everyone is a Broward County taxpayer.”

Comm. McIntee made a motion 2nd by Comm. Silverstone to direct the Town Atty. to do research on other cities who started their own departments and report the findings.

“COMMISSIONER SILVERSTONE RECALLED THAT HE HAD BEEN WITH THE TOWN LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN THE TOWN HAD ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE REASONS WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO GET RID OF THEM. HE SAID THE UNIONS WERE CAUSING THE TOWN PROBLEMS AND MADE IT SO THE TOWN COULDN’T FIRE ANYBODY AND THAT IT WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE. After a little analysis, Commissioner Silverstone concluded BSO  wasn’t really a bad deal, but he felt COMPELLED to get requests to make sure the townspeople’s money was being spent appropriately. COMMISSIONER SILVERSTONE CONCLUDED BY PRAISING CHIEF GOODING FOR GIVING GREAT REPORTS AND HAVING GREAT ACCOUNTABILITY.”

Mayor Parker countered the “2-Hats”…in recalling the pitfalls of the LBTS Police Dept…recounting a burglary at his home…lack of a decent response time and lack of investigation…and LACK OF JURISDICTION…Mayor Parker spoke  of a recent murder that took place in town…and wondered if BSO was not here would the same substandard responses be seen again…

“COMMISSIONER SILVERSTONE THEN ASKED CHIEF GOODING IF IT WAS TRUE THAT A CRIME HAPPENED AND IF SOMEBODY WENT TO FT. LAUDERDALE, BSO WOULD HAVE JURISDICTION IN BOTH PLACES.”

“Chief Gooding responded that as the constitutional law enforcement agency for the entire County they had jurisdiction throughout the County. HE ALSO NOTED THAT IF A TOWN’S POLICE FORCE NEEDED TO GO INTO ANOTHER JURISDICTION, THAT THE PROCEDURE WAS THEY WOULD CONTACT BSO  AND BSO WOULD ESCORT THEM.”

“Commissioner McIntee said he thought Mayor Parker’s story was ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS .” He asked Chief Gooding about BSO nad mutual aid with “every department in Broward County” He specified that a homicide in town with our own police force could call for BSO homicide detectives…Chief Gooding said he thought that was what happened before….”COMMISSIONER MCINTEE ASKED MAYOR PARKER TO STOP THE ALARMING STORIES BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T MAKE SENSE.”…Mayor Parker reiterated a lack of investigation.

“Vice Mayor Yanni NOTED THAT EMS, FIREAND POLICE PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN AND THAT THESE TWO GUYS WANTED TO TAKE IT ALL AWAY.”…He went  on to discuss who would come to LBTS and work…he doubted anyone would quit BSO for a town dept. spot….he thought we “would get guys out of the academy who don’t know what they’re doing yet or SOMEBODY WHO’S RETIRED FROM NEW YORK and is coming to Florida so they can have an easy job.”..He said the Town should not be thinking about getting rid of BSO …”it would put the resident’s lives at risk 24 hours a day.”

Mayor Parker came back to rebut Comm. McIntee on what he previously stated happened with prior town police department…and said the level of service was not acceptable for the town…

There was a roll call vote for the motion to direct the Town Atty. to get info for the Town…it failed 4-1 McIntee dissenting…

BC- Comm. Silverstone most likely went with the prevailing side in order to bring it up again at a future meeting…

THIS IS NOW….

