Republican City Attorney wins 58/41 in Seattle

Seattle Elects Republican to Become City Attorney

Historically Democrat-leaning Seattle made a smart choice by electing a Republican city attorney who supports police.

Ann Davison beat Democrat opponent Nicole Thomas-Kennedy to become Seattle’s first female city attorney. Davison’s victory is especially remarkable considering the city voted to defund the police last year.

Read about the good news!

Politics in Messed Up Pahokee

Unlike Lake Worth's mayor, this video even shows that they don't know how to run a meeting after a motion. These are the people running governments and some could even ascend to higher positions.

Pahokee has a lot of problems. Their city council just fired their attorney, Gary Brandenberg, who was their attorney for 12 years. He was just about to give his damning report regarding the city manager, Chandler Williamson, when he was fired.

This was about as bad as when Nadine Burns made a motion to fire our city manager years ago...at around midnight. He was blindsided just as Pahokee's city attorney was at Pahokee's April 23 meeting. Not a nice way to treat a long-time employee.

Gary Brandenberg was prepared to reveal his findings that were over and above the Inspector General's report that condemned closing city hall for days and giving employees raises and paid holidays without the city commission's approval. Williamson said, "I'm the guy who makes all the decisions in this city."

Chandler Williamson was chief of staff to State Rep Mandy Dawson who left her office in 2008 and later served prison time for various crimes.He learned on the job.

This reminded me of our own city.  Our city manager makes all of the decisions here as well. One of Brandenberg's complaints was that the city manager held one-on-one meetings with commissioners that "created possible Sunshine Law violations." When a city manager meets with individual commissioners, it allows him to "poll and get direction from commissioners out of the sunshine."  He knows just how far he can push his agenda and who to persuade to agree with him.

Anyone who attends Lake Worth commission meetings can understand this. And in spite of the Palm Beach Post editorial of a few years ago rebuking Lake Worth on its closed dinner sessions before public meetings, this still continues. You see, Lake Worth has an attorney who is a company man and I happen to like the guy.

Read about messed up Pahokee

It's not the Lawsuit holding up the Gulfstream Hotel

I doubt if there is one person in this city that would not like to see the Gulfstream Hotel renovated, rebuilt and opened. It has been way too long that this historic structure has been allowed to go to blight and decay by the past two owners. The hotel must be a special exception as it is not even being coded.

Through the years, we had these owners appeal to the city to get every waiver imaginable that they said they just had to have in order to make their business plan work. They brought in their design architects and their lawyers. It has all been a heavy duty body blow. Hudson Holdings even has a former commissioner working on its behalf as well as a local blogger who was the former chair of the Historic Resource Preservation Board. The company gave to majority commissioner campaigns.

The attitude was hell with the city and its Charter. The hell with the zoning--that can be changed with a 3 to 2 vote. And hell to the people. The city's Historic Board and the city commission listened to them, desperate for a promise that may never be fulfilled until such time the owners, Hudson Holdings, can suck the blood to the very last drop.

Then the city, along with three commissioners, dishonored the will of the people on the Heights Charter Amendment. They ignored the vote all for the developer and his promise to open this hotel and his need to do what he wanted even though he could have built a four story on the vacant land.

Then all of this catering to an investor/flipper/developer paid off in a lawsuit filed by three residents looking out for rights--your rights--my rights.

Hudson Holdings, if it was serious, could have demolished those out buildings eons ago. They could have started to renovate the hotel as promised when they first arrived on the scene. But then they saw $$$ in their eyes and knew how to jerk around elected officials. They haven't renovated the hotel--none of this has happened. Why? Well it's not the lawsuit.

On Tuesday night, our city attorney, Glen Torcivia, brought up the lawsuit stating that the Plaintiffs filed their appeal which means it goes to the 4th District Court of Appeals. That's a beginning of a process. Generally, a brief would be filed about two months. There will be a response filed by the city. Usually, 30 days after that, another response will be filed. So, you're looking at 4 to 6 months before you get a ruling, said Glen.

