Kicking the Can No. 3 - The Lake Worth City Commission

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Kicking the can down the Road No. 3

Every single person sitting on the dais should be informed on Sun Recycling and the course of events that began the problem at our landfill up to the day their lease was not renewed and what they did to our property. There is no excuse for ignorance in this matter...not one.

What Southern Waste Systems (Sun Recycling) means to Lake Worthians--a condensed history through Susan Stanton's tenure:

• 1993 - $2,375,000 cost to Lake Worth taxpayers to close the landfill (not mentioned last night)

• 20 years to reclaim land to make it safe for re-use (Mr. Biggs of Mock Roos in July 2010 said it would cost $1.5 million to restore our property but on Tuesday night he implied all was cool now--(It's going to cost much more than that)

• 5-25-07 - Commission entered into a 3 year Contract with Sun Recycling for $1,000 a month to use the landfill as a staging area to haul debris from violent storms (hurricanes). If there was a hurricane, the ante went up to $3,000 a month. We made exactly $36,000 on our landfill that will now cost millions to restore.

• Sun dumps over 6,000 truckloads of construction material on our landfill, some of which is 3.6 or 3.8 feet thick, hauling in material from south Florida construction sites. Trucks entering property late into the night. Contract was from 7am to 7pm.

• Endless complaints by residents near the landfill regarding health issues. Extensive research and exposes from Bill Coakley, informing the public and Commission as to what was occurring. No response from sitting Commission or Staff in charge.

• 2010 - City did not renew Contract.

• 6-1-10 - Mock Roos gives report that no testing or inspection was done at the landfill. City manager says although not budgeted, we need to evaluate the fill material. Mock Roos does borings and takes test samples at 12 locations on the dump site. 

• 8-3-10 - Mock Roos's John Biggs says, "In my opinion, RSM should not have been placed on the site. Arsenic was found in the samples indicating higher levels than acceptable (1/3rd over threshold) in certain areas of the landfill for surrounding residential areas. (residential not mentioned Tuesday night)


• Joe Kroll, then Public Works Director who was in charge of the landfill site, says that it would cost $3 a yard to dump RSM elsewhere. Ed Deveaux, contractor, disputes that figure and says that it would cost $45 a ton and $90 a ton in Okeechobee. Stanton says, "Sun does not see the duty of restoring the site in the same way that the City does." (not mentioned Tuesday night)

• Biggs reports that the Health department was to hold Sun Recycling accountable. Material was shipped to Sun's Site 4 and then shipped on to Site 5 implying that the testing requirement was circumvented.(not mentioned Tuesday night)

• The City Manager was directed to write a letter to all those in the neighborhood of the landfill and notify them of MORE discussion.

At any rate, all of the above lead up to where we are today. Sun was to surrender the property (Article 23) in accordance with the lease terms, in good order, condition and repair, as the same shall be on the date tenant opens for business in the Premises..."  Article 21 (c) says:  In addition to other rights and remedies available to landlord under this Lease and/or at law and/or in equity, tenant shall reimburse landlord upon demand all other reasonable costs, expenses and other sums reasonably incurred by landlord in connection with preparing and/or improving the Premises for Tenant's occupancy under this Lease and all collection costs and attorney's fees incurred in enforcing this Lease.

The above breach of lease is the only thing that should have been considered Tuesday night...not that grass had grown over the mess and all ''looked" fine...not that residents bordering the landfill were no longer hacking to death. It wasn't mitigated nor was the landfill "fine" as attested to by residents regarding the oder and the illness. 6,000 trucks drove onto our property depositing all sorts of material, some of it nasty, and their trucks very possibly/probably did damage to the membrane cap.

Sun agreed, per the Lease, to have our landfill looking exactly the same when they exited from the day they first signed this contract. It doesn't. They didn't. Now to make it right, someone has to pay multi-millions. City Manager Bornstein says it will be done. Who will pick up the cost?  We know it won't be Sun Recycling because the city does not want law suits and the city attorney advised Sun's lawyer to stay quiet and not say too much Tuesday night per Bart Cunningham. Good advice but he's OUR lawyer.