Commissioner Comments…July 14,2009…

Vice Mayor McIntee…(13 minutes/ last topic)…” Ah, the BSO I don’t know, anybody who says we’re going to take over a police department in 90 days is, is in the clouds. I’m from the public safety world (began in 1966) um, the minimum it would take to take over a police department is 18 months to 2 years. You have to get certifications, you have to go to the state, you have to get radios. Fort Lauderdale wouldn’t come in here . Pompano wouldn’t come in here in 3 months because they’d have to through their Commissioners. They wouldn’t touch this because it’s too political. If we were attempting to start our own police department you would have to have all this stuff, begin a process and it couldn’t be a secret for us because everything’s public. Everything is public so the people who are spreading this outrageous statement that we’re going to throw the BSO out in 90 days are absolutely off the wall, it’s impossible. It’s absolutely impossible. You can’t do it. You can’t do it. It’s a year, 16 months to 2 years to put a new police department in place and if you doubt me go down to MIAMI LAKES and ask them, it’s it’s COULD IT HAPPEN, I DON’T KNOW. WE’VE GOTTA SEE WHAT ALL THE COSTS COME IN. BUT I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING WHEN IT GETS TO THE STAGE WHEN BSO’S FIGURES ARE REALLY HIGH AND IT STARTS IMPACTING OUR CITIZENS THEN I’M GONNA PUT IT TO THE CITIZENS TO MAKE A REFERENDUM WHERE YOU PEOPLE MAKE THE DECISION DO YOU WANT TO PAY EXTRA OR DO YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT then you can make the decision because it’s every home in town. I take it right out of my Commissioners hands and give it to you the citizens. I would show the figures for A , the figures for B, have the vote and if you want it you got it. IF YOU WANT TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL TAXES YOU GOT THEM. I THINK THAT’S FAIR TO EVERYBODY AND THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO IF IT GETS TO THAT STAGE. I’VE HEAR THESE RUMORS AND THAT ARE DIFFERENT TO WHAT YOU’RE HEARING. I’VE HEARD THAT WE GET 3 MILLION, IT’S COSTING US 3 MILLION NOW. THEY ANTICIPATE WE OWN $800,00 PLUS AND 5% OF THAT 4,2 MILLION, 3 MILLION ROUGHLY TO HAVE BSO HERE . OK,  let’s put it to the referendum, let the people make the decision, show them what cost A cost B and that is fair. I don’t think Commissioners should really have the right to, to say OK we’re throwing them out, they’re coming in. This is something that can’t be secret. So these foolish people who say in 3 months that’s, that’s stupidity. THAT JUST CAN’T HAPPEN. THAT’S ABSOLUTELY STUPID. THAT CAN’T HAPPEN. SO IN 3 MONTHS CAN’T HAPPEN, 16 MONTHS MAYBE. Nothing, nothing could be done that isn’t public. ”

BC- Vice Mayor becoming VFD Dep. Chief ….Gooding…new ladder truck…list goes on…

VM- ” Absolutely nothing it has to go to the state. It has to go to the, to the I’m sure the POWERS TO BE, TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE. You can’t just create a police department secretly. Can’t be done. So forget this 3 month stuff. Somebody’s leading you down the wrong road and it’s it’s absolutely not true and with that I yield.”

BC- This writer previously posted the LBTS/BSO Contract …(public safely cat.)…in which it state 90 days NOTICE…not for a police department to be in place in 90 days!…

In the contract as the VM and the TM are fully aware is the clause that states the BSO will continue to serve the Town UNTIL the Town has a police department in place that is equal to the level of service the Town now has with BSO…Both of them are on the record stating the costs and alternatives are the criteria to proceed …Town Hall East “leader” Marc Furth is said to be talking to BSO about coming on board to a LBTS dept…VFD Captain Mark Conn is said to have told a BSO Officer it was too bad he came here because they [BSO] is on their way out…It is said that one public speaker was told by VM McIntee that he could put together and run a LBTS police dept…..It is on the record that the TM was all for the updates for the BSO quarters per the Colonel at the special meeting…and it is curious as to where the $284,000 is and what it will be used for…..

This writer has sent in a public records request to see if any of the “YOU HAVE TO” contacts to the state have been initiated…per the Vice Mayor’s above comments…..or maybe he was actually  “loading the bases”…. in this “ballgame”?….We shall see…

Note to UOT /BSO supporters…better get those referendums ready…and have your petition gatherers ready to go door to door if referendum items are voted on “Gang of 3”- 2…right after we return next month….for the Mc-Furth 33 feet(yet again)/ Silverstone selling of properties…and maybe a referendum for police and FIRE… for as you can see this “plan” has been in the works for over 2 years….YIKES!…

What should also be on the referendum…Ethics- “2-Hats”/ Bond issues…for infrastructure/ purchasing as well as selling properties/ 15 stories in the north end of town/ 44 feet…NOT 33  feet in the south…

more to come….

Tags: BSO police, Chief Scott Gooding, Comm. Silverstone, LBTS police department, local government, Local Politics, Mayor Oliver Parker, Pompanoe Police dept. Forth lauderdale Police Dept., Scoops, Vice Mayor Jerry McIntee, Vice Mayor John Yanni
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“2 HATS” UNDER PRESSURE….