At 1:31:26 into the meeting Commissioners Amoroso asks,
"Is it true that in our Ordinance or somewhere that they [Hudson Holdings] can not move forward [with renovations, development etc.] as long as there is a lawsuit pending?"

Glen Torcivia: "No, No. They're free to move forward but from their perspective, there's a risk...There are plenty of cases that do move forward."

The only thing "frivolous" is Lake Worth's argument

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My first question is why would the City of Lake Worth spend an estimated $25,000 defending and going against a Heights Referendum won by the residents?  Did this commission Trio approve this amount of money? If so, when? If so, why? Does the city attorney's office have carte blanche on spending? Why was it so important for the city to "win" its case against the voters and have Hudson holdings as an Intervenor on the suit?  Nothing was holding up Hudson Holdings from renovating and developing its property. Why was giving Hudson Holdings 20 more feet so important?

Hudson Holdings argument was and is bogus. The city's argument, along with the Historical Board,   approved upzoning for one owner. This was flat out egregious when you consider the Charter Amendment was won at the polls allowing only 45 feet for buildings in that area.  This is also spot rezoning, which the Supreme Court has said is illegal. After the vote was won, the city upzoned the parcels at the Gulfstream and changed the entire area to a Hotel District. Was this clever legislation to get around the law?

Now the latest article in today's Palm Beach Post says the recouping of attorney fees of $25,000 might not be that easy after all. The city attorney is hoping that he can prove that the citizens' case was 'frivolous." Of course, the main objective here is to intimidate any resident who thinks he can come after the city for any reason.

Perhaps the Court will show cause why the City shouldn't be fined a large amount of money for frivolous argument.

The only thing frivolous is Lake Worth suggesting to spend even more money to go after its residents who have a good argument regardless of what the Appellate Court said that offered no reasons for its opinion...just another thing over-worked judges could get off their desk by agreeing with the status quo?

Legal fees could be $25,000, says Torcivia

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At the city commission meeting last night city attorney Glen Torcivia threw out a shocking figure for their legal fees: $25,000.

Scott Maxwell had asked him what the fees were in the recent lawsuit. Glen responded by saying they would go after collecting their fees since they won defending their case against Lake Worth citizens in court on the Heights Charter Amendment. Now I like Glen, don't get me wrong. He's doing the job that he is paid to do and reports to the Commission, basically the majority of Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso.

Some like to point out that it was a "frivolous" case to begin with. No it wasn't...it went to court twice. And speaking of court, the cases of which I have been involved never won in the Appellate Court. If you recall Fane Lozeman of Riviera Beach houseboat fame, he had to go all the way to the United States Supreme Court to win! Steven Michael of Hudson Holdings said it cost him 6 figures to defend the Heights case. It's difficult to believe anything that guy says.

The one thing that we do know is, the voters won this referendum at the polls saying no more than 45 feet in that area. The Trio commission listened to a developer and what he wanted, not what he needed, instead of the people they serve. They literally trashed the vote.

Maxwell asked our city attorney about legal fees and his response--“Court costs are relatively easy to recover and it’s usually a very small amount. Attorney’s fees are harder to recover. My (best estimate) is that attorney fees were $25,000.” The city plans on moving forward to recover legal fees. Asking doesn't mean they will get and it's meant to discourage any citizen filing suit against the City in the future.

If you're a developer/investor in Lake Worth, the city will give you waivers and even change its Land Development Regulations to favor your every desire. The people?  Not a problem and in fact, the city will stomp them into the ground by making it impossible for any one of them to ever again stand up for principle.

Lake Worth gives Casino architect and contractor more time to correct deficiencies

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On Tuesday night at the City Commission meeting, City Attorney Glen J. Torcivia brought up the Tolling Agreement with REG Architects and Morganti regarding the Casino building. It was about to expire.

