Photograph by Michael Schor entitled "Behind the Veil"
Secrecy seems to be SOP these days if you consider the ITN. With one on one closed meetings out of the Sunshine with the city commission, City Manager Michael Bornstein said that he arrived at a consensus with each commissioner to remove the shuffleboard courts. The decision to remove our shuffleboard courts did not go before the commission for discussion or a vote. A commission is not allowed to use the city manager or any other staff member as a conduit to circumvent the open meeting law.
The way I see it is, it is the constitutional and statutory right of every citizen to have open and noticed public meetings when official acts are to be taken or at which public business is to be transacted or discussed. Surely bulldozing city property and history is an occasion that merits discussion in a public forum along with a vote.
There are a limited number of exemptions which would allow the city to close a meeting. These include, but are not limited to, certain discussions with the board's attorney over pending litigation and portions of collective bargaining sessions.
Mr. Bornstein says that the CRA has been given the management decisions as to what happens at our shuffleboard Court Building. The lease that was signed between the City and the CRA (October 15, 2013) for this property distinctly says in Article III, Section 3.01 that the premises shall be rehabilitated, converted and used for the establishment and operation of a Community Cultural facility...any alterations to the premises, section 4.03, shall require the prior written approval of the landlord along with the submission of plans and specs. Did we get these? Why was this never brought up at a city commission meeting? If this is a cultural center as mentioned in the lease, why wouldn't shuffle-boarding be considered part of our culture in Lake Worth?
No authorization or written permission to remove the shuffleboard courts was given by the City per the CRA Director. Who exactly is paying for this demolition?
From: Joan Oliva
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2015 10:00 AM
To: Deborah Andrea
Subject: RE: info request
Debbie,
There is no written authority.
Thank you
Joan
This is City Manager Mike Bornstein's reply to my inquiry:
In the presentations made before the Commission by the CRA when they took control of the property, the areas where the shuffling took place was envisioned as space for art activities, display areas, arts markets and/or green markets. Additionally, in the one on one conversations with the Commissioners about this project, removal of the courts for these purposes was consistently discussed. It was also noted that the courts created drainage issues as well as serious trip hazards. The CRA applied for and received a grant, hired the contractor, and the buildings and grounds are being transformed into an Arts Center that will help transform the area into a vibrant Arts District.
As far as white elephant mentality, this is more akin to the fossilized bones of a white elephant. It is interesting that the shuffleboard court paint can still be seen under the parking areas for the Commissioners at City Hall.
Hope this helps. M
The only thing that "helps" here is the candid admission involving an important decision did not come before the people. If this is the case, what would prevent the city manager making all of the decisions behind closed doors? Do we need a commission at all?
17 comments:
I attended both of those charettes and remember that the people wanted to keep at least half of them. At the last meeting, 98 percent of those who attended wanted to keep all of them. That's my memory and it seems like it was a only three years ago now.
do we really have culture in lake worth---if so what is it------culture of addicts-crime-homeless -prostitution---today on new man caught in lake worth high school bathrooms---now thats our culture---bathrooms in bryant park used for prostitution--30 arrested in bryant park months ago----police keeping silent--lynn get that report
My guess is that very few of us really know what's cooking behind the scenes especially Mcvoy and Maiers.
The culture has changed in just a few short years. We got rid of the gangs and gang murders several years back with the help of the FBI who brought the bums up on RICO charges and got them in federal prison. But even the gangs are back and the city is rapidly going to hell. We can live in our own little worlds and ignore what's happening or take some action. Politicians won't do it..they LOVE diversity and all that crap and have no balls to stand up for what's right. What ever happened to Connecting the Dots vice mayor?