Dear Readers….If there is any doubt as to why this writer will keep up the pressure to rectify the situation we find ourselves in with the current majority on the Commission and the current Administration…a look at the minutes from Jan. 9, 2007 is just one of many glaring reasons why the hypocritical “2 Hats” must be swept out in March 2010…In this post first the past minutes then the last Commission meeting…

THAT WAS THEN…..JANUARY 9, 2007…

page 23…New Bus. item 14 C. Discussion and/or action pertaining to procedures for public comments and Commissioner comments (Mayor Pro Tem Clark)…

Here’s the highlights…….. Comm. Clark brought this up because he felt the Town’s ability to do business “has been severely impaired by the way public and the commissioner comments are applied at Town meetings”…He wanted to cut down the time from 1 -1 1/2hrs. to 30 min. ….Mayor Parker had to stop Comm. Clark because the audience (CIC -2-Hat supporters/ full disclosure including this writer …still under the Kool-aid at the time) were “chuckling…breaking “decorum” …Comm. McIntee stated Mayor Parker was running a “Kangaroo Court”…Mayor Parker said Comm. McIntee needed to learn decorum…Comm. Clark said his plan “would prevent any group from stacking the deck”…He also wanted only residents/taxpayers to be allowed to speak..3 mins/no personal attacks from the dais or the podium…the leftover speakers would be able to speak at the end of the meeting…Comm. Clark wanted Comm. comments moved to the end as well with a 5 minute time limit…Comm. Clark made that motion..Mayor Parker 2nd it…THEN…

“COMMISSIONER SILVERSTONE REMARKED THAT HE FELT LIKE HE WAS HAVING A BAD DREAM AND THAT THE PROPOSED PROCEDURAL CHANGE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM IF THERE WAS NOT SO MUCH MISTRUST AND MISCOMMUNICATION, THUS THE TOWN’S PROBLEMS WEREN’T GOING TO GO AWAY BY MAKING THIS ACTION “…He did not think the meeting would be less in time…”COMMISSIONER SILVERSTONE SAID THE MOTION WAS A SLAP IN HIS FACE AS AN AMERICAN.”

“COMMISSIONER MCINTEE DECLARED THIS MOTION A DISGRACE AND A REFLECTION OF THE FACT THAT MAYOR PARKER, VICE MAYOR YANNI AND MAYOR PRO TEM CLARK COULD NOT STAND THE HEAT. ‘

” COMMISSIONER MCINTEE ARGUED THE TOWN’S PEOPLE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND CALL THE COMMISSION ANYTHING THEY WANT.”

“HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THIS MOTION VIOLATED THESE PEOPLE’S RIGHT.”

“COMMISSIONER MCINTEE CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT MAYOR PARKER WAS AN EVIL PERSON AND THAT HIS MOTION WAS WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.”

Mayor Parker reprimanded McIntee and reminded him “there were no personal attacks allowed”

“COMMISSIONER MCINTEE CONTINUED BY SAYING THAT IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AND BE HEARD.”…”He admonished the members of the Comm. that were retired army majors and lawyers by saying “SHAME.”

Comm. Silverstone said he hoped he wasn’t wasting his time by trying to talk to the other Comms….that “he might change his mind by something that was said”..and hoped the other Comm. would do the same.

“COMMISSIONER MCINTEE APOLOGIZED TO MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE FOR THE DAIS AND THE WAY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WERE USING THEIR AUTHORITY TO ABUSE THE TOWNSPEOPLE’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND STATED THINGS LIKE THIS ONLY HAPPENED IN TOTALITARIAN REGIMES.”

“HE LAMENTED THAT THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS MOTION WERE NOT EVEN GOING TO HAVE THE COMMON COURTESY TO LET THOSE WHO CAME TO SPEAK HAVE THEIR LAST HURRAH.”

Comm. Clark said Comm. McIntee was the one that was “evil”, Mayor Parker said both Comms. were out of line…no personal attacks.

“COMMISSIONER MCINTEE EMPHASIZED HE THOUGHT MAYOR PARKER WAS TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE BUT THE TOWNSPEOPLE. …He went on to say that’s why there was a recall and made accusations against the majority on the dais meeting at Aruba’s to decide their roles on the dais and “work it out to screw the two new guys.”…Parker, Clark and Yanni said that was a lie…It then veered off into ethics / conflict of interest and the following statements by Vice Mayor Yanni…

“Vice Mayor Yanni remarked that ever since they’ve [McIntee/Silverstone] the Town’s done nothing but argue and fight, but that it was time to put that aside and pursue the business of the Town. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CIC WAS NOT THE ENTIRE TOWN AND HE HEARD CRISTIE FURTH SAY “OH WE GOT THE TOWN WHERE WE WANT THEM RIGHT NOW.” He encouraged the people in favor of moving on to speak up and express their feelings about the Town and the commissioners who are doing this recalling and backstabbing and lying with the paper.”

Mayor Parker admonished the Editor of the By The Sea Times  and a vote was called for …it was 4-1 McIntee dissenting…Silverstone voted yes to be able to bring it up for reconsideration…

full text….http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/arc-meetings.htm

THIS IS NOW….July 28, 2009….