A Tolling Agreement allows a party(ies) additional time to correct the problems without the necessity of filing an action. There is a statute of limitations and our city attorney advised that we give the architect and contractor four additional months to correct the deficiencies at the Casino which waives the right to claim that litigation should be dismissed. If not corrected within that period, he will advise filing a law suit.

The Casino was officially opened on March 1, 2013 with a ribbon cutting although most tenants were occupying their spaces in the later part of 2012. Defects did not appear right away and there have been serious issues through the years with water not draining properly from the second level causing a lot of damage even ruining inventory of a store below.  The water damage continues to this day. Door handles have corroded and there has been other hardware problems. These companies tell us that they are still working on correcting the defects...their reputations are at stake.

I can appreciate the Vice Mayor's frustration in allowing a Tolling Agreement to continue. The vote was 3/1 [Andy Amoroso was absent] to extend the tolling Agreement for four months or until October 5. Our patience has worn thin and a lot of time and money has been expended on this serious and never ending costly problem.  As the mayor suggested, the companies need to make this their priority. We contracted in good faith and they need to live up to the contract.

After four months, no more Mr. Nice Guy.

TA agreed with City of Lake Worth on Pension

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As I was unable to attend today's meeting between the Union employee negotiating committee for the PMSA and PEU union contracts and City staff, I just received the following results:

1.  Tentative Agreement reached
2.  Pension is a separate agreement from raise
3.  4% raise is retroactive from October 1, 2015.

I am rather confident that our city attorney, Glen Torcivia, had a lot to do with moving this issue forward to an acceptable agreement with the employees. This team of employees was very impressive as was employee Nicholas Petrino who stood up, was steadfast, and convinced the city.

Union workers hold their ground with Lake Worth city staff

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The meeting was to start at 1pm.  The clock kept ticking. The city is "always late" I was told.

I attended the Union and the City of Lake Worth discussion on the PMSA and PEU union contracts on Friday, March 18th.  I only stayed for one hour as the writing on the wall for me was that the city was not about to give an inch and the union members were just as steadfast. There were several breaks for caucusing while I was there. Nothing changed but the union members stood their ground, were very respectful and matter of fact and at least they did not talk down to city staff.

In the minds of the union members, the city is asking them to give up too much and are not living up to their original agreement with them.  They are offended by the city's "take it or leave it" approach.

Peter 2nd from right
He was amazing as were they all

The carrot is the 4% raise being held in front of them that they have yet to receive unless, of course, they buckle down and accept the city's terms. Once a contract is agreed, I have been told that the raise is not retroactive even though it has been budgeted and the money is there. Peter said that the Union was educating its members and the city attorney said "no," it was just the opposite--accusing them of advocating. But isn't it the Union's job to suggest what they feel is the best way forward to its members? Isn't that why union members pay dues?

Sam Neimeiser, 2nd from left
"To ask people to sign away their 1st Amendment rights--
that is unconscionable ."

Sam Neimeiser, union organizer, a young guy with Master's Degree in Applied American Politics from Florida State University, was down from Tallahassee. He is from a long family line of union members and activists. He makes a middle class worker's salary, so he can relate. He is standing up for what he believes--the city union workers in their dispute with the city and getting the benefits that they were promised. Sam told Glen Torcivia, city attorney, that there are possible legal problems for breaking promises made by the city to the employees who  never had a say. 

Glen Torcivia asked them if it was something the city could afford?  Sam mentioned the city putting $15 million into a park and told Torcivia that the city threw them under the bus with their statements in the Palm Beach Post.  "Absolutely," said the city attorney.

Left to right: Glen Torcivia who gets a 3% raise every year, Germaine English, Human Resource Director who just got a big raise last year to $90,000 and Maire Elianor, new Finance Director at $130,000 a year sitting there listening to workers making $13.85 plus an hour who haven't had a raise in eight years and their union contract is an on-going stall.

