Some of these items are mind boggling and incomprehensible, such as the authorization to the CRA to issue debenture (backed by general credit rather than by specified assets--that means backed by city taxpayers) in the amount of $4 million to be paid pack in 10 years, (didn't we just get a 30 year bond debt?). There are other items of interest such as the city paying $170,650 for an easement to proceed with their costly infrastructure improvements (paid by taxpayers) on Boutwell Road.
*****************
Ordinance No. 2017-01 – First Reading – call for a charter referendum election and schedule the public hearing date for January 10, 2017 The Ordinance amends the City Charter to extend the elected officials’ terms from two to three years and place a question on the March 14, 2017, municipal general election ballot. Less than a decade ago, the voters, by nearly 68% said "no" to 3 year terms.
VOTE NO
The commission feels it has the power now to pass just about anything as the voters just passed a 30 year bond to tax themselves. They squashed our Heights Amendment referendum, now in court. We just had a referendum eight years ago on this very subject and the voters rejected it.
Instead, I would prefer term limits...get them out of office every 4 to 6 years.
| Percent | Votes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YES |
|
32.19% | 1,517 | |||
| NO |
|
67.81% | 3,195 | |||
| 4,712 | ||||||
*****************
Ordinance No. 2017-02 - The prohibition of conversion therapy that prohibits this on minors by licensed providers in the City. The city says that similar ordinances have been passed in the cities of Miami Beach, West Palm Beach, Cincinnati and Seattle. New Jersey and California have also passed a state-wide ban on conversion therapy on minors. First Amendment and other challenges to these laws have been denied by at least two federal courts (with the United States Supreme Court declining to hear the appeals of these cases).
The American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as reparative or conversion therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her sexual homosexual orientation. 76% of the LGBT population live in states with no laws banning conversion therapy for minors.
76%
of LGBT population lives in states with no laws banning conversion
therapy for minors - See more at:
http://www2.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/conversion_therapy#sthash.Zn9t85Sv.dpuf
*****************
Ordinance No. 2017-03 - First Reading. Raise the compensation for elected officials as follows:
- Increase the Commissioners’ annual salary to $24,500 (presently $14,500). This is a 68.9% increase
- Increase the Mayor’s salary to $29,500 (presently $15,500). This is a 90.32% increase;
- - Include a car allowance of $500 per month; and/or,
- - Include participation in the City’s 401a retirement plan (the city manager and department directors currently participate through ICMA); and/or
- City staff recommends continuation of the current health insurance benefits and furnishing the communication devices (or in lieu of the devices, a $100 per month total stipend if the elected official chooses to furnish his or her own devices).
Voting yourself a raise is politically incorrect.
8 comments:
NO NO NO NO to everything
$6,000 a year for car allowance, more than double salaries, fewer meetings, no discussion especially from the public who pay them.
Why only 3 year terms when they can be given lifetime appointments?
What have they done that warrants these perks?
I AGREE WITH YOU LYNN, A SIN AND POLITICALLY INCORRECT! You know what bothers me too is this, they will only hire people for 29 hours a week with no benefits at all, most of the poor people working for the city make like $12K a year with no benefits, yet they politicians want to give themselves double that plus car and retirement benefits, that makes me sick! So unfair and pathetic. Andy must be sooooo desperate. If they vote this in, I will never ever vote for any of these asses again.
"Ordinance No. 2017-03 - First Reading. Raise the compensation for elected officials as follows:
Increase the Commissioners’ annual salary to $24,500 (presently $14,500). This is a 68.9% increase
Increase the Mayor’s salary to $29,500 (presently $15,500). This is a 90.32% increase;
- Include a car allowance of $500 per month; and/or,
- Include participation in the City’s 401a retirement plan (the city manager and department directors currently participate through ICMA); and/or
City staff recommends continuation of the current health insurance benefits and furnishing the communication devices (or in lieu of the devices, a $100 per month total stipend if the elected official chooses to furnish his or her own devices).
Years ago I recommended that the commission and mayor's salaries be raised and that suggestion fell on deaf ears. This was when they actually discussed items rather than placing them on Consent. This was when they didn't shut down opposing views from the dais. This was when they treated the public with respect. This was when city commission meetings lasted for hours of discussion and engaging the public rather than ending at 8pm so that some commissioners can get to their favorite watering hole.
Voting yourself a raise is politically incorrect."
And pay their rent or mortgages too, along with a raise for bow-tie for his mis-management.
How about a vacation allowance and free breakfasts and lunches?
What do we citizens for paying for their expertise?
No mention of the voltage conversion discussion. Hopefully the city commission has the wherewithal to pass this one, could help the city in the long run have shorter outages.
505...it will be mentioned tomorrow. And I have to say, I disagree with you on this conversion for all the reasons previously mentioned through the last several years.
We DO NOT have outages---just a few now and then. Very reliable.
This agenda is so disrespectful to the citizens of Lake Worth. Two minutes to address 32 consent items AND matters before the public. It's glaringly plain that these commissioners do not care to hear from the public. We are a bother and a bore, or just a bunch of "unfriendlies" as the City Manager has called Lake Worth citizens.
Much like a dirty diaper,this dais needs to be changed on a regular basis!
You're right Lynn. FPL has far more outages in the area where I work than Lake Worth has. I've been very happy with Lake Worth Electric over the past few years. Some people really have The Rip Van Winkle syndrome.
Post a Comment