We just aren't engaged in our city. And it's not often the people's fault. We just plain don't know what's going on and when we do know about a meeting, we have two minutes to let the commission know what's on our mind. The two minute rule started with Jeff Clemens who was supposed to evaluate it after six months and hopefully go back to the way it was, three minutes. That commission liked it so much, they kept it. Why did they like it? Because they don't really have any use for the opinion of the residents they serve and this commission and city manager love the short agenda. They get to leave early, pass all expensive stuff on Consent Agenda, discuss little. At the county level, SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES; however based on the number of Comments by the Public cards received, the Chair may reduce speaking time to 2 MINUTES.
We had Lois Frankel here this past week and she was scheduled at City Hall on Wednesday at 6pm for a discussion on the community. How many people even knew about this meeting? I wouldn't have known she was even in town if she had not been spotted with Scott Maxwell at Callaros. It was on the City Calendar but not posted as a city meeting. Did the city send out any notice of this meeting? Did you get a call from your commissioner?
The city attorney was worried about a possible Sunshine Law violation at the Canvassing board when they were scrutinizing the provisional ballots from this last election. Two people had left the room at the same time. Well, bringing up Sunshine law violations is something we all should worry about. How much is discussed behind closed doors in this city? Is the city manager acting as a conduit when he meets with each commissioner, one on one? How are we to know? It is not a transparent commission (even the Newsletter says nothing) and many people have told me that they never even get a reply to their e-mails from this administration.
So, they don't want to hear what you have to say and go merrily along doing what they want to do...coming up with some Florida Statute to fill their narrative to go against the will of the people. Whose side are they on anyway? Not all the people they represent.
We now can speak to Consent Agenda items some of which total over $2 million as it did a few weeks ago. It took a law to allow the people to speak. And if it weren't for the United States Constitution, we would never have the right of free speech, at least not in this city.
Lewis, Longman & Walker, a Tallahassee law firm/lobbying house and were outside attorneys for the City of Lake Worth sent a memo last year to its many clients advising them of the new law that was effective on October 1 and passed by the Florida Senate on a 40/0 vote with only two dissenters in the House. The memo urged them to make sure they have the right policies on board.
“While the Sunshine Law has long required meetings boards or commissions to be open to the public, the law has not heretofore guaranteed a right to participate. Except for a few limited exceptions, the law expands the Sunshine Law in a manner that guarantees the right the public to be heard at meetings governmental bodies.”Fine and dandy; we now get to speak to something where the commission just wants to spend your money. Little discussion happens on Consent items because we don't understand the item and if we want to know about it, staff doesn't tell us or get back to us in an e-mail prior to the meeting. Consent should be about housekeeping items not items spending tremendous amounts of taxpayer money.
"The law is enforceable by injunction in circuit court and if a court determines that a board or commission took any action in violation of section 286.0114, the court will assess attorney’s fees against the board or commission.”
I received a comment from someone who was irate about my graphics and comments regarding what she feels is a hard and unfair approach to this commission who she believes are nice people and trying to do a good job and I'm just in the way of their mission. Well, her opinion was allowed here as she didn't personally attack this blogger, she only disagreed. However, I must say, that I don't have the same opinion at all and this commission, as shown on Friday night, was all into hearsay and would not allow an opinion that differed from their narrative and goal.
Freedom of speech is not alive and well in Lake Worth and the dais is simply not interested as to why one-half of the voters rejected their plan.
5 comments:
I don't understand why voters here just allowed them to slide into being elected without any opposition.
People, for the most part, are disgusted with the bullying in our city. You enter politics with a lot of ideals and once in, things seem to change. Those people who once wanted to listen, closed their ears and minds to the public. Their "pet" campaign promises were flushed. People are discouraged as they know, without a shadow of any doubt, they will be massacred and desecrated by/with personal attacks as was Rachel Waterman. It's an unsavory "business" and a candidate has to have a tough skin to survive in this city that has unbelievable and unsustainable problems.
Well Lynn no one has tougher skin than you, you should run for office.
Not my schtick...need a big ego or someone not yet jaded by the political system. :)
No Lynn. No big ego needed. Just confidence, and integrity and intelligence. You have all three. We are suffering here. Change is needed. Please consider a run.
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