What is the Point?

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It is obvious and real now. Susan Stanton wants to outsource our City. She also wants to take away power from the City Commission. She said so last night. And she did. The Commission is allowing this to happen. Decisions are made before they get to the city chamber room—before we get to hear what led up to these decisions. She has totally indoctrinated the Commission. And I worry that Elaine will not be independent either when all is said and done. That was my only fear about Elaine becoming City attorney.

Stanton doesn’t even think that the Commission is smart enough to read contracts. She says that she is, and she is the one to sign them. Indirectly she was saying, don’t worry about contracts. You pay me to do this job. Fairly soon, we will no longer need a city commission.

Compass went directly to the City Manager to get a new lease and to get $600,000 from residents to pay for their refurbishing that went over their budget due to our last building inspector who found all sorts of problems in the building. That was Compass’ problem actually. I feel sorry for them but that is the business risk one takes. They knew all of that going in for $1,000 a year lease in an old building. But instead of making a presentation to the Commission, in the sunshine, all of this was done with the City Manager who had staff out there looking for a bank loan and Elaine to draw up another Lease. I hope that we are protected because Compass can get out of the lease just by simple default. Then we are stuck with a $600,000 loan on a building designed for them that would not work for anyone else. I did not stay for this segment but I can only imagine how it turned out. We, the citizens, always pay.

Why are we a city? We continue to outsource. We tried to give our beach away to a flim flam man. We gave away our police. We gave away our Fire. We have brought our Code Department to its knees.

The decision to outsource our building and planning was made in May, soon after Ms. Stanton’s arrival. What provoked this decision? Is it really a cost savings? Will it be more efficient? Ms. Stanton said last night that she plans on hiring someone but for any extras that we might need, she will pull them in from Boynton Beach and pay by the hour.

The questions that need to be asked in all cases here is why can’t the City of Lake Worth do the job? Why can Greenacres, a city that is comparable to ours minus a Utility company, manage to do it better? Have you see what the planners have done to Boynton and Delray Beach? This is the City where Gold Coast Builders hangs out and you want them to be involved in planning in our city? Hire the right people. Is there any reason for Lake Worth taxpayers to pay a millage of 8.78 mils when you have eliminated or outsourced the trolley, the police, the fire, the museum, and you have raised every fee imaginable for everything? Why does it take so long to get an Audit? Why did the City manager fire him? Why is our city in such a mess? What exactly are we getting for this tax other than the privilege to pay it?

They have increased our electric rates to generate over $2 mil in the coming year and the same thing will occur next year. Waste and stormwater—UP. Solid waste—UP. Recreation fees – UP. Potable water—UP. Irrigation water—UP. They are giving control of our Lake Worth beach to Palm Beach County for 30 years.

What is the point? Fairly soon there won't be too many reasons left to remain a City.