This is another major incident in our city that is being played down. I suppose it is because of costly litigation. The message that was given in THREES on Tuesday night, was that anyone can come into Lake Worth and do just about whatever they damn well please and it all can get twisted to justify it all.

Joe Kroll applying for City Manager Lantana

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Michael Bornstein's farewell was last night at Lantana City Hall. Lantana has 27 applicants to replace Bornstein as city manager. One is Joe Kroll. Frank Spence, another one of my top original choices and who had withdrawn here in Lake Worth, is on their list.

Read about it here.

Joe Kroll withdraws his name for consideration for City Manager Lake Worth

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From: Mark Farrington
Sent: Tue 3/6/2012 5:40 PM
To: Pam Triolo; Scott Maxwell; Andy Amoroso; Christopher McVoy; Suzanne Mulvehill
Subject: City Manager Candidates - Candidate Background Check / Availability Issues

Please be advised that Mr. Joseph Kroll has withdrawn his name from consideration for the City of Lake Worth City Manager role.

The other candidates have submitted the background check and availability information as discussed. We will be contacting if we need additional flexibility with your calendar.

Mark A. Farrington
Human Resources Director
City of Lake Worth
7 N. Dixie Highway
Lake Worth, FL 33460

Kicking the Can down the Road

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In the worst possible form of kicking the can down the road, at the worst possible time as well, given the lofty overvalued condition of the stock market, To Pay New York Pension Fund, Cities Borrow From It First

Well, we haven't gotten to that point yet in Lake Worth but what we have done is move a lot of cash around to cover bills: our beach fund of $3.5 million is long gone; our billboard money that was voted to be in a dedicated fund has been used and moved around; money to back the casino project that they say will be paid back, you name it, it was probably money that has been shifted or spent. We burned over $12 million in cash reserves during the administrations of Boyer and Baldwin who worked under one of the worst city commissions ever. Where in hell is our money?

And there are three on the dais who believe that someone with absolutely NO city manager experience can get it done, can get us on track, can turn it around. Well Kroll did "misspeak" when giving a reason to get the solid waste charge increased on our advalorem. That was just one issue.

The only "personality" we want in this job is someone who is well qualified, who knows what in heck the score is...someone whose only focus is doing what's best for our city...not someone intimidated by any one commissioner...one who gives the commission the best direction/alternatives so that they can arrive at the correct vote. Not only do we deserve the best, we must have it for survival.

The Lake Worth Puppet Show

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Click Photo to enlarge

By: Mysterious Lake Worth Graphic Artist

Joe Kroll maneuvered into Top 5 for City Manager Lake Worth

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REMINDER: This is what was decided, approved, voted upon, take your pick at the February 7th meeting on the city manager candidates--

Each City Commissioner will submit his or her selections of up to eight (8) applicants to staff (Mark Farrington) by February 23rd. Staff will aggregate the list and provide a master list to the Commission; and during a public meeting, the Commissioners would reduce the list of applicants, by a majority vote one by one, until the list of candidates to interview was reduced to three. The City Commission agreed to meet on March 1st in a Special Meeting to narrow the list of candidates down to three.

Once again the Visionaries' "boy" wasn't in the top three when they took a count last night but by the time the meeting was over, the "directive" had changed once again. Aside from the very serious flaw in Kroll's resume of not ever having been a city manager anywhere, Mr. Kroll hadn't even bothered to complete his employment application. The back-up says he submitted his application on January 9 but in actuality, his employment application is dated February 9, about the only thing that was filled in. In the corporate world, even in spite of an attached resume, if someone had not completed the formal application, his resume would have been moved aside and/or rejected. This may be part of Mr. Kroll's persona.

But why should he even bother? We have three people on the dais who are stacking the deck...a few of whom with no idea of what Mr. Kroll has "accomplished" while Public Works Director. They like him because he has always bit the bullet for them in spite of wasting tons of taxpayer money.

The Mayor, someone who never came to a city commission meeting until she was campaigning, believes that all the e-mails she has received is reason to put him on the Short List. Because she listens to her supporters, she does not know that some on the dais actually saved the city a lot of money and may know what they're talking about here. She lost her cool again last night, a standard, normal behavior that in her mind sounds authoritarian...her need for power and toughness over two commissioners she has been told are inferior, who like chickens.

