Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Poor Decisions Cost Us All

Comment Up

Always talking about wasting money, even going so far as to vote nay on the Budget, Scott Maxwell originally voted for the architectural and engineering work on our city owned building located at 110 North F Street formerly occupied by The Department of Health. The goal was to use it for Utility Customer Service, Community Development, Code Enforcement, Planning & Zoning and Preservation Divisions.

In fact, it was he that made the motion back on June 21, 2011 --"I move to approve the transfer of $11,000 from the Project UT-EL 1112 to Project UT-EL 1010 and approve architectural/engineering services work order CPH Engineers, Inc. for design of Customer service and Building Department facilities at 110 North F street for an amount not to exceed $81,000," said Scott Maxwell.

With $40,000 already spent on this renovation and on his directive, last night he capitulated to the TRNA neighborhood that was up in arms over off-street parking that might be used by 40 employees expected to work at the facility as well as possibly causing traffic congestion. He did ask, "When we designed the building, why didn't we think about parking then?" Why didn't the Vice Mayor ask all those sticky, pesky questions 9 months ago BEFORE we spent $40,000? Where was the neighborhood then?

Last night Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso burned the $40,000.00 already spent by voting NO. It might even be more money than that as Waters did not come back with a definitive figure when asked. He said $40 but was not given the chance to come back with the exact dollars spent as the Mayor went on to a new question. As the project was originally $81,000 and they came back last night for $25,000, you have to wonder.

Now what? William Waters says the project will now be abandoned. What do we have? A totally gutted building.

The Commission can vote to break our Ordinances and give waivers to every Tom and Dick who asks, no problem. They can vote to put professionals on the Planning & Zoning Board, the very sort that screwed up our city only a short time ago; they can forget what was said at a joint meeting; they can rip up convenient parking at our beach, and the list goes on. And now they can burn money at the drop of a hat.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Similar to the best commission ever and the best city manager ever spending over $100k for a couple of corrupt, rigged reports recommending the city get rid of PBSO and PBCFR?
Are you talking about that kind of waste?
At least the "so much better than the last commission" listened to "the people". You must have forgotten how the best commission ever refused to listen to residents that begged for them not to put the illegal center at the shuffleboard courts. Or the $250k they wasted on refurbishing that building for the illegals. Or the unilateral decision to close the shuffleboard courts down.
Must be great to have selective memory.

Lynn Anderson said...

Mark of facsimile--
I posted your comment minus the last sentence. You just can't seem to stay cordial.
First of all, to answer you, I have written against The Mentoring Center at least 50 times. Where have you been? Is this the "selective" memory of which you write? I have also written against leasing the old Senior Center to Compass. I was against borrowing money to loan to them. (I have been against many commission decisions--not just this one.
For some reason, you are so enamored with this trio that your memory is fading.
I will continue to write out against bad decisions no matter what commission it might be.
Thanks for your continued interest.
L

P.S. I 100% believe in professional reports. They are at our disposal so that misinformed commissions can't make lousy decisions unless they do that purposely.

Anonymous said...

but, but, but, but, isn't it this commission that is looking to save the taxpayers money?

Anonymous said...

Lynn, You know there's a secret plan for that building that only a select few are privy to....not me, not you.

Anonymous said...

LOLOL. Of course, if the commission does what I want, then they listened to residents. If they don't do what I want, then they ignored residents. Because all of us residents agree with Mr Mark, isn't that so?!
What a joke. This commission (and especially Maxwell) is so afraid to make a decision it is downright comical.
"Can we just protect the ball?" Can we hunker down? Retreat? Pull back? These are a few of Maxwell's favorite things. He's a pastey white Allen West. All blow, no go. He acts like he's all about doing something, but when you look at his record, he's done nothing but ride coattails and vote no.
Firing Stanton was just to douse his flaming ego, she exposed his ignorance over and over to amuse herself. He is an easy target for that type of sport. It was really not a positive action, just cheapshot retaliation. He was an unarmed man in a battle of wits, and she knifed him good and often.
The least they could have done was get someone only marginally less intelligent/effective/competent than Stanton, instead of Opie from Lantany. Lake Worth becomes a training ground again. The city can go to hell (BTW, does anyone love Lantana?? huh??) but golly, the employees will really like him. Great. What a waste.

Lynn Anderson said...

Your comment would have been fine if it were not for the Allen West comparable. There is no comparable here when you consider Lake Worth and a Congressman for the United states of America who is looking to reduce spending, waste and have a balanced budget.

Anonymous said...

Wow, anon. 4:26 really hit it on the head! Please give us more..........

Anonymous said...

The decision was to not approve an additional $25,000 for revising the building drawings to include a full building generator and a 1,900 square foot addition. The current architectural drawing for the building on its current footprint can still be utilized so that money was not wasted. The City has already done interior demolition at the site so work could move forward if another City department were to utilize the space.