I have not been told if they came to any agreement but if not, it could go to Binding Arbitration, Mediation or Impasse. Although I did not witness any negotiation while I was there, I would think that both sides would want to continue along those lines, if possible. It may not be.

Impasse:

• An impasse is determined when the employer and union reach a point during negotiations when both parties are reasonable in assuming that further bargaining is futile.
• Once the employer reaches an impasse, an employer is permitted to implement changes to the terms and conditions of employment that are consistent with the previous proposals to the unions. However, employers cannot offer greater benefits or ones that differ than those presented during negotiations.
• An employer can institute a lockout at this time in order to place economic pressure upon the union. However, employers should beware that unions may also call a strike at this point as well. 

Unsure if this description applies to municipalities.

Scott Maxwell can't help himself - he is a bully

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“It’s taken three years to fix minor issues.

 I find that unconscionable.”

~ Scott Maxwell
being obnoxiously uncouth towards Rick Gonzalez of REG Architects and the Morganti Group, the contractor of our Lake Worth Casino.

He was rough, harsh, crude and a bully. So, what's new? And the people who support him are the same...constant interruptions during city commission meetings [the mayor can't seem to hear them], snarky remarks at the lectern from an NA president and those who believe they are better or know more than the rest of us--judgmental and just plain rude.

Rick Gonzales' of, REG Architects whose firm is an expert in historical renovations and even was hired at Mar-A-Lago and also restored the original Court House in West Palm Beach, did say that maintenance on a harsh environment takes more maintenance [than just routine]. That has always been the City of Lake Worth's problem...they don't maintain anything. Scott couldn't figure out why they didn't build it better to withstand this harsh environment and blamed them personally.

We have had construction and some hardware issues at our casino and Maxwell said that the deficiencies are an embarrassment. The only embarrassment Tuesday night was the Vice Mayor and using the possibility of "litigation" as a reason why this commission has not been able to rent the 2nd floor space.

I understand the frustration of not getting this solved but personally attacking people and using Pitbull tactics is not the answer. Tuesday night, the city was about to declare a default against the builders but Glen Torcivia, city attorney for Lake Worth, said that there has been a lot of progress over the last few weeks.  He suggested that a declaration of default come back to the commission for consideration on March 22 by extending the Tolling Agreement.  The entire commission agreed.

Lake Worth settles a lawsuit with Palm Springs

Who knows what the City of Lake Worth pays for legal fees.  The mayor likes to tell us that we pay "hundreds of thousands less" now that they hired Glen Torcivia Law firm. The budget tells us differently. All we know, is that mistakes continue to happen under this Commission majority of Amoroso, Maxwell and Triolo.  Law suits are settled sometimes for very large sums. This time it was settled through credits rather than in cash.

Under the Consent Agenda 9-E, Palm Springs claimed that the City of Lake Worth owes uncollected public services tax and franchise fees due on property annexed into Palm Springs during the period from 2010-2013. Staff requested direction regarding the claim at the August 4, 2015, Regular Commission meeting.

The City engaged Manson Bolves Donaldson P.A. to resolve the claim, due to a stated conflict of interest of the City Attorney. The Settlement Agreement resolves the claim through credits over a three year period, instead of providing a cash settlement. Interest of 3% is included in the settlement amount.

The settlement agreement, regarding public services tax and franchise fees with the Village of Palm Springs amounts to $286,589.04 over a period of 36 months.