Now instead of Top 3 it is Top 5. This entire process has been a sick game from day one by three commissioners who finally stated for the record that they haven't met with or colluded with any candidate or any other commissioner regarding this process. Not surprised are ya?

The Kingpin ManeuvererVice Mayor Scott Maxwell
The man who says he has had no conversation or contact with any candidate
regarding the city manager position

The Fix Is In?

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Only in Lake Worth do we elect people that promise to do the best thing for the people but rarely do we find any politician who is not self-serving. We have been lucky over the last few years to elect a few that have been highly ethical with nothing on their agenda but making the best decisions for Lake Worth.

Tonight at 6:30 there is a special meeting to whittle down the Commission's short list to three applicants for the city manager's job. The new "visionaries" all have selected Joe Kroll as one of their top 8 candidates, a man with absolutely NO city manager experience. 66 Resumes were submitted and 3 commissioners all in rapture with each other have selected Kroll.

We all have known from the very beginning of this exhausting enterprise what the intent was--hire Joe Kroll, the guy who was always available to fulfill their wishes at their beckoning call.

If you go by their tallies, the five Top Candidates on the Short List:

Michael Bornstein with 5 votes
Richard Gestrich with 4 votes (Amoroso was the only commissioner who did not have him on his short list)
TIED WITH 3 VOTES EACH:
Joe Kroll with 3 votes (On Triolo, Maxwell and Amoroso's short list)
James Titcomb with 3 votes (Triolo, Maxwell and Amoroso)
Bonnie Therrien with 3 votes

More on the Labyrinth at Bryant Park

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Guest Blogger:
Tracy Rosof-Petersen

I have done quite a bit of research on the subject of successful public spaces.

The most successful public spaces include public input in the planning process with all of the stakeholders, which in our case would include the city public works department, the Planning & Zoning Board, the end users (the public) and the gift givers of this labyrinth. When I listened from home on the issue, I thought everyone was in fair agreement....... They love the gift, but the time frame and appropriate placement still needed to be decided and go through the proper channels. What happened? I'm still not sure!

My preference and many of the park users I talk to is: more trees, more nature, less concrete!! But just as food for thought, I've included my Top Ten list that was written during the last Bryant Park Fiasco a few years ago, when Joe Kroll moved ahead on very costly decisions about Bryant Park that were not approved by the commission or wanted by the general public at the time. These decisions cost the city and us tax payers a lot of money.

Top Ten Ways to Screw Up A Public Waterway Park

10. Start without an overall design or plan.

9. Never ask for community input and don't research the needs of the end users.

8. Put Cars before People

7. Remove or move historic trees.

6. Do not create pedestrian and bicycle friendly entry points.

5. Do not create any water access points.

4. Keep the budget costs in flux.

3. Do not look towards future use of the park.

2. Support the myth that economic prosperity depends on parking so local governments will continue to waste public money and distort the public planning process.

1. Put a blacktop parking lot in the middle.

Tracy Rosof-Petersen
EarthArtists Clay Studio, LLC

Power Prevails - We will get a Labyrinth whether we want it or not

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Even though it was agreed, even by the presenter, Nadine Burns, that public input was very valuable before any change to our Bryant Park was made and she was willing to get an extension from those she represented who were giving us this "valuable asset," Scott Maxwell did not agree.

At the end of the discussion, he disagreed that the labyrinth needed to go through proper channels, go before the Planning & Zoning Board and involve the neighborhoods, especially Bryant Park that it would affect the most. Public input had no importance with him, afterall, if you didn't agree with him, you were "playing politics." And because he disagreed that the "gift" should go back to the Recreation Department to ensure that it went through the proper process, the "visionaries" went along with him. We get the labyrinth. I suppose .0001 of 1% of our population might ever use it to meditate. Church would be much more inspirational. Maybe we'll get that next as a "gift" to be erected on Bryant Park.