When Bornstein went to great lengths at that City Commission meeting to "justify" the secrecy behind the ITN; he himself stated that if there was a "conduit" relaying information between City Commissioners--that conduit WAS SUBJECT to the Sunshine Law. Here again he is placing himself ABOVE THE LAW since he is and has always been the secret conduit. His meetings should be open to scrutiny and the voters.It's obvious that the gang of 3 and the bowtie rehearse and connive how they will act as though business is being conducted in Commission meetings. When the results obviously show glaringly the opposite. Bornstein et.al. conduct city business in the dark, create a cover story (like being more "creative")and hope all is completed before word gets out.(Beach "rumors" and HH, anyone?) He uses OUR lawyers to do his dirty work and fashion an explanation. I am disgusted that they even seem to have coopted the IG's office into being their accomplice. In honest government the IG's office could be called in. Sadly in our state we can't even seem to have the legislature stop gerrymandering while under both Court and Constitutional order. I say we start working right now to get Bornstein and the gang of 3 out of office and return to the rule of law before he compromises all of our assets. Anyone else notice how our City Manager doesn't want to manage anything? E.g. our beach? Pool? WTF is he doing in this job? Maybe trying to get as much dirty stuff accomplished before he is bounced out? Wasn't his recent "International City Managers" trip to secure his next job? He sure is using those new and wonderful ways he learned to "better communicate with the public", huh? We paid for that I'm sure. And we get the same ole screw 'em and keep 'em in the dark. A committed group of citizens can and should put a stop to this nonsense--ELECTION YEAR...:) Thanks, Lynn, for keeping letting a little sun shine on more dirty work in progress.
Why am I not surpised?
This Pirate needs his ship sunk quickly!
How does he wear his pants with such big balls?
Then needing an INTERNATIONAL 'gang' of CM's
to tell him to listen to us is a total joke!
They (city) do what they want when they want and purposely
wear us down in the process - trying to keep up with
the latest dish of BS! I call it 'project shut up' and
it is. Watch any meeting live or audio and see the mayor
freak when another opinion besides hers is expressed!
Geesh! It's a circus more than a republic w/reps allowed
to speak - yes speak into public record OTHER thoughts
and ideas about OUR TOWN!
Yes. And Pam Lopez stopped putting the names of the people who make comments into the record. This will make it more difficult to bring suit against illegal procedures by this administration.
Bornstein is a politician who knows how to count to 3, not at all interested in the welfare of the City or its citizens. When we get rid of one (or 2 or 3) of the 3 pompous, arrogant, uncreative members of this Commission his ability to count to 3 will have no effect on his hanging around collecting an outrageous salary; we pay it and he forgets that we deserve respect and consideration.
Goodbye, and don't let the door hit you on the way out. Play pirate at some kindergarten, not for $135K of our money.
$145 now
You deserve his outrageous conduct,with total inability to create millions of revenue Lake Worth,with Palm Beach Island Oceanfront Beach,has potential for.It takes a C.M.of a certain social level,who knows what Palm Beach Island Oceanfront Commercial properties are worth ,
warrant,when leased honestly.Lake Worth's boarded up abandoned homes,could be made to contribute millions to our General Fund,with a City Manager who has done this before,raise the quality of life, of an Ocean beach front resort Town.Not sneaky corrupt dirty
dealings behind closed doors,of taxpayers.
Taxpayers have no right to complain unless they report all to the Atty.Gen'l,as I have in past,who subsequently ordered the Mayor,of enforcing the ministerial duty.
Suppression of taxpayers,City employees paymasters,names when commenting on issues,is not what she is paid for,illegal,fascist.
Lantana since their incompetent City manager left has the most elegant, bridge to Manalapan, in upper class colors.Is generally cleaned up, all businesses, regenerating, in beautiful Fla. Resort colors.Down Town being rehabbed and re-developed,with vision of the new real City manager.
And I would guess the employees in Lantana now feel valued and secure. the LW employees just want to get out of here. Ask directors and managers what type of employees are now being hired to replace those who are leaving or forced out by CM.
It is ridiculous that the City and/or the CRA would demo those courts without public input. They know the public wants to keep them and that is why they were bulldozed behind the wall with no public discussion. This is a public owned building CRA did not have right to demo without commission/city approval and city can't approve without hearing.
Well I'm part of the public that has watched that property and those courts deteriorate for the past decade and longer. No one uses them and they have become a hangout for illegal aliens. I'm happy to see someone with vision taking the initiative to make something nice there in place of the underutilized dinosaur it has become.
@2:31--it was YOUR FRIENDS who allowed the courts to deteriorate. Susan Stanton was hired and ended the Mentoring center that operated for about two years. But even with the center there, the city should have STOPPED the illegals from destroying our property.
Everyone was using them until they became UNUSABLE.
I thought Mulvehill was your friend.
9:16--What does Suzanne Mulvehill have to do with anything written here?
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