Pay to Play Alive and Well in Lake Worth?

Former Chief, Paul Blockson

Our former Fire Chief kept asking me, “Now, don’t you think that is political” every time Commissioner Mulvehill or Commissioner Jennings stated an opinion that he did not want to hear. My answer, “No, Scott Maxwell is being political.” I stated in a public meeting last year that Chief Blockson was my favorite employee so my opinion is objective. I think very highly of the Chief and he is an honorable man. But this is all about business, and his Union made a mistake, pure and simple.

Usually when you make a mistake in business, it costs you but we don't treat this City like a business. Will we ever? After tonight, I am absolutely convinced that the answer is “no.” As much as the City Manager tried to make a sound business decision, the political climate forced the issue. When will the city manager ever be allowed to do her job?

The Firefighter’s Union was heading to an Arbitration tomorrow and gave the City an “opportunity” to avoid an expense of $10-$15,000 for an arbitration hearing. They call for an arbitration, why do we pay? The Union blamed the City for the Memo of Understanding never being a part of the Contract when it merged with the County regarding sick leave benefits that amounted to $43,000. Even though former Chief Blockson gave testimony that these benefits had been reduced to 25% of the total and it was the Union’s intent to include it in the Contract, the fact remains that it was never included or part of the Contract.

The MOU was signed by the former Chief, Paul Blockson, and was never brought to the Commission for approval. The Union failed to bring it to the Commission. Mark Bates, the then Finance Director for the City, failed to bring it to the Commission. Perhaps the Intent was there as the Union said but Bates' signature was crossed off the MOU which gives me the impression that he did not approve it and never intended for the Commission to even consider it because sick benefits are only paid out under certain circumstances. The Commission is the body that approves any expenditure over $15,000 and it must be brought forward by Staff. Now, two months after the merger, the Union demanded that the City pay them the $43,000.

This situation has nothing to do with keeping good relations with former firefighters or how much we all like Paul Blockson. It should have nothing to do with goodwill. This has nothing to do with personalities. This has everything to do with the fact that the Union presented a document that is not legally binding—that was based on verbal representations and approved by people not in authority to do so and never brought to the Commission—it was NEVER APPROVED and failed to be a part of the deal. This is all about doing the right thing with taxpayer money. This is about running a business, not a charity.

If this had gone to arbitration, the City, in my opinion, would have won, but the political vote of 3 to 2 decided its fate by three Commissioners who received campaign donations from the Firefighter’s Union who basically should have recused themselves from this vote or at least made a disclosure right before the vote. This is a matter of ethics.

The pay to play, if that's what it was, paid off.