Everyone on the dais "supported" the "gift" with Commissioner Mulvehill suggesting that another location might be more appropriate--this "gift" was going to be installed right next to the playground equipment. Can you even imagine a place for meditation being right next to screaming kids? My impression was that everyone on the dais was tip toeing around this labyrinth because it was proposed by former Commissioner Nadine Burns, the artist community that supports any form of art, and a few non-profits who will give work to some former felons or something.

The only person who made complete sense last night, and who was from the public, was no nonsense Loretta Sharpe. She was the only one who didn't dance around the politics of this supposed asset by stating the obvious: it should most definitely go before our Planning and Zoning board. Her argument was valid. We have a process for reasons and if we bypass the process, then we will have more and more of these types of "gifts" erected on city property anywhere the recipient chooses.

How dare any group or any citizen go to a department director to put something such as this on the Consent Agenda. We already went through a costly act when the Public Works Director, Joe Kroll, changed parking lots at Bryant Park with NO ONE'S PERMISSION or any input from Bryant Park neighborhood or anyone in the community. How dare a commission agree that this is proper? Perhaps they should go to The First Baptist Church on S. M Street where it was reported that they have a labyrinth.

We keep repeating the same egregious acts but this time it wasn't one lone rouge acting on his own but staff that was complicit. The only politics involved here was Maxwell's followed by the rest of the trio. Pretty sad commentary for a commission that says it values public input.

Ann Costello Resigns Again

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Back in December 2007, subsequent to Joe Kroll resigning from Lake Park and being hired by The City of Lake Worth as Public Works Director, an audit was completed for the City of Lake Worth by our internal auditor, Scot Menke. In it, he revealed that there were substantial unauthorized engineering expenditures on the City's closed landfill. All of this involved our then Finance Director, Ann Costello.

To refresh your memory of the circumstances of her resignation while she was in Lake Worth:

• Purchasing ordinances were circumvented with no objection from Costello

• The CCNA was violated with no objection from Costello

• Costello did not establish proper controls over cash disbursements

• She failed to supervise inexperienced finance staff

• Inaccurate and incomplete finance reports were disseminated every month. The commission, etc. had no clue as to the real numbers.
  

• Costello failed to recognize the full extent of the landfill expenditures even after discovering them

• The then Public Works Director continued approving landfill expenditures for payments months after being repeatedly made aware that there was no authorized funding source

• The landfill vendor continued working, billing and receiving funds in the absence of any contract covering those expenditures

• The City was not advised of all the risks about the unauthorized expenditures

Soon after all of this was revealed, Ms. Costello resigned from Lake Worth. Within a short time, her resume recirculated and Lake Park found her. She went to work for that city as its Finance Director. She too was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is the highest honor in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Yesterday, Ms. Costello resigned from Lake Park. No one is talking.

City Manager Lake Worth Rumor

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Rumor has it that the former Public Works Director, Joe Kroll, has been hanging around City departments for days telling folks he will be the next city manager. Now I wonder who has told him that? A source has told me that he has said that it will be up to him as far as who stays and who goes on the present city staff.

So far, the City has been imploding up the whazoo. If the rumor is true, the entire process is corrupt and we will need to look at the Vice Mayor for the answers.

The City Manager Recruitment Saga

Terry H. Randolph (brown striped shirt)
and a few students from
his Political Science class
at Palm Beach State College

Politics is a science and we saw all the tactics in work last night from Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell on the city manager applicant process. He must have spent the entire day preparing for the action. He never lost a beat. In fact, he runs the show.

Last night the Mayor said that any discussion going over her 30 minute rule would go to a workshop. However, the discussion and ultimate votes on the city manager applicant process, that did 180^ turn, took 2 hours and at times was very confusing.

Back on January 3, the City Commission voted on a 3/2 to use city staff as well as the Range Rider program consisting of Kurt Bressner, retired city manager from Boynton Beach and Mark Durbin another Range Rider. The Range Rider Program consists of former city managers who donate their time to help cities find a qualified interim city manager and permanent city manager. Why did the Visionaries want to do this? Control of the resumes and who would be on the short list for their approval. Money was a secondary consideration.