Setting the record straight on Lake Worth Legal Fees

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All of you who attended the NAPC debate remember Mayor Pam Triolo saying that under the trio's  leadership, they have saved "hundreds of thousands of dollars" on legal fees by the hiring of Glen Torcivia Law Firm (instead of having our own staff attorney).  Here are the facts:

From audited Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports
  
"Schedule of Revenues, Expenses, & Changes in Fund Balance - Budget & Actual"
   
City Attorney Expense   
   
2009     $607,730
2010     $493,795
2011     $715,557
2012     $1,046,648
2013     $883,035
2014     $746,658

Legal Eagles not always Right but always go for the Jugular

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There is hope for the people involved in a lawsuit with the City of Lake Worth.  Our attorneys fight hard but they're not always right.  This is a case that went all the way to the Appeals Court and the City lost. The City goes for the jugular and suggested settlement with the defendant's lawyer on fee reduction and got him to agree.

And this is on the Consent Agenda 9M so that the city doesn't have to explain it to the public.

Settlement on attorney’s fees for City of Lake Worth v. C & E Holding of Palm Beach County Inc.

FROM THE BACK-UP

SUMMARY:
This Settlement will resolve the award of attorney’s fees to C & E Holding of Palm Beach County Inc.’s attorney.

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION:
In 2006, the City of Lake Worth initiated a foreclosure case against C & E Holding of Palm Beach County Inc. based on several code enforcement liens recorded against the real property generally located at 19th Avenue North and North “A” Street (adjacent to the northbound lane of I-95). The case was dismissed for fraud on the court due to a City affidavit which failed to identify one or more of the liens as having been released by the City.

In 2012, the case resurfaced because the property owner alleged the City’s remaining liens had to be released due to the dismissal of the case. The City Attorney’s Office asserted on behalf of the City that the order of dismissal did not require the remaining liens to be released. The City’s argument was essentially that the City lost the ability to foreclose the liens with the dismissal but that the liens remained valid liens of record. This argument is consistent with established case law on liens of mortgages.

The Circuit Court disagreed with the City’s argument and granted the property owner, C & E Holding of Palm Beach County Inc.’s, motion to release the remaining liens. Due to the fact that the remaining liens exceeded $140,000 in fines; that C & E Holding was unwilling to pay any reduced amount on the liens (consistent with the City’s code of ordinances); and, that there were continuing concerns with the condition of the property, the City Attorney’s Office appealed the Circuit Court’s ruling.

In November, the Fourth District Court of Appeals issued an order affirming the Circuit Court’s order to release the liens. The Fourth District Court of Appeals decision was without a written opinion which essentially ends the case. Pursuant to the Circuit Court’s order (as affirmed by the appellate court), the City has issued a release of the liens.

Because the case evolved from a foreclosure under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes, the Fourth District Court of Appeals entered an order awarding attorney’s fees to the property owner’s attorney pursuant to statute. See
section 162.10, Florida Statutes (prevailing party entitled to attorney’s fees). We have come to an agreement with the attorney, John Jorgensen, on the amount of fees (in lieu of a hearing on the same and additional expense to both parties). Mr. Jorgensen has agreed to reduce his fees to $17,000 from an initial request of over $21,000.

Chaz Stevens - The Atheist - Lake Worth hears from his lawyer

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The City of Lake Worth has written Chaz Stevens informing him of the new policy on invocations. Mr. Stevens already threaten to sue if he did not get in the invocation rotation.  Stevens' lawyer wrote them back and the lawyer sounds about as steadfast (trying to be kind here) as his client in this matter. Chaz Stevens had previously intimated that a suit would be following. The tone of his lawyer's letter is, to be frank, wise guy New York style.

Here is the last part of their response to the city:

I believe it is entire (sic) fair to say that the possibility of any commissioner giving an invocation, or having the unilateral authority to nominate an individual to perform that function, grossly and blatantly flies in the face of the Constitution and is prohibited.

 It would appear that in its hurried attempt to tap dance away from my client, and to adhere to Greece v. Galloway, the City of Lake Worth has stepped into a pile of Engel v. Vitale under your watch.

At the moment, that’s a (sic) much of your homework that I care to do for you.

Yours

Thomas H. Wright III, Esq.

