Small Town charm
Lake Worth, Florida
A petition in Maryland just got turned down by the elections board--not written clearly enough. This one, however, was written by developers for developers!
Their referendum drive involved a number of properties, including Green Spring Station in Lutherville, where the owners hoped a voter challenge could overturn a zoning decision that limited their ability to expand and renovate. Some community groups criticized the petition drive, saying that promoters misled voters to protect their own economic interests and that paid signature gatherers lied to residents when asking them to sign petitions at shopping centers and other public places.
That's life in the big city.
Come on down to Lake Worth where opponents of Respectful Planning Pac tried every means available to thwart the petition on the downtown heights issue (they even told people the volunteers lied and used funky drawings depicting tall buildings!) but RPPac's petition was well written and gave voters a lot of information.
Now opponents are being disrespectful and telling people that the merchants say they have lost business because we don't have a hotel that is opened. Of course it had nothing to do with the recession/depression that we were in, right? If merchants aren't making money now it is because they don't have a product that the consumer wants to buy.
As opponents are getting out propaganda via the city staff and city boards, if anyone needs facts on the ballot initiative or if you would like a yard sign, call someone in the PAC.
See ya on March 12. Vote YES on 2.
8 comments:
Are Greg and Loretta going to give up their seats on the P&Z and Historical boards because of conflict of intrest issues?
WHO MUST FILE FORM 8B
This form is for use by any person serving at the county, city, or other local level of government on an appointed or elected board, council,
commission, authority, or committee. It applies equally to members of advisory and non-advisory bodies who are presented with a voting
conflict of interest under Section 112.3143, Florida Statutes.
Your responsibilities under the law when faced with voting on a measure in which you have a conflict of interest will vary greatly depending
on whether you hold an elective or appointive position. For this reason, please pay close attention to the instructions on this form before
completing the reverse side and filing the form.
8-B - Memorandum of Voting Conflict:
http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/forms/form8b_2000.PDF
Ethics Forms:
http://www.palmbeachcountyethics.com/forms.htm
"IF YOU INTEND TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT WHICH THE VOTE WILL BE
TAKEN:"
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 112.3143, FLORIDA STATUTES
A person holding elective or appointive county, municipal, or other local public office MUST ABSTAIN from voting on a measure which
inures to his or her special private gain or loss. Each elected or appointed local officer also is prohibited from knowingly voting on a measure which inures to the special gain or loss of a principal (other than a government agency) by whom he or she is retained (including the
parent organization or subsidiary of a corporate principal by which he or she is retained); to the special private gain or loss of a relative; or
to the special private gain or loss of a business associate. Commissioners of community redevelopment agencies under Sec. 163.356 or 163.357, F.S., and officers of independent special tax districts elected on a one-acre, one-vote basis are not prohibited from voting in that capacity.
For purposes of this law, a “relative” includes only the officer’s father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, father-in-law,
mother-in-law, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law. A “business associate” means any person or entity engaged in or carrying on a business
enterprise with the officer as a partner, joint venturer, coowner of property, or corporate shareholder (where the shares of the corporation
are not listed on any national or regional stock exchange).
APPOINTED OFFICERS:
Although you must abstain from voting in the situations described above, you otherwise may participate in these matters. However, you must disclose the nature of the conflict before making any attempt to influence the decision, whether orally or in writing and whether made
by you or at your direction.
IF YOU INTEND TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT WHICH THE VOTE WILL BE
TAKEN:
• You must complete and file this form (before making any attempt to influence the decision) with the person responsible for recording the
minutes of the meeting, who will incorporate the form in the minutes. APPOINTED OFFICERS (continued)
• A copy of the form must be provided immediately to the other members of the agency.
• The form must be read publicly at the next meeting after the form is filed.
IF YOU MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION EXCEPT BY DISCUSSION AT THE MEETING:
• You must disclose orally the nature of your conflict in the measure before participating.
• You must complete the form and file it within 15 days after the vote occurs with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the
meeting, who must incorporate the form in the minutes. A copy of the form must be provided immediately to the other members of the
agency, and the form must be read publicly at the next meeting after the form is filed.
NOTICE: UNDER PROVISIONS OF FLORIDA STATUTES §112.317, A FAILURE TO MAKE ANY REQUIRED DISCLOSURE
CONSTITUTES GROUNDS FOR AND MAY BE PUNISHED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: IMPEACHMENT,
REMOVAL OR SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, DEMOTION, REDUCTION IN SALARY, REPRIMAND, OR A
CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $10,000.
Suzanne,
Instead of posting the whole conflict ordinance, please point out how exactly Greg or Loretta directly benefit from opposing a change to the charter. Greg lives in the sliver of land covered by the proposal and he owns a commercial property in the same sliver. He also owns property outside the sliver that will not be affected by the charter change and therefore will immediately build a 10 story building on the lot as soon as the vote is counted.
But how do they benefit "directly" from their actions as private citizens opposing an anti-business charter change?
I almost did NOT post the above comment as it is a false allegation. NO one in the RRPac is anti-business nor is anyone who wants to keep our downtown small. Please refrain from false propaganda here.
Very happy to see that anon at 11 knows that the Charter Amendment is going to pass so that our historic downtown will be protected from more Lucernes.
Funny. We're pro-four story businesses!
IMHO Ethics can't be taught to an adult - it's learned as a child. By them sitting on a board that is giving advice to the commissioners and forming a PAC against w/no petitions is the problem. How can they possibly vote for the people unbiased when they have admitted by the PAC formation they think differently. I also don't care if they own or sell a toothpick in the area - they are not ethical in voting and should abstain if only to avoid the appearance of wrong doing. That YOU and They don't get that is why IMHO ethics can't be taught to an adult.
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