Steve Carr said, "The recruitment of a City Manager is arguably the most important decision any City Commission must make. The recruitment process is also one that, generally, few City Commissions have experience and expertise in designing and implementing. Consequently, I believe that utilizing the services of a search firm, to be selected by an RFP process, for filling the City Manager position on a permanent basis is the best alternative." His good advice failed led by Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell. Instead the Visionaries voted to go with the volunteer group, the Range Riders. The volunteer group and/or the Human resource department was to submit all resumes to the Commission on a weekly basis.

On January 24, the Ranger Riders, as well as our HR Director, were told to review the resume and credential packages of applicants desiring to serve as the Interim Lake Worth City Manager for the purpose of recommending a slate of candidates from among the 65 applicants. Selection team members were tasked with conducting independent applicant reviews using the job description and criteria established by the City Commission, while applying their considerable experience and judgment to the task. The City Commission has always had the opportunity to select candidates from the entire applicant list.

Last night, February 7, it all went to hell. Why did it all go south? Scott Maxwell's candidate of choice was not on the short-list. The Vice Mayor was losing control of his goal--appointing someone of his choice as city manager. Anyone from Staff who sits at the first bench across from the dais will get the wrath of Scott Maxwell. He went after Mark Farrington, Human Resource Director, with a vengeance. Farrington stood up to him with equal conviction. Farrington said that it was his job to sift through the resumes and choose only based on the qualifications. Background and criminal checks would be something he would eventually conduct. In order to do background checks you have to have permission, in writing, from the applicant.

Control of the process was grabbed back by the Commission. The first Motion was if there are 1 to 15 qualified city manager applicants, then each on the commission will pick 5 of their top choices; if there are over 15 qualified applicants, then the commission will choose 8 applicants. The second motion had to do with narrowing down to 3 final applicants...Staff will compile the lists from all 5 commissioners.

Now, all of the applicants will be chosen by the City Commission, not those who they originally voted to screen and present their top choices, the HR Director and the Ranger Riders. Also, by consensus, the city is no longer interested in hiring an interim city manager because of only one week dividing the two processes. They will seek a permanent city manager only and applicants who have submitted for an interim position will be contacted today to see if they are interested in a permanent position. There have been a total of 67 resumes submitted to date with cut-off final date for submission on February 17.

I have reprinted some of my theory--total Control of City Hall administration by Scott Maxwell and the entire Visionary Trio

1. It was planned all along to fire Susan Stanton. Triolo and Amoroso got roped into the deception and now are prominent members of the "club," the Visionaries.
2. As no three people can possibly be this stupid, they are looking to control the resumes, control the process, control it all.
3. They shunned advice from Steve Carr for whom they have high regard. Why? He is the only employee, per Maxwell, that is qualified to step in as temporary city manager. Instead, they have forced him to act as interim, dual responsibilities, awhile longer. He has told them that this is a bad decision.
4. They ignored Bressner. They did the same with him as they did with Carr and then they appointed him to do the searches. Why? Control.
5. In my opinion, Maxwell wants to hire "yes man" Joe Kroll as city manager, someone who previously reached his Peter Principal. Why would he do this? Control.

Residential Refuse Pick-Ups Lake Worth

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Someone sent me an e-mail regarding waste pick-up and the fact that the City is not mailing out correct information to customers who live in condos and apartment buildings.

I received in the mail this week, as I'm sure EVERY LW utility customer did, a flier from our Refuse Division. The flier does a nice job of outlining the schedule for residential refuse pickup in LW. One problem I have with the flier is that it's information does not pertain to commercial customers. I, along with thousands of other LW residents that reside in condo or apartments, am considered a commercial customer. My refuse schedule is completely different from that of residential customers. I wonder what how many $$$ these useless fliers cost for printing and mailing. Could it be that the fliers were printed/mailed by the Refuse Division for job security reasons, as the fliers that I received are now in the 'bin.' How about mailing a flier to commercial customers with pertinent schedule information?

Just my 2 pennies.

Have a nice day.

Now the brochure that I have in my possession seems to be correct for Zone 1 where I live. However, it does not make the distinction for bulk pick-up for commercial accounts (condos and apartment buildings included here) as the instructions are for residential customers who live in houses only. I did not get this schedule that the writer received with my last utility bill.