The Letter

Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell on Invocations at City Hall - Quote of the Day

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Note: In God We Trust
is even on our money

"I'm not looking for controversy...but why is it that we've gone for 200 plus years with this process? It's worked very well for us and then we find one individual or two individuals in the community or a nation that want to make an issue out of it.

You know, earlier today we talked about democracy, ok...well that's not very democratic when you start having nickles holding up a dime.  For 200 plus years, we have had this system in place.  Now all of a sudden we're going to change the system over a handful of people that they decide they want to come in and mock everyone's else's religion.  That's not what I consider respectful of other people's belief systems.

So, we all should shut down our belief systems or not express, or embrace, or celebrate or acknowledge or whatever adjective you want to use because one or two or three or a handful of people in the community are offended...are you kidding me?  You're kidding me, right?"

~ Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell

I agree with Scott Maxwell. Right now the country is being lead by politically correct minorities of people who are changing our value system. That is their mission--to end the importance of Christianity, God, prayer or any religion. I agree with Maxwell that we "are not moving forward" when Commissioner Maier suggested that we were. They have had the right president of the United States in place to empower them. A lot has changed over the course of seven years.

When Maxwell used the expression of nickles holding up a dime, he was saying that basically the notion that something relatively small in value can thwart the larger benefits that would accrue from something much bigger. There is a lot of truth to that statement.

To say this again, eighty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Most of the rest, 13 percent, have no religion. That leaves just 4 percent as adherents of all non-Christian religions combined — Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and a smattering of individual mentions.

Even our city attorney told us that all faiths have been represented in Lake Worth during our invocations:  Christians, Jews, Moment of Silence, Muslims, Atheists, Quakers, Baha'i Faith. We can't control the message but we can tell them not to criticize others. He told us that our procedure has not been illegal and quoted a Supreme Court case that I have already discussed on this blog.

The City should have told the truth as to what provoked this to be placed on the agenda by the City Attorney--it was the request by Atheist/Satanist Chaz Stevens who has threatened a lawsuit. The last thing this city wants is another lawsuit and they don't want him appearing at City Hall.

They are controlling the message. Even in the end, Scott Maxwell voted to take the easy way out. They changed the process with their 4/1 vote [McVoy dissenting], catering to the minority of people who believe in nothing but themselves. If they are afraid of a lawsuit, they surely could open themselves up for a discrimination lawsuit down the road when you have 5 commissioners controlling the message and deciding what, if any or who should give the invocation at City Hall.

Here in Lake Worth, non-believers are very much in the minority. It is such a small percentage that it amounts to beans but this commission rolled over to them on the pretense of "moving forward" and totally ignoring the First Amendment.

I am not afraid of anyone's message whether they be Jewish, Atheist, Muslim, etc. I am very comfortable in my own skin, in my own beliefs, that whatever they say is irrelevant to my life but one thing is certain, they should have the right to give a two minute invocation. What is there to fear?

The Lawyers involved in the Gulfstream Hotel in Lake Worth Re-Zoning

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Residents came to the city hall chamber on Wednesday night to comment on the up-zoning request by the owners of the Gulfstream Hotel property, Hudson Holdings. The chair, Herman Robinson, tried to stop free speech by saying that the residents could only talk about the zoning, not the owner of the property.  Isn't it the owner who was petitioning for re-zoning/up-zoning before this Board? Therefore all comments were appropriate.

Steven Michael, primary principal, was not present nor was his partner, Avi Greenbaum.  We were told the principal (no name mentioned) was on a plane. But even so, neither was needed. They had highly skilled and competent lawyers. Ms. Miskel gave an in-depth presentation to persuade the Historic Board why an up-zoning was just perfect and how it fit in so well in the area. Her firm of Dunay, Miskel and Backman specializes in land use.

