What I said under Public Comment on Unagendaed Items last night (3/1)

Item 6: Wes Blackman, 241 Columbia Drive, private citizen – most honorable Mayor and esteemed members of the dais. I'd like to address the issue of civility that has come to the fore and was part of your discussions during a work session last week. I would like to suggest that the emotions of the public that you are experiencing during public comment, elsewhere and at other times, is borne of frustration. There is a feeling that the public's input is either not wanted, purposefully made more difficult or avoided entirely. It is my understanding that the City Manager is refusing to attend neighborhood association meetings and answer questions on topics like the study regarding Lake Worth's police services. The study is going forward despite widespread – near universal support - of the existing PBSO contract. Likewise, we have decisions being made about city buildings being demolished – the Shuffleboard Court building – that have never seen the light of day of a public meeting. Has the Planning and Zoning Board met regarding this? Will they be making a recommendation to the Commission or is it a “done deal?” We have a sitting City Commissioner that has a long-standing relationship with a non-profit agency that leases a city building that was never discussed as part of the analysis of all city-owned buildings with leases. The Mayor asked for an investigation of that agency's relationship with the city at the first meeting in January. We have heard nothing regarding the results of that investigation and the agency is still operating without a current lease. There are more examples, but I am limited for time. What I have seen the reaction to be is one of retreat and defensiveness on the part of the city – which is the wrong way for the city to go. We can't have anymore “fortress Lake Worth” - you need to find ways to be totally transparent in your dealings with the public – which is all the time. I leave this piece of saran wrap here in an effort to bring at least a little transparency into this building.