The Full Plate kept the CRA alive

You have to have some protein to go with this Full Plate.

Originally when the Commission made the decision to have this meeting with the possibility of taking it back, I was surprised that they did not at least appoint a new Board first when they had that opportunity. But one hour before the applicants were to arrive for their interviews, the Mayor decided that a 5 minute interview was not long enough and had city staff cancel the interviews. No one understood the real motive behind this as all previous interviews for all other Boards through the years were five minutes at a crack. It was this action that put "taking back the CRA" in motion.

Mayor Clemens was in his top form last night, doing his normal song and dance routine, manipulating the commission at every opportunity and making up stuff. He was Chair of the CRA at one time and has a "love" for it no matter what just like the husband whose wife has cheated on him, "but I still love her." But, it was not he who defeated the motion to dissolve the CRA in its present structure and bring it back under the power of the City Commission with two volunteer members. It was the Twinkie defense--a full plate!

Even Commissioner Lowe sounded on top of her game—wasted money on the Pugh property…wasted money on other things…problem with the CRA and some of its members…not working towards the mission, but when it came right down to it, she said the Commission was being burned out right now—too much on their plates.

Commissioner Jennings had requested that City Manger, Susan Stanton, present the options to the Commission at last night’s meeting. “Do you have them?” she asked. “No,” replied Stanton, “I was too busy.” (Even the City Manager has too much on her plate I guess) “Did you ask the CRA Director to get them?” asked Cara. “NO”, said Stanton. Throughout the entire night, Commissioner Jennings was a shining star. She said it WAS about the money; it was black and white.

Folks, this was an extremely important meeting and all the facts were not in the hands of the Commission to render a decision. This is a Board that is totally independent of the City Commission and can make its decisions in any way it chooses. The City Commission has control over the CRA’s budget only. That is it. And it is POLITICAL, Mayor.

Commissioner Golden was right on when she said that our City was in a disaster and that we need a cohesive Board that will work with the Commission and keep the best interests of the people in the City. Golden asked if the CRA was functioning as it should. “Has it ever?” she asked.

Commissioner Mulvehill wanted something other than black and white. She said that she had a full plate. She wanted to know if there was a way to make the relationship better and wanted the Commission to have more input.

David Tolces, the CRA attorney, was saying as little as possible—wanting to keep his job I guess. He should have told Commissioner Mulvehill the truth. The CRA does not care what you think, Commissioner. The CRA can do what is pleases with the tax money and they don't have to report anything to you.

There were NO options presented by the City Manager as requested by Commissioner Jennings. How can a Commission make a motion based on ….??????? What???? This should have been tabled right then and there.

A few members of the audience showed up and spoke after receiving Mayor Clemens e-mail…like Chip Guthrie owner of the Potty Doctor. He's hoping to apply for a grant one day. Chip, who NEVER comes to a CRA meeting and has NO clue as to what is going on in the City other than his business is down. He said that the CRA has done a “great job.” How does he know that? What have they done? Planted some trees on 6^th Avenue South, a road that you can’t even cross to get to the other side? That cost us $5.8 million dollars. The Pugh property scheme? 10^th Avenue North debacle of $8+ million, who knows? We still have slum and blight all over our city. I watched time and time again with residents taking advantage of a system with their hands out for free money. It is one sickening joke on the people of Lake Worth.

When it comes down to the full plate excuse, you have to realize that it is not the CRA Board members who do all this work. It is the Director and her Staff. The CRA Board reads the back-up, discusses it and then decides on whether or not it is a good or bad idea to spend the money that is recommended. It is not that time consuming. Taking it back would not have added that much more work to their plate.

I don’t think our City Commission did the people of this city a service last night by using the full plate excuse. This much money should be under the control of our elected officials, not appointed citizens because the CRA has not done its job. There has been way too much waste. And the CRA volunteers are not more qualified than the Commission to decide how to spend tax dollars as one resident suggested. We elect our Commission to be accountable. We do not elect the CRA.

Not all is lost. If the CRA does stay under the control of a volunteer board, I would like to see the terms reduced to two years, the same term as a city commissioner. It is either time now to appoint new members to this political Board or Commissioner Mulvehill can bring it back for another vote tonight. That IS the black and white of it.