Not only was she selling and promoting for her client, she handed out compliments to our planning department like dishing out candy to kids. If she mentioned the surrounding heights of property to the Gulfstream Hotel once, she mentioned it at least six times. She reminded the Board that they were only there to consider a category of zoning, nothing else, saying that the hotel has had a "turbulent" history. However, she discussed their future plans which in the scheme of things, are all subject to change.

Bonnie Miskel

Even our own board attorney kept everything in perspective for Hudson Holdings. Mr. Engle asked a question about legal standing [of the Charter Amendment].  Ms. Ansay said that there was zero legal standing as the Board was only there to consider a re-zoning of the property. She mentioned that there was a Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit.

 What she failed to say was that this lawsuit filed against the City was withdrawn without prejudice and can be brought back. If you're going to give one fact, you should be giving all of the facts, not just what you choose to relay to win your argument. But that's what attorneys do--they represent their client. In this case, that is the city government and this commission, both that went around the people. Don't think for a minute that they represent you, Joe Citizen. It is why we have a court of law and it's also why we know, and continue to gripe about the lack of transparency in Lake Worth.

Carolyn Ansay, partner in the Torcivia Law firm

She has nearly two decades of experience representing private individuals and governmental entities in environmental and water law, governmental law, land use, and civil litigation.

The only people NOT represented were the voters. But we're not well represented by our commissioners either.

Public commentary gets shot down by Lake Worth Vice Mayor Maxwell who wants to stifle free speech

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Comment read into the Public Record
Lake Worth City Commission Meeting
April 21, 2015
By:  Laurence McNamara

I read attorney Goddeau’s statement that “we may be able to get around the 19 year, 364 day limit of the 2004 Beach Protection Charter Amendment” and it is shocking.

As an attorney, she is aware of Legislative Intent.  Courts give great consideration to it when actions are taken that are opposed to that intent.

This 2004 amendment was not a citizen initiative but was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the Commission to protect against private development at the beach and approved by a 9 – 1 margin by the voters.  The Intent of the Commission was very apparent and the support of the voters overwhelming.

Attorney Goddeau’s statement shows her transparent attempt to subvert the will of Lake Worth citizens in favor of City Manager Bornstein, Mayor Triolo, Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell and Commissioner Amoroso’s attempt to destroy our beach park by allowing private development there.

One of you three commissioner members need to join Commissioner McVoy and Commissioner Maier to reject this plan and follow the will of the people.

The above public commentary drew the ire of Vice Mayor Maxwell and he asks that the mayor stifle free speech. Here is his comment:

"I'm all for folks dropping off comment cards and not being here and having you read them but you know, just like when folks come up and give their verbal presentation sometimes you have to redirect them--the way they're commenting. I think when you're reading some of these comments and there obviously is some shock to be taken into the individual's personalities here, perhaps you should omit those comments. You know, Larry McNamara's comments, I guess he picked three of the five of us when he felt we were doing something he didn't like. I don't know where he got that but I don't know, it must be the water over on Lakeside."

Lake Worth lawyer

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Christy Goddeau, Esq.

I'm not sure when this happened, as Glen Torcivia has already told me that he doesn't normally respond to citizens so therefore I haven't bothered to ask him but...

The name of his firm used to be The Law Office of Glen J. Torcivia & Associates, P.A.

Now the name is TORCIVIA, DONLON, GODDEAU & ANSAY, P.A.

It appears that Christy Goddeau got a partnership. And why not?  She is smart, beautiful and has done a superb job for Lake Worth and this present commission.  Perhaps the partnership was due to all her dedication and hard work in the supposed over-throw of the Heights Amendment that was won by nearly 57% of the voters, a vote this commission refuses to acknowledge and ignores to this day.

Remember this when you go to the polls on March 10 that John Szerdi was against a low-rise downtown, against the people who won the vote. He still is. And he still wants his way.

Deed Restrictions - Lake Worth

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It's really cute how certain people on the dais can become so politically obnoxious about deed restrictions when talking about the golf course in their attempt to bring down a story in the Lake Worth Tribune that reported on residents ideas to finance the infrastructure at the recent financing meeting at Compass.

John Szerdi even singled out Commissioner McVoy by saying that he too has been out and about and that he had a copy of the 1944 deed to the golf course in his hand when he walked down Golfview Road recently. He further stated that he can confirm the confusion about selling the course and found it tough to run into that issue when there are other issues to talk about, having to repeat himself over and over again that it can't be sold. Three commissioners brought up the golf course taking subtle pot shots at the Lake Worth Tribune's article that merely mentioned a resident's request that it be sold.

It wasn't too many months ago when deed restrictions did not matter when this commission wanted to take a huge hunk of John Prince Park and bulldoze it for a national ball field. They were told about those deed restrictions and instructed the city attorney to find out how to go around them and garner support from neighboring municipalities to get that ball field here.

You can't trust a politician when they want something. You just can't. And one thing that we definitely know, these four commissioners want to grab your cash for the largest amount that they think the property owners will allow for their infrastructure program.

Susan Bucher has a memory like an elephant

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It was a two hour meeting that should have lasted only an hour.  Commissioner McVoy changed that when he complained that he had not been recognized by Mayor Triolo prior to the vote, (who now has the distinction of being the biggest bully on the dais with John Szerdi coming in at second place). He wanted to pull two items for discussion that were on the Consent Agenda. The prevailing vote can bring it back and that's what the Vice Mayor did with a vote of 5/0.  Glad he did, as it was the only thing on the Agenda that was interesting other than Greg Rice's Planning & Zoning report. But wait a moment--the mayor totally forgot the Electric Utility portion of the Agenda which is placed near the end of the meeting and poor Clay, the Utility Director, waited there for two hours to speak.  So, it probably would have been a much longer meeting after all.

The city wants to amend the city canvassing board as Susan Bucher will not be a party to that service for Lake Worth that she provides to all the other municipalities.  Gee, do you think it had anything to do with the city's demands after the general obligation bond vote this past August and treating her like an ogress?  Did it have to do with the city, in its outrage for losing the election, looking to find fault anywhere it could even going so far as to have citizens bring in their horror stories as to why they could not vote? The State said that the 14 provisional ballots should have been counted in that election and Glen Torcivia, city attorney, told Bucher that the city would not pay the cost of her legal fees. Lake Worth also demanded copies of documents that the SOE wanted to charge $400 for and the city balked.  The city also suggested that the Canvassing Board (Bucher and two county Judges) were in violation of Florida Sunshine Law, allegations that were unproved and unfounded. Or maybe it was the icing on Bucher's cake when Bornstein called her "condescending."

On January 6, 2015, the City Commission approved Resolution No. 02-2015 designating the City’s Canvassing Board and amended agreement with Susan Bucher's office for vote processing equipment use and election services believing that all was well with the SOE and it would be business as usual--forgive and forget. Shortly after the Supervisor of Elections received the agreement from Lake Worth, the City received word that Bucher was declining to serve on the Lake Worth City’s Canvassing Board.

So, the city manager was forced to come up with its own canvassing board. His suggestion was that it should be comprised of  the City Clerk or her designee, Community Redevelopment Agency Chairperson or his designee, and an attorney practicing law in Palm Beach County or his/her designee. Commission McVoy suggested the city clerk, our Internal Auditor and an attorney or a retired judge with Vice Mayor Maxwell suggesting a retired judge with a Constitutional law background.  McVoy's suggestion passed on a 5/0.

Lake Worth still pushing John Prince Park as National League Stadium

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Article in the Palm Beach Post, December 4, 2014, page B4

It would be interesting to know the amount of taxpayer money spent by the City of Lake Worth to constantly push John Prince Park as a Spring Training Facility for the Astros and Nationals. Obviously, Lake Worth has more money on hand than we know.

Does this commission represent all of the people they serve?  That answer is also obvious.