Click here for live link to City Commission meeting (5/03)

A small lizard is to blame for the outage this morning more than the bus incident.

Vice-Mayor Mulvehill is running the meeting.

The Commission is not accepting the Police Pension agreement from the IBEW.  Commissioner Golden made a motion to declare an impasse.  Maxwell seconded it for discussion.  Motion passes 4-0.

Resignation of Mayor being discussed now.  The City Attorney is speaking - resignation is as of 4 o'clock today.  The vacancy is to be declared by the Commission tonight.  Special election to be declared within 6 months.  Golden wants him to wait six days, doesn't like the short notice.  Clerk needs to contact Supervisor of Elections office regarding the last day to register for the election.  I guess she would rather appoint than elect.  McVoy says that the Mayor made a very strong commitment to serve out his term.  He believes that he was sincere but he made a commitment.  So he finds it very odd that he announces his resignation prior to the deadline that would require a special election.  He also wants to appoint a successor.  Maxwell - says that it would be difficult to understand what his motives are.  He says that the Charter is clear and he makes a motion for a special in no less than 60 days.  Motion dies for lack of a second.  McVoy makes a motion to not accept the resignation and delay the resignation forever how long it takes to prevent a special election.  City Attorney Humphreys says that that it is done - can't be undone and it is "problematic."  Golden says that she doesn't know that if it's possible to have a special election - it's the July 4th weekend.  She says that we need to put some sort of realistic date and what the date would be.  It would depend on a date from the Supervisor of Elections.

Maxwell - it would be July 2nd.  He says that the Charter is what the Charter is.  He'd like to know why, but he is responsible to what the City Charter says.  The City Clerk says she will contact the Supervisor of Elections tomorrow morning.  The City Attorney says that the Commission should declare a vacancy in the Mayor's seat and direct the City Clerk to investigate the logistics with the Supervisor of Elections related to the timing of the special election.   Maxwell made the motion and Golden seconded it.  The cost of the election would be between $20,000 and $25,000 for a special election.  Mulvehill is disappointed and says that he could have waited and not have cost the city the money.

Public comment is pretty caustic.  It seems that there are those that didn't want a special election and wanted to appoint a Mayor by the Commission.  I think some people are protesting too much.  Many are blaming Varela for being political.  Mulvehill is concerned about the about of money spent for four months - she says they are being fiscally responsible.  This is the light of the library discussion that came before.  Since there are still five on the Commission - the Mayor's seat not being vacant - they are taking a recess since someone "left the room" - they still have a quorum, but the mathematics may be problematic if someone isn't there for a vote.  Break.

Golden made a motion and McVoy seconded to waive the rules re Rule 7 - to reconsider the money set aside to do the work to make 2nd Ave. N. two way.  The City Manager says she couldn't get it on the agenda - people do not recall the discussion about this.  Someone from Lake Worth Towers says that its good to have a two way street - talks about the short term memory problem.  People are coming from all directions.  This is under public comment.  Betty Resche presents a petition with 85 signatures saying that it should be two ways - she thinks the rules are rules and the City Commission is creating history.  The resolution is still good saying it is a two way street.  They are citing the fact that the motion should have been reconsidered at the next meeting - none did.

After much discussion, Golden says they have already ruled on rule 7 since they've discussed it.  Maxwell called the motion - Clerk is repeating it.  City Attorney says there is no more discussion - they need an immediate decision.  City Attorney is double-checking Roberts Rules.  The call of the question, must be seconded to cease discussion.  There is no second.  Motion dies for lack of second. Golden says they have already have the discussion on the rule and on the two-way issue.  Golden makes a motion to waive rule 7 - already has been made and seconded.  And then she calls for a vote...she calls the question.  This is getting ridiculous.  McVoy seconded it.  All ayes - now they vote to waive the rule.  Motion carries 3-1 - they waived the rules.

Maxwell makes a motion to receive and file item 11-D.  McVoy says that we've talked enough and he moves that the two-way be made.  Golden is blabbering.  She is for a two-way street after a lot of gibberish.