I spoke about this a year ago in front of the commission when Joe Kroll was in charge. Nothing ever got changed. Consequently, we still have people in the condo communities that just don't understand that this information is for those customers who live in houses only and therefore some get confused and put mattresses, etc. out by the road on Lake Osborne blighting the community. In fact, they should be putting out bulk by the dumpster the night before for bulk pick-up day.

If more people speak out, perhaps, eventually, the correct instructions will be given to residential buildings that are treated as commercial accounts. Jaime Brown took over for Joe Kroll and he might be unaware of this flier and its instructions. Perhaps Steve O'Neal is not aware either. Joe Kroll should have been.

Joe Kroll applies for Lake Worth City Manager

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UPDATE ON EDUCATION-New Resume
Joseph Kroll, Director of Lake Worth's Public Services Department for a little over four years, resigned from Lake Worth in October 2011 to take a job as Southeast regional manager for Winter Park-based Hubbard Construction.

Perhaps that job is not working out too well for him as he's been hanging around Lake Worth. With confidence and encouraged by politicos within the City of Lake Worth who like his easy-going personality, he has submitted his resume to become the new City Manager.

Joseph S. Kroll

ICMA member

Education
BS- Bachelor of Science Public Administration, Upper Iowa University 2003
MPA- Masters of Public Administration, Barry University 2007

City Manager experience
None

Assistant City Manager Experience
Town of Haverhill, Assistant Town Administrator 2003-2006
for a population of 1,604 people in a town of .61 square miles with an operating budget of $1,040,013.

Other experience
South East Regional Manager for Hubbard Construction, Oct 2011 - present?
Director of Public Works, City of Lake Worth, Florida 2007-2011
Director of Public Works, Lake Park, Florida 2006-2007
VP & COO for Natural Solutions Corp. 1997-2003
Indian Trail Improvement District, Maintenance Director 1990-1997

Previous Highlighted Resumes of well qualified candidates
Dale S. Sugarman
Frank R. Spence
Paul D. White

Qualifications the City is Seeking
Qualifications after Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell disses ICMA certification, etc., turns down the elevation of the assistant city manager saying "I want a fresh new face" with Triolo and Amoroso following his lead.

2nd Avenue North opens as One Way - Again

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The last screw-up of Joe Kroll's has been resolved, for the moment.

Read about it here.

Crossing Guards on 2nd Avenue North railroad tracks

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Yeah, I'm talking about this again because it is one of the petty little annoyances for which our city is so famous that always ends up costing us hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. Everything we do costs more money than we anticipate because we forget to include something--we just plain over look part of the cost. Don't you think that costing out a project correctly is just part of the job? Think turtle lights. 2nd Avenue North fiasco is no exception. And these people get a retirement from the City...big bucks, paid for by you.

Our City Manager has worked hard to hire top people so it must be very frustrating to her when something of this nature happens. But the free lunch can continue.

We just now began our budget for the new fiscal year 18 days ago and now one of the recommendations is to amend it because someone didn't do his/her job to begin with when the city went ahead to convert this roadway to two lane traffic. They totally left out the railroad crossings in their cost estimate. Forgot all about them I guess. Tonight we will hear all the reasons for this incompetence and it will end up as no one's fault.

There are three alternatives to provide authorization for the FEC railroad crossing upgrade:

• A budget amendment for the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year could be approved by the Commission to appropriate $235,000 of the available fund balance at this time
  

• The Commission can decide to defer some of the budgeted improvements and redirect the funds.
  

• The Commission can decide to authorize the project utilizing funds from authorized projects that have not yet begun and amend the Budget in the 1st quarter budget amendment cycle, utilizing available fund balance.

Look for this item under New Business D.

Can we please start getting it right?

Farewell Party for Joe Kroll

Again, Joe Kroll resigned. No one gives parties to an employee who resigns. Retires, yes. Resigns, no.

The NA Council used its political clout to persuade the city commission to throw in the use of the clubhouse for free three hours. They used Scott Maxwell who was more than willing to put it on the Agenda probably knowing that the CM would be pissed. "Let's stick it to her one more time."

