The comments of the other blogger...

are "political" (one of her favorite terms) in nature and do not accurately reflect the tone of the meeting.  With three exceptions, all of the public comment (around 35 people) were civil and didn't stray across the lines.  All but 5 or so of the speakers were in favor of not tempting fate and keeping the CRA as an independent board.  The fate would have been the prospect of HUD seeing the change in administration of the grant a significant change, re-score it and then having to compete with communities that don't have a self-destructive impulse that would be jumping at the chance to snap up the money that our community couldn't see its way to maintain - which all tolled would have jeopardized the $23 million NSP2 grant.

As for transparency on this issue, Commissioner Golden presented a letter that explained she "tendered her resignation from the LWCDC" the night before the Commission meeting.  So much for her not being an employee for the past two years as she was quoted in the Lake Worth Herald.  This was presented as a disjointed factoid without further explanation - which really should have accompanied such a letter.  The REAL reason that it was done is that the newly minted local Ethics Commission became concerned about her relationship with the organization and the conflict that it would create if she was an employee and also had a policy making role which could determine funding of the CDC.  Someone concerned with transparency would have made those comments last night.  One wonders if this is a resignation for a day, three months or if its permanent.  How would we ever really know?

The Mayor picked up on the negative and accusatory tone of the memo from Commissioner Golden which introduced the issue and placed it on the agenda.  He thought that prompted the depth of the reaction from the public about keeping the powers of the CRA with an independent board.  One of the more constant themes of the takeover attempt was that elected officials need to be responsible for taxpayer dollars.  That led the discussion to point out numerous instances where our elected City Commission had been derelict in that duty - $4.5 million deficit, "law suits out the ears," Sheriff's contract, etc., etc.

Commissioner Golden really stepped in it too when she said that the CRA board didn't "have leaders."  She later apologized, but it was reflective of the current mindset of the dais of "we know everything and you know nothing" which has led us to experience the reluctance to truly engage the public in dialog (see comments made under Unagendaed Items)  It was apparent that while the Commission identified problems with communication, it became obvious that members of the Commission - with certain exceptions - did little or nothing to communicate to the board, the Chair, or investigate basic informational items that are available on the CRA website or on the Housing Partnership website.  The Commission was made to look foolish by not taking advantage of such basic tools such as returning e-mails, etc.  All of the CRA board members expressed the seriousness in which they took their volunteer position and did all they could to promote communication - and were willing to do more if asked.

If you were there or listening over the Internet, please share your comments below.

What could have been a disaster was avoided for at least 90 days.