Immigration "reform"

"The immigration attorneys and activists, businessmen, government and union officials and law enforcement personnel gathered Monday agreed on the need for comprehensive reform and a path to citizenship, but some of them butted heads on finer points, demonstrating the complexity and emotional charge of the issue."

Read more... on immigration reform and the round-table discussion with Reps Ted Deutch and Lois Frankel that took place at Palm Beach State College.

Bringing the World to Lake Worth presented by Palm Beach State College Students of Architecture

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It's always interesting to see what young people are up to these days and we got to do that last night at the Shuffleboard Court Building where three teams of architecture from Palm Beach State College gave us their views of Lake Worth well into the future. They were all given the same land site, our 19 acre beachfront property, to design as if it were raw in order to use their imagination on what would make Lake Worth stronger.

The science fiction genre is diverse. Obviously, inspired by Sci-Fi movies, video games, and even Dubai and Disney World, their assignment was to make our city more appealing to a larger and even more diverse group of people by connecting us physically, culturally and globally. Commissioner Mulvehill mentioned that already we have 67 languages spoken at Lake Worth High School, so the residents already here fit into their "diverse" mold.

They want visitors to interact with the natural environment but want to change that natural look and create mountains, rain forests even going so far as to remodel and move the pier. Giving examples of accessibility versus exclusivity, one team suggested taking out all of the parking at our beach/park even the streets on Lake and Lucerne between Federal and Dixie and put in green. This concept, if ever remotely implemented, would eventually keep everyone away because of impracticality. People want easy access and want to park close to where they are going whether it be the beach or shopping. One citizen even agreed about taking out all beach parking.

It was stated that most people want to leave Lake Worth to experience the world, but the students want to bring the world to Lake Worth, a highly dense small city with no land in which to build unless it is the landfill as suggested by Jack Simons. He also suggested that some of the designs could be used on small pockets on 6th Avenue South or 10th Avenue North, gateways into our city. With some artistic futuristic ideas, their objective was to allow us to enjoy our city even more by pretending that we are somewhere else. People who come to Lake Worth are seeking exactly what we have here--a laid back lifestyle with a fabulous beach, 18 hole golfcourse, a walkable city with a vibrant downtown and a great Bryant Park...but who knows what the futuristic population will desire.

I will say that it was an interesting presentation through the eyes of youth. Many times throughout it I kept saying to myself, "Is this for real?" I give the students an A for creativity and purity of thought. Architecture should also encompass the pragmatic aspects of design which were somewhat missing. Through their enthusiasm, flair and intrepid boldness, they formed futuristic images of Lake Worth most of which were not present in reality or practicality. But you never know about the future--some people said that we would never land on the Moon.

Palm Beach State College Students to Present at Lake Worth Shuffleboard Courts

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Palm Beach State Community College architectural students developed ideas to enhance the city of Lake Worth.

Come to the meeting on Thursday to see what Lake Worth could look like going well into the 21st Century. All of you artists out there will love this inspirational and re-imagined image of our great city.

What: A group of architecture students at Palm Beach State College in Boca Raton, guided by Professor Dharmesh Patel, have spent part of the Spring Term developing innovative ideas for how to spruce up the city of Lake worth. Now, they will present their “Lake Worth Image-ability” project, aimed at enhancing the city’s characteristic and charm, to city officials in a public meeting this week.

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2012

Where: Lake Worth Shuffleboard Courts Community Center, 1121 Lucerne Ave.

Background: This Think Local, Learn Global initiative is part of a three-way split cultural exchange program with Lake Worth’s sister city in Southend-on-Sea, England.

The students’ work focuses on three areas: (1) Biomes, natural simulated environments that entertain, educate and inspire; (2) Connect, which includes the creation of a cell phone app for the city (3) Access. The students have created site plans, PowerPoint presentations and other visuals to show how the city could look.

Patel worked with Lake Worth City Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill to get the project underway. “We want to try to improve Lake Worth and create a better image of the city," Mulvehill said.

Media Professor Dharmesh Patel
Contact: (561) 862-4430

Tabatha McDonald
College Relations and Marketing Specialist
(561) 868-3127

Serving more than 51,000 students annually, Palm Beach State College is the largest institution of higher education in Palm Beach County, providing the bachelor’s degree, associate degrees, professional certificates, career training and lifelong learning. Established in 1933 as Florida's first public community college, it offers more than 100 programs of study at locations in Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Palm Beach

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.