A question can be powerful. In this instance it was just that when Anderson asked if the City would give them free time at the golfcourse to hold this party--waive the fee, he stated. The NA Council and its Chair knew exactly what they were doing. If the neighborhoods are that much in love with Kroll, they should have found another venue without their subtle but very strong arm tactic.

Ryan Anderson, President of the Neighborhood Association Council says,

The Neighborhood Associations of Lake Worth are sponsoring a Farewell send-off for Public Services Director Joe Kroll. Joe is departing his position with the City of Lake Worth to pursue new challenges.

Please join us on Friday, October 21 At the Lake Worth Golf Course Clubhouse From 6:30 to 9:30

Everyone is invited to attend and please bring “party food” to share with all our neighbors. Chips, Dips, Finger Sandwiches or Wraps, Cookies, Appetizers, Veggie Trays, Cheese and Fruit Platters, Fruit Trays and Dips are all good ideas. , Water, Ice Tea and Lemonade will be provided and the Lagoon Bar at the Golf Course will open for purchasing adult beverages or soda.

This is a Lake Worth Neighborly Farewell to show our appreciation to Joe for all he’s done to support our neighborhoods. Tell your Friends and Neighbors. We sincerely Thank the City of Lake Worth for providing the venue and we hope to see you all there.

The Clubhouse is located at the very eastern end of 7^th Avenue North. Plenty of FREE parking in the Golf Course parking lot.

Bye, Joe

Last night's meeting

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In a nutshell-

It began with Public Participation on Non-Agendaed items with many presidents of the neighborhood associations giving gifts of t-shirts, certificates and kudos to Joe Kroll who is leaving Lake Worth after four years to pursue greater opportunities. The crowd wore Say It Ain't So Joe t-shirts to show their appreciation. The President of the Neighborhood Council spoke and asked the City to waive its fees of $75 an hour at the Lake Worth Golf Course so that they could throw a party for Joe on October 20 and have one staff member work the bar.

Now Joe is a nice guy and all but he RESIGNED from Lake Worth. It's not like he is leaving after 27 years like Charles Stevens who was given a clock. It's not like Valerie Hurley who was forced out after 24 years or so and got nothing. It was done, all at the right time, where this Commission could not say "no" without looking like the bad guy. It was another political move by the Neighborhood Council that took advantage of the situation. Who ever heard of a boss giving an employee a party who has essentially told the boss to "stick it." Timing is everything in Lake Worth. And who said that the neighborhood associations aren't political?

The Consent Agenda was passed with no discussion--probably because public participation took about an hour to get over Joe Kroll. Sure hope everyone on the dais knew what spending all that money was all about--quicklime and sodium hypochlorite. Another Study was approved for nearly $30,000. Since assumptions are made each year in determining expenses on annual water and wastewater revenue in order to set the rate adjustments, the CM recommended performing an annual rate sufficiency analysis to update these adjustments for FY- 2012 and create an overlay district for water rates to serve the Beach-Casino property. The City wants to know how to stick it to you once again. This deserved discussion.

In the meantime, after getting the party thing out of the way, the commission finally got into the nitty gritty--spending your cash on a fire assessment. The curve ball was that the discussion was only for the 2,300 properties or so that were excluded from the original notice. The City assured us that Government Services Group that screwed up did pay for all the mailings and reduced their fee for this "inconvenience" never stating how much it all cost.

The City, cleverly so, made this Resolution 42B-2011 instead of starting the debate all over again for all of the people and businesses that this unfair tax would affect. The Commission still does NOT get it. Rachel Waterman's dilemma was the fact that they had already passed the tax for the majority of the citizens and if this resolution failed, it "would not be fair" to those who will have to pay it. She also gave a strange analogy that the delay of the CIP expenditures to cover this cost was like "selling your car to buy groceries." The city attorney reminded her that if it fails, (McVoy was absent and it left only 4 on the dais. On a 2/2 vote, the motion dies) the motion is brought back at the next meeting. Politically it worked out for Waterman who then voted "nay." It will come back next week.

Commission salaries brought forth the wrath of the public even though it was only to vote on keeping their salaries the same as they presently receive--$14,400 for a commissioner and $15,400 for the mayor.

