CRA Board Membership Requirements

I asked Emily Theodossakos, Project Coordinator of the Lake Worth CRA to give me the membership requirement to be a Board member. My understanding of it was wrong and I have posted the Statute below.

Lisa Wilson of The Mentoring Center did not show last night for her interview nor could she be reached by telephone. Trust me when I say the Commission tried many times to reach her on many different telephone numbers. The Commission bent over backwards for Ms. Wilson and went to a ridiculous effort to reach her. I have never seen such a diligent effort to reach an applicant. Would the Commission have gone out of its way to be so accommodating to any other applicant who did not show? I think the answer is obvious. Her possible nomination to the CRA Board is highly unlikely at this point unless, of course, politics plays a big role.

I have always been against interviews when the applicant is not there in person. You don't interview for a job in "the real world" that way nor should you interview for a Board position, especially for a CRA that is control of so much money. Telephone interviews are not effective as we witnessed last night with Karri Casper's telephone interview.

Most all of the applicants for the CRA were outstanding but our City Commission will not allow itself to get over personalities...some of whom are vocally advocating their defeat this November. And when it comes right down to it, why should they not take this into consideration when appointing Board members? Boards are, afterall, political and you want to at least appoint people who like you.

The vote was not taken for CRA membership last night and will be conducted at the end of tonight's interviews for The Tree Board, the Community Relations Board, Historic Resources Preservation Board, and the Planning and Zoning Board. Look for another late night.

Here is the wordage from Florida Statutes:
The powers of a community redevelopment agency shall be exercised by the commissioners thereof. A majority of the commissioners constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business and exercising the powers of the agency and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the agency upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case the bylaws require a larger number. Any person may be appointed as commissioner if he or she resides or is engaged in business, which means owning a business, practicing a profession, or performing a service for compensation, or serving as an officer or director of a corporation or other business entity so engaged, within the area of operation of the agency, which shall be coterminous with the area of operation of the county or municipality, and is otherwise eligible for such appointment under this part.

From the State Statute…Florida Statutes