Previous post “Prop again DUH!” 8/3/09 scoops cat…. has the exchange from New Bus. item 16 D. where the VM goes after freedom of speech…below are some more statements made by the same “2-Hat” that spoke on Jan 9, 2009….

Comm. Silverstone ” I have a problem with the, the people abusing the right to speak up here. I think we should give 3 minutes period. However they want to use that 3 minutes is up to them because we’re, we’re as a comment was made earlier [by his Fiancee’ prev. post] the Town’s not getting anything done here and it’s getting out of hand and it’s just being used for political agendas and um, it’s affecting the way we’re operating here. It’s getting really embarrassing and out of control and I yield.”

Vice Mayor McIntee ” Um, it’s being abused ah, by one woman in this room presently [this writer] ah, last meeting she was up 5 times and took 18 minutes. I timed it.”

BC- I timed it..I was up for 2nd reading 3 min/ VM Drainage 2 min./ RFP 2 min./ Banners 1 min./ Monument less than 1 min. total 8+ mins….the VM in his Comm. Comments 13 mins./ this writer thought the Comm. allowed all to speak only once on 1 item. no limit on topics. from an earlier round table decision etc…

VM- ” That’s just an abuse if, if it’s election time coming up anybody runs for election can come up on every item it’s off the wall, it’s lost control, the, the Mayor has lost control of the meeting by allowing this to happen.” He went on to say he recalled only one item if not public comments and only 3 minutes…Comm. Dodd agreed with his recollection…

VM- ” I agree with that and it’s been abused completely and the Mayor let it happen time and time again and it’s wrong and it’s one of the reasons meetings have been 6 and 7 hours.”

BC- Willing to bet that a check of the past meetings will show the largest user of time …is the Vice Mayor!….

VM- ” Another problem we have are people coming after the signature sign in sheets are done. They’re taken up by Nikki, she placed them and people are handing her names. That’s wrong.”

The Mayor asked for a point of information to see if that has happened…Nikki said it had…The Town Manger inaudibly spoke about it and the Mayor said she needed to check saying “I wanted to make sure that the truth , that the Vice Mayor is saying something that is factual.”

VM- ” You, you calling me a liar Mayor?”

Mayor- “You tend to bend the truth at times.”

VM- ‘ You tend to go in directions that aren’t always in the right like running these meetings and getting out of control.”

The Manager said it occurred…Nikki affirmed it and said it need not go any further…

BC- at public comments Cristie Furth brought up the previous decision made in 2007…saying this commission had made a concerted effort to make it better…She said “the pendulum has swung”…BUT…should that matter?….

June 9, 2009…public comments Cristie Furth ” felt the audience was controlling the meetings and should be controlled by the Mayor as presiding officer….

The Vice Mayor then went on to his “Gestapo and Nazi members and Storm troopers” diatribe…adding “that’s over the line, that’s decorum. As as a sitting Mayor you have an obligation to control the decorum that’s, that’s not freedom of speech that’s losing the decorum of a meeting and to say somebody up here is a Storm trooper and a Nazi…”…

The Mayor said the Town Atty. wanted to speak…but the Vice Mayor was not done…He went on to speak of a business owner speaking against a “resident” (prev. scoops post Achilles Heel”…going on about all the 2009 imposed rules…no names no personal attacks…

The Town Attorney addressed the freedom of speech issue…with pubic comments…allowing for public to speak at public hearings ..(1st/2nd readings/ Quasi Judicial)…The Vice Mayor was not backing down…

VM- ” And when the Mayor sits there and let that happen and said nothing I was upset. But she let it go on and on and on and that was a step that lost it and complete decorum and any respect I had for the Mayor right there.

The Mayor said the Vice Mayor was “the last person I want to have respect from.”

The Vice Mayor said “well that’s fine Mayor but this is business to run”

The Mayor wanted to move on…but the Vice mayor still wanted a vote and to address whether those who spoke would need to state their addresses…

The Mayor said she could not make that motion…”I don’t make motions Vice Mayor, you do.”

BC- The Mayor could not make a motion…Why?  Because the 2- Hat Commissioners and the candidates decided “we’ll work it out and screw the new Mayor by not allowing her to make motions and not allowing the Town Attorney to sit next to her”…

The Vice Mayor made the motion and Comm. Silverstone 2nd it…it passed “Gang of 3″ -2…

In 2009…Vice Mayor McIntee, Commissioner Silverstone and Commissioner Clottey …”.COULD NOT STAND THE HEAT”. ….It’s time for them to go…

more to come….

Tags: Comm. Silverstone, Commissioner Clark, Commissioner Yanni, freedom of speech, local government, Local Politics, Mayor Parker, public comments, Scoops, Vice Mayor McIntee
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