There are a lot of people fed up. The Mayor showed her temper once again by ejecting Mark Parrilla from the Chamber for whispering to me. The last time she ejected someone it was my cousin. Now perhaps it is rude to talk while in the Chamber but jimminey, we can't all sit there like robots for hours on end. I made a big mistake last night because I should have walked out along with Mark and for that I apologize. One of the residents next to me was videoing-- so much of this will be uploaded to You-Tube and you will see many of the highlights in action.

For some reason the city manager took it upon herself to change the hours of downtown parking from 4 hours on the street to 2 hours even going to far as to have information printed, signs changed and tires marked. This never came before the commission. There was never any public input. The businesses were never approached for an opinion. Other than Maxwell, no one else on the dais saw or expressed an opinion as to how outrageous this all was. If one of you had an employee who took it upon himself to 1) change policy and 2) spend your money without your knowledge, do you think he would just get a little pat on the wrist? Even the pat did not happen from this Commission.

The big complaint was that some stores parked all day in front of their establishment. So? If any business owner is that stupid, so be it. For the most part, everyone wanted the 4 hour rule enforced, something we have not done in the past. As I stated last night, we have so many humongous problems within our city, why mess up something that has worked? Why go to this extreme for the possible parking overtime revenue? Angering residents is part of the culture at City Hall.

Today I will be in a mitigation at City Hall for probably most of the day regarding Sunset, thus the rush to get this up. Yes, after 6 years, Sunset has not yet set. There are forces out there that still want to screw up this lovely single family neighborhood. There is a belief that if you own a property you should be allowed to build anything you please on it even if it is against our zoning and land-use codes.

2nd Avenue North and the FEC

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Besides the 1/2 million bucks given to Publix to come into our downtown, we also gave them a big concession to ensure success and driver access to the store-- voting on the change of 2nd Avenue North street from one way to two ways. In order for 2nd Avenue North to become a two-way street, Lake Worth must have the proper railroad crossing guards. We don't. Consequently the FEC has forced us to close the crossing at the railroad tracks until the proper guards are installed.

Train accidents are far more likely to kill a motorist or pedestrian today because trains are typically operating at higher speeds than a decade ago.

I learned that it is Lake Worth's responsibility to pay for the proper railroad crossing gates. The price first quoted by the FEC was $110,000 and now it is up to $235,000 and change according to Joe Kroll, our Public Works Director. Joe has told the FEC that we do not have the funds budgeted so the City will be forced to continue with one-way operations until such time money is found in the Budget. The Budget usually has money in the CIP for situations such as this. Joe said that he normally appropriates $175,000 a year for general maintenance.

In the meantime, the permits have cleared and other work done to make this a two-way street. It's just a matter of the City coming up for air and "finding" the money.

Mr. Kroll has tendered his resignation after having worked for the City for the past four years with a salary of $119,995 a year. Many of his duties were re-assigned to the new Leisure Services Department. He will be leaving the City of Lake Worth at the end of October to work in private enterprise. Jaime Brown, Engineer, is taking on Joe's responsibilities until they find a permanent replacement.

The Passing of Joe Kroll and others

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The City Manager says, "It is with sadness that I must report the resignation of Mr. Joseph Kroll, the City's longstanding Public Services Director.

Mr. Kroll resigned this week to explore new horizons and challenges in both his professional and personal life. Joe has been an outstanding member of the community for many years and will be sorely missed.

Joe will continue his employment with the City until the end of October and will be assisting in the recruitment process for his replacement. These will be large shoes to fill as Joe has worked tirelessly throughout his years with the City, devoting so much of his precious personal time to both our residents and the City Administration, particularly in the role of Emergency Management Director. We are all going to miss him and his energy." What she meant to say was, "don't let the door hit you in the azz on the way out."

Words are cheap. To tell you the truth, it was extremely sad last night when the Mayor read the list of those recently gone from Lake Worth...long time employees, all of them. It literally got me emotional and choked me up. Charles Stevens, our IT man, is leaving after 27 years and the City, instead of the usual watch for long service, gave him an inscribed clock wrapped up in black ribbon, an appropriate color for the occasion. We all applauded after his brief speech. Then he was gone too. Just like he had never been.

RIP