Last night's City Commission Meeting Lake Worth

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Last night’s meeting was a long one. I left at 11pm before the commission liaison reports.

Mayor Varela conducted a good meeting and was sharp and articulate. Commissioner Maxwell showed restraint last night as well as his humor. When it came to the Labor Center being closed, Commissioner McVoy brought up that a few business owners were worried that now illegals would be hanging on the streets once again and we should consider that fact. No, Commissioner McVoy, the immigrants have ALWAYS been hanging on the streets plus they have totally destroyed our property at the shuffleboard courts. It was then asked where would they relocate and no one knew. Maxwell reminded them that wherever they moved, it would not be allowed by zoning.

Throughout the night, even though Mayor Varela read the wordage on the back of the comment card regarding outbursts, clapping, sneers, and name calling, the chatter continued off and on throughout the entire meeting, all coming from the back row. It was distracting on many occasions. I guess the Mayor didn't notice because he never called order in the Chamber. Some of the comments from the residents were loud and mean spirited—politics—with former candidate for Mayor, Loretta Sharpe, stating that no one on the dais listens to her anyway. We all feel that way at times. There are very few agenda items that are not already pre-decided by the Commission. What we think has no bearing, not really.

Upping the salary for the Commission fell on political ears. Not one commissioner was going to agree that they deserved more money than 100% less than poverty wage for their untold services to our community. Varela, in fact, is still trying to work out the details about taking 10% less than his $15,400 a year. This is a political hot potato and I can well understand their reluctance to even admit that they are underpaid especially when a citizen, Peter Timm, believes they should take NO salary at all. It is up to them if they want to be martyrs.

A marketing and re-branding Task Force was approved that will include four members from the list who were suggested by Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill with each commissioner and Mayor being allowed to choose or recommend one member for the Task Force. Commissioner McVoy thought a task force with 7 members was more doable than 9. Maxwell wanted this board to have staff support. This will be brought back on January 18. This will be a voluntary board that is a necessity to get ready for our Millennium.

Rene Varela, saying that he wants our city to have a voice, asked that his Mayoral Conference trip to Washington DC be approved. He stated that even though he would be leaving after his term, he was “still the mayor.” He assured the rest of the body that he would have a full report upon his return. This is a precedent that should be followed by any commissioner who takes a trip on the taxpayer’s dime. Commissioner McVoy stated that even the South Florida Water Management where he works has ended all trips of this nature because of State budget constraints...if they go on trips, they pay out of pocket. I would have liked to have seen the commission take a much more forceful approach on this expenditure and voted it down along with all future travel of any kind. It was not to be. On a 3 to 2 vote with Mulvehill and McVoy dissenting, it passed. The 3 to 2 dais, that many times is a false perception, had a slight twist when Golden supported the Mayor’s trip. Politics again? Perhaps Golden will be running again afterall.

Rene Varela brought up the Lease at the CDC—it was allowed to lapse and Maxwell wants a full report from the City Manager on this and all leases in the city. Jo-Ann recused herself from the vote as she is a volunteer at the CDC. The public got to speak and one resident who was seated in the back row loudly accused Jo-Anne Golden of knowing this Lease had expired and that it was “illegal.” Perhaps there is some Ordinance regarding this but when any lease expires, the tenant goes on a month to month at the same terms as the expired lease. Under normal circumstances, there is nothing whatsoever illegal about this. Again, a resident playing politics.