Lake Worth Finance Advisory Board - pulling teeth

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The Finance Advisory Board meets tomorrow to discuss the joint meeting it had with the City Commission on March 8 as to its goals and objectives. Although the joint meeting was cordial, the message from the Commission was clear to whomever cared to listen--Find new sources of revenue and lower Utility bills. Nothing was said about scrutinizing each line on the Budget, something we all thought would be the goal from the beginning.

Without an audit of the Utility, NO one knows what in the heck is going on there. NO one knows if we are paying too much for anything but we do know that through the years Commissions approve everything coming out of that Department. It is our biggest department; it generates the most expense and the most revenue. Laurel Decker has said for nearly a year now that the Utility would be her desired focus. It all has been one big stall from Staff and in my opinion, the FAB will never be allowed to get close to the Utility.

Chair Exline has said on several occasions that the FAB is there to do the will of the Commission but the Commission is still unsure as to what it wants from the FAB. If they come up with something that might stick, then great. They were even told not to pursue certain issues such as selling the Utility. This is a big mistake. All options should be on the table. When speaking with Exline, he agreed.

Without staff resources and data to complete its analysis in order for the FAB to give recommendations, nothing with the FAB will change. Now that it has its 3rd liaison, Ed Fry, who has learned the trick of feigning by claiming he is a "new employee," that status quo will be maintained. Teeth pulling will continue until the city manager gets a 100% "rubber stamped" Board that demands little.

Treated like a poor step-child from inception, the FAB has yet to get public notice of its meetings in the Palm Beach Post which bears no cost. Meetings are not publicly broadcast and Minutes are not on the Lake Worth web site.

Some on the Board want to meet every day it seems while the Chair wants to meet when they have some meat and potatoes. Goals should be discussed on Tuesday and agreed and assignments given or volunteered and the Board should set a time to come back when it has some results or ideas. They should make it clear that they want reasonable requests fulfilled by Staff with all requests coming from the Chair. This Board is becoming more and more like the Electric Utility Task Force...ineffective from no fault of their own.

All terms on the FAB expire with a July 31 date. So, why then will there be any discussion on elections. Someone went around the Chair to place election positions on the Agenda. The Board was formed in early April 2010. As three positions come up in just a few months with Decker's and Exline's terms expiring, it would be appropriate to have elections after new members have been appointed and let everyone complete his appointed term. Jennifer Marchal, who got a unanimous vote from the Commission when she was appointed, resigned from this Board a few months ago (because of no meat and potatoes) and the FAB has been in no hurry to replace her. The idea was to wait until new members were appointed in June.

There was no reason to even have this on the Agenda unless, of course, someone is 1) playing politics 2) someone wants to vote someone off now because of misfeasance or malfeasance or 3) someone wants to resign now such as the Chair, Vice Chair or the Secretary.

From the City's web site: In June of each year, the City Commission shall conduct an interview meeting with prospective applicants to City Boards and shall select the board members at the meeting, based upon the Commission members ranking of the applicants.