Friday, July 23, 2010

Public Notification for Chlorination Altering Process

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION FOR
CITY OF LAKE WORTH TO ALTER WATER
CHLORINATION PROCESS
AUGUST 8, 2010 THROUGH AUGUST 21, 2010
City of Lake Worth - In accordance with a program recommended by the Palm Beach County Health Department, the City's water chlorination methods will be temporarily changed for two weeks from August 8, 2010 through August 21, 2010.  The City will accomplish this strictly precautionary measure to ensure our water supply remains free of bacteria.Starting August 8, 2010 a "free chlorine" water treatment method will be used to provide a somewhat stronger disinfection process than the "combined chlorine" treatment which is normally used.  The City will revert back to the "combined chlorine" method on August 21, 2010. As part of this process, the City will be flushing fire hydrants. This flushing will cause temporary water in the swales of the roadways. Please do not be alarmed by this water as it will dissipate within a few hours.The City of Lake Worth and their Consecutive Systems water utility customers including Aqua Utilities of Florida (Lake Osborne Estates), Hypoluxo Village, John Prince Park, Lake Clarke Shores, Lantana Cascade, Palm Breezes Club, Seminole Manor and Whispering Pines may notice a slight chlorine taste or odor in their tap water during this period; however, these temporary conditions will not cause adverse health effects.  Tropical fish tank owners, hospitals and residents with pools should be aware of the chlorination changes and make adjustments accordingly.  Any questions should be directed to the City of Lake Worth Water Treatment Plant (561) 586-1710.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Lake Worth sues city's firefighter pension board, alleging that benefits calculations were inflated

Huh?  This is out of the blue - click title for link to PB Post article.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Two of the Packards at the National Meet in Gettysburg, PA




FYI - I am attending this car show with my father (above)

Ryan Anderson's Presentation - Statement/Slideshow from 7/20 City Commission Meeting re Board Appointment Inconsistencies

Statement

Slideshow

Comments Up - Back from Travels :)

Mayoral Discussion on the City's Current Financial Condition - 7/21 @ 7 p.m. Lake Worth Playhouse

Lake Worth Mayor, René A. Varela, will be giving a public budget presentation on Wednesday, July 21st, at 7:00 pm in the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Avenue. During his address the Mayor will provide a report on the current economic condition of the City and also outline the City's plan to stabilize the economic condition in Fiscal Year 2011 and improve conditions in future years; providing Lake Worth residents and business owners with a better understanding of where the City currently stands and how these challenges can be overcome.This will be the first Mayoral Budget Presentation given in Lake Worth.  Mayor Varela is committed to ensuring fluid and open discussion with residents and business owners to promote transparent government and to keep the community aware of the progress that is being made. The event is free of charge and open to all interested residents of the City.

Links for more information re Sub-Regional Sewer Fund Issue

January 5, 2010 City Commission Meeting - SunTrust Covenant violation

December 11, 2009 City Manager's Report - 

December 8, 2009 City Commission Work Session -

Refer to July 20, 2010 City Commission Agenda re Rampell & Rampell accounting report. - Item 11A

Comment left by Anonymous under previous post:

I went because of your posting. What I took away was that the City of Lake Worth is owed over 
$13,000.000 Thirteen million dollars
from neighboring municipalities. Moneys not collected due past mistakes in billing. 
Apparently they, the municipalities have kept making payments and the funds are in in escrow. ??
the choice now is mediation or litigation. 
All but one municipality made an appearance last night and said they are willing to come to the table and settle this once and for all. 
City Mgr. made herself available to redress this matter before statue of limitation makes collecting a moot point. 
A comment by the Mayor was that Utilities Mgr is out (vacation?) so deadline would come and go.
Hellooo $13.000.000 at stake
What would I do. Spend $3.000 get the guy back from where ever he is, be it Timbukto or Europe get him back to the table asap. or forfeit collections owed to city of Lake Worth. 
Utilities Mgr is not worth his weight in salt If the city looses this, because HE is unavailable.


ED note: Utility Director is Rebecca Mattey, P.E.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Click here for live link to City Commission Meeting 7/20

This is short due to a flaky Internet connection, but I was able to catch most of the discussion and public comment regarding the board appointment issue.  Commissioners Jennings and Mulvehill were not there.  Commissioner Golden thought that the process was fine, that's how it is done and she was pleased that so many wanted to be on boards.  Ryan Anderson did a great job in his presentation, many people spoke regarding how the Commission did not follow the ordinance, the Mayor thought the wording was vague - the phrase "horse trading" was used about 50 times.  Commissioner Maxwell said that is something he doesn't do, Golden and Varela said that it is part of the political process.

I heard many familiar voices at the podium bearing witness to the flawed procedure, not as many spoke in support other than to say "it's politics."

They agreed to put this on the next (?) workshop agenda to refine the way ranking is done before the appointments to remaining boards.  No vote was taken.

Please fill in the blanks in the comments section if you were there or listened on the Internet.

Announcement from City: Coffee with the Mayor - 7/26

The next "Coffee with the Mayor" event will take place on Monday, July 26th from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at ML International Salon located at 506 Lake Avenue.

Residents are invited to join Mayor Varela for casual conversation and brief information on projects and initiatives taking place across the city.

DON'T FORGET THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT AND ITEM 11-b UNDER NEW BUSINESS RE CITY COMMISSION VIOLATING ORDINANCE REGARDING BOARD APPOINTMENTS!

