Speed Bumps and Sex Quid Pro Quo

Toss sex-for-vote charge against Lantana mayor, administrative judge says

The Florida Commission on Ethics “did not prove, by clear and convincing evidence” Catherine Phillips Padilla’s charges against Stewart, Judge Cathy M. Sellers wrote Monday from Tallahassee.

Here is a judge, a woman, who ruled on the facts, not influenced by the ridiculous Me Too Movement.

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Whoa, Dave Stewart!

For some reason, Lantana mayor Dave Stewart was at our City of Lake Worth commission meeting on February 6.  He's a good buddy of city manager Mike Bronstein.

Lantana Mayor Dave Stewart accused of asking for sex in exchange for political favors

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Scott Maxwell Swinging his Bat

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On April 25, the Town of Lantana passed a resolution to support the Atlanta Braves at John Prince Park. This had a lot to do with the encouragement of the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners as well as the City Commission of Lake Worth along with city manager, Michael Bornstein who are all lobbying heavily for this travesty.

a (2). Consideration of Resolution No. R-05-2016, supporting the location of the Atlanta Braves spring training baseball facility in South Central Palm Beach County. Note, the agenda item did not mention John Prince Park--they are trying to fool the public. John Prince Park as the location was in the Resolution.

Mayor Stewart asked for disclosures.

Vice Mayor Aridas and Councilmember Balfour disclosed they spoke with a few neighbors, Councilmember Deringer disclosed he signed Lake Worth Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell’s baseball bat and Mayor Stewart disclosed he spoke with residents, Michael Bornstein and Shelley Vanna.

Mr. Lohman read the resolution title:

RESOLUTION NO. R-05-2016
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LANTANA, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE LOCATION OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL FACILITY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PALM BEACH COUNTY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Mayor Stewart introduced this item on the agenda.
City of Lake Worth Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell gave an introduction of the agenda item and answered questions from Town Council.

No individuals from the public commented on the agenda item.
There was Council discussion.

Councilmember Deringer made a motion to approve Resolution No. R-05-2016.
Councilmember Balfour seconded the motion.

Motion passed 4-1 (Councilmember Moorhouse- Nay).

Dave Stewart might have eye on Vana's seat?

We keep seeing Lantana mayor, Dave Stewart, in Lake Worth a lot these days. He showed up for the mayor's State of the City cheer at the Casino. I stopped and asked him about the rumor of running for Palm Beach County Commissioner. Recently, the Palm Beach Post asked him whether he will run again [as mayor of Lantana] and he said: he will be running for something...he said he isn’t sure if it would be for Lantana’s mayor however.

He confirmed to me that he is thinking about Shelley Vana's seat but "it's a long way off," he said. Actually, it's up on November 2016, not that far off if you're really serious. Perhaps Mr. Stewart is just fed up with what's going on at the A. G. Holley site and that proposed development or just would like a change after 15 years--sort of like his former city manager.

Dave Stewart and Mike Bornstein

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Dave Stewart, mayor of Lantana

On April 12, 2012, Mike Bornstein, town manager of Lantana,  said the following: When you work at a place for so long, a place like Lantana becomes home in so many ways and I have had a great time. We do not always agree, but the Town was like family in that at the end of the day we do the best we can for the good of the group.  Lantana is a local government that cares and you may not always agree, but you get a chance to be heard. I have enjoyed working with everyone and the Town staff is awesome.

Mike Bornstein began his city manager job with Lake Worth on April 16, 2012. After a second motion (the first one failing on a 2/3 vote for Titcomb), the vote was unanimous to hire Bornstein.

So, why is Lantana's mayor hanging around our city hall these days?  Are things heating up again for Bornstein? Does Stewart just miss him? Is he giving his BFF some tips for success?

Mayor of Lantana to run again

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Dave Stewart, Mayor of Lantana

Mayor Stewart, a Lake Worth High School graduate, is running again. He has been the mayor of Lantana for 15 years.

Lantana did not come up with some trumped up reason to change its qualifying time to three months before the election as Lake Worth commissioner John Szerdi did. Lake Worth's majority commission followed Szerdi's lead/suggestion and voted in the change. Szerdi just needed all that extra time to see how hard he was going to have to work for his re-election. He slid into office the first time around and then got an additional 8 months when the election month was changed by the voters.

Mayor Stewart has to qualify for the March 10th election between January 27 to February 10 in Lantana and so far, no other opponent has come forward. Look for Mayor Stewart to be the mayor for another three year term.

Living Shoreline

The 1995 Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act changed Florida’s mangrove protection statutes. The act repealed existing statutes that regulated the trimming of mangroves and replaced them with several new statutes that reduce the amount of permitting and paperwork required for that activity. Distinguishing between “trimming” and “altering” mangroves, the act allows trimming activity with or without a permit, depending on the location of the mangrove. On the other hand, altering a mangrove (removing or cutting the plant so much that it dies or is defoliated) is a prohibited activity, unless a permit was issued. The act does not require a permit for trimming on private lands. Similarly, certain public lands not set aside for preservation or conservation purposes do not need a trimming permit. Riparian property owners may trim mangroves on public lands fronting their property to a depth of 75 feet, measured waterward from the trunk of the most landward mangrove tree and in a direction perpendicular to the shoreline. Click here.

Commissioner McVoy as well as Lantana mayor, Dave Stewart, told our commission to be careful about cutting down mangroves.

Dave Stewart grew his beard back!

Lantana mayor might shave off beard

This IS a BIG deal folks!!  Lantana Mayor Dave Stewart says, "If you raise $20,000 to Forgotten Soldiers Outreach by November 9, I will shave off my hair and beard."

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