Be a witness in your community

Wide eyed it will be when Lynda takes her new seat as
Alternate #2 on P&Z

The best statement last night was from Mark Parilla, an applicant for the P&Z when he was asked why he wanted to be a Board member. His mother was an activist in New York City and she also taught him early on that you must “be a witness in your community.” I think this statement says it all. If you don’t involve yourself, you have no idea what your government is doing and you deserve what happens.

Commissioner Mulvehill said that while she was out campaigning that many people mentioned the idea of separating the Planning and Zoning board and the Historic Resources Preservation Board. Some people believe that it is a conflict of interest. Mayor Clemens questioned this and gave a comparison saying that no one has ever asked him about going to Palm Beach County for water. Mayor, I want to let you know that most people are not witnesses in their community. Mr. Parilla brought that to our attention last night. Through the past several years I have heard the complaint from one faction in this city that it is always “the same people who show up for meetings.” I say, thank God for them.

Last night’s appointments went as predicted for the most part. Lynda Mahoney, the clear favorite coming into the interview process, was the top choice of Jennings, Golden and Mulvehill. No surprise here. Rene Varela was in the top two of all candidates but not mentioned by Mulvehill to whom he threw all his support in the run-off election. He was Lowe’s top choice for P&Z. Lynda has suggested building the casino down on A1A which would mean demolition of the present building and therefore against Commissioner Mulvehill’s vision of restoration and saving our beach’s present footprint that has been there since 1922 and save our zoning from going commercial. Perhaps this was worked out before Mulvehill endorsed her for the Board, perhaps not, as Lynda was her Campaign Treasurer. Lynda has a keen interest in our City and will do her homework while on P&Z. She advocates for much of the same as the majority Commission.

There were two applicants for the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals that required the applicant to be an engineer. One was Carmelo Giglio, a highly qualified structural engineer and general contractor and a 7 year resident of Lake Worth. The other applicant was Lynda’s husband, Ryan Paplow, a mechanical engineer with good qualifications, and was not the strongest applicant of the two according to the Mayor. Ryan was appointed. The majority Commission used some weak excuses for not appointing Carmelo Giglio-- not appreciating our Building Official writing a letter of recommendation for Mr. Giglio and since he was a general contractor on top of all his other qualifications, wondered if he would be able to confront our building official if he felt that he had made a wrong decision. This is all politics and that is what Board appointments are.

An astute applicant for the City Recreation Advisory Board was not chosen with Mayor Clemens wondering how, with his busy schedule and a nursing student, he would find the time to be on this Board. He is the Vice President of the College Democrats for the State of Florida, a member of the NAACP and either is or was an aide to Mary Brandenburg...so was the Mayor, if you recall. The other objection was that he was only a resident here for two months. He was highly qualified and would have been an asset on any Board. If you are going to have the length of your residency held against you in order to become a volunteer Board member, then it should be part of the requirement and on the application form. Also, do people really apply for Boards if they are not going to devote the time? The applicant is young and has the vitality and enthusiasm plus the brains. Let’s stop wasting people’s time.

A new Community Relations Board was discussed that would interact with the resident’s concerns on police, code, etc. Commissioner Jennings brought up the fact that we have racial problems within our city. I totally disagree with that statement. What we have is a problem with illegals in this city, crime and blight with some leftist liberals twisting that to mean we have racial problems. They are going to talk further about a Sister City Board, Community Relations and Golf Board.

The only question I had coming away from the meeting was, do you have to place anyone on a Board if you feel none of the applicants are really qualified? The only thought I had was, don't apply to Boards where there are political favors to fulfill. Your chance of getting appointed is slim to none.