Lincoln Highway Sign

Some of my travels this summer have been on the old sections of the Lincoln Highway.  In fact, Gettysburg, PA, where I am now, is at the crossroads of US 30 (formerly and currently known as the Lincoln Highway) and US 15.

This sign is one that we found in Ohio.
There are other signs designating the highway in Pennsylvania - many sections of the road are named "Lincoln Way", etc.

Click here for map of CRA district within Lake Worth

902 N. C Street is within the CRA district, but not within the area that has been designated to receive the $23 million of funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program II administered by the CRA.

Dalai Lama

When we develop patience, we find that we develop a reserve of calm and tranquility. We tend to be less antagonistic and more pleasant to associate with. This creates a positive atmosphere around us and it is easy for others to relate to us. Better grounded emotionally through patience, we become stronger mentally and spiritually, and tend to be healthier physically.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Response from City re: 902 North C Street - came in at 2:40 p.m. today

Mr. Blackman, 

Thank you for the info on 902 N C Street.   Public Services was notified today to address securing the building and the appearance of the property.  This single-family home was placed on the City’s surplus list earlier this year.  Both the Planning & Zoning Board and City Commission decided not to deem the property “suitable for use as affordable housing”.  At the July 6, 2010 City Commission meeting, the Commission chose to convey the property to the CRA.  The property was one of 4 properties conveyed to the CRA, that night.  Resolution 16-2010 approved the conveyance.  The CRA explained they would use the property for their Cultural Renaissance program.  So far this year, 7 properties have been approved for conveyance from the City to the CRA.

Please let me know if anything else is needed regarding this property.

Wayne R. Bergman, MCP, LEED-AP
Community Development Director
City of Lake Worth

IMPORTANT: New Business Item 11B - Violation of City Ordinance as it relates to Appointments to City Boards

On the City Commission agenda Tuesday, July 20th, there is a very important item placed by Commissioner Maxwell regarding the recent appointment process to City advisory boards.  Click title for link to entire agenda and back-up material.  The following is from the transmittal memo from Agenda Item 11B under "New Business:"


Recently I received an extensive e-mail from Mr. Ryan Anderson alleging one or more
violations of City ordinances related to the recent Commission selection of citizen volunteers
to serve on the various advisory boards.


As indicated below, Mr. Anderson states he recently had a conversation with the City
Manager requesting that an agenda item be placed on the next Commission agenda regarding
the recent City Board appointments. Mr. Anderson, along with other members of the public,
believes that several obvious violations of City ordinances occurred during these proceedings
and that they should be publicly discussed.


Mr. Anderson is aware that as a member of the public he cannot require the City Manager
make additions or deletions to the Commission's meeting agenda, as indicated in the body of
Mr. Anderson’s e-mail:


“What I was requesting of Ms. Stanton is that she be cognizant of the blatant violations that
occurred and the public's current perception of this process. Then, with her authority to add
agenda items, add one to the next discussion and efficiently manage the public's perception of
the board appointment process. In an attempt to make myself clear, below I have included a
snippet from the City ordinance that defines that board applications must be submitted ten
days before interviewing, that each applicant must be interviewed, that the Commission must
rank each applicant and that board members must be selected by the Commission at the same
meeting as the interview. These are four items that stand out to me as they did not take place
for each Board appointment as mandated.


Sec. 2-12. Terms of office and selection of members of city boards.


(a) The term of office of each person who serves on any city board, commission, authority,
council, agency or panel who is appointed by the city commission shall end on July 31 of the
year in which such member’s term expires.


(b) Beginning in April of each year, the city shall provide to the public notice of vacancies of
board members whose terms expire during the year, so that residents may apply for the vacant
positions. Applications for boards may be filed at any time up to ten (10) days before the
interview meeting with the city commission.


(c) In June of each year, the city commission shall conduct an interview meeting with
prospective applicants to city boards and shall select the board members at the meeting, based
upon the commission members ranking of the applicants. In the event that vacancies to city
boards occur at other times of the year, the city commission may determine to hold interview
meetings with applicants at other times of the year and select replacement members in
accordance with the procedures contained in this section.


(d) Upon the adoption of this section, for members of city boards whose terms end in a month
other than July, the terms shall be extended until the following July, as provided in paragraph
(a).(Ord. No. 2002-20, 1, 7-16-02)


Please consider my request to bring this issue to the forefront of discussion at the upcoming
Commission meeting by making it an official agenda item. Thank you for your service and all
that you do for our City.”


At the request of Mr. Anderson, I requested the City Manager place this matter before the
Commission at the July 20th meeting and allow 10 minutes for a presentation from Mr.
Anderson or a designee so that the Commission might have a better understanding of the
allegations so as to better form a decision of action to take to address the allegations.

PLEASE COME AND SHOW COMMISSIONER MAXWELL AND MR. ANDERSON,  YOUR SUPPORT AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S MEETING.  IF YOU WISH, SUBMIT A CARD TO VOICE YOUR OWN OPINION AFTER THE PRESENTATION.


THIS AMOUNTS TO CORRUPTION OF PROCESS PERPETRATED BY CERTAIN OF OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS - IF WE, THE RESIDENTS OF LAKE WORTH, DON'T MAKE AN ISSUE OF THIS, IT WILL KEEP THE "BUSINESS AS USUAL" ATTITUDE ALIVE AND WELL - THIS CANNOT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN!