Putting myself in the role of the uninitiated resident citizen last night,

I wonder what impression they had about our City Government.  For the past week, since the release of the report, they had been hearing that the City Commission ordered a study about getting rid of the Sheriff's office in Lake Worth.  All media sources reported that the Willdan study recommended getting rid of the Sheriff and re-establishing Lake Worth's own police department.

Immediately, FaceBook groups popped up on the topic and you couldn't go anywhere in Lake Worth, or Palm Beach County really, where this was not the major topic of conversation.  The Commission and City Administration specifically excluded public input in the $46,000 plan.  To make up for this, residents planned a "Voice in the Choice" meeting last Saturday that over 200 people attended where support for PBSO was overwhelming.  All were told that the City Commission would be discussing, not  making a decision, the report on May 18th.

I think this was the turning point.  The City Commission and Administration suddenly realized they were on the wrong side of history.  Here was a topic that they couldn't use to divide the community and villainize the opposition.  Suddenly they were in the position of being the villain.  Can't happen with this REGIME.  At this point, the retreat was on - "Everyone wants to keep the Sheriff, we're just trying to negotiate with them for a better deal" was the mantra from the dais.  However, it was still unclear if the public would have a chance to be heard at the meeting scheduled Wednesday night on the report.

This peaked yesterday afternoon with a hastily prepared press release and press conference - prior to the well-publicized meeting where, according to the media message - "The City of Lake Worth will be considering termination of the contract with the Sheriff at a public meeting tonight."  Channel 5 even reported that "Public comment will begin at 5:30 p.m."  The prepared piece read by Vice Mayor Muleville for the Press Conference assured that the public will be heard, that the public attending the meeting should address the report and how to create more revenue only.  We were reassured that no one is really talking about getting rid of the Sheriff, we are just trying to negotiate with PBSO.

So imagine someone getting to City Hall last night around 5:15 p.m.  They would have been greeted by a throng of people outside the building yelling "Save PBSO", waving signs and getting fired up - having not heard the panicked retreat put on by members of the City Commission and the City Manager - they would think "Wow, here I am at City Hall and I am finally going to get the opportunity to tell the City Commission what I think about them getting rid of the Sheriff's contract."

So, they walk up the steps to City Hall and are immediately greeted by someone pointing them to go into the City Commission conference room.  You were told that, when time for public comment comes, you would be ushered into the Commission Chambers with a group of 10 people - when that group was done, another 10 would be directed in to the room and the first 10 would be led out.  Sitting in this "holding room", you were treated to listening to some man referring to a PowerPoint presentation that you couldn't see.  This would drone on and on.  They guy's voice over the speaker was talking about dismantling the Sheriff's contract and starting a new Lake Worth Police force.  You talk to people sitting around you and get riled up even more.

Then you hear Vice Mayor Mulvehill say that we think that the Sheriff is great and he's not going anywhere, but you continue to hear the discussion about benefit packages and staffing levels for a new Lake Worth Police Department.  Questions from Commissioners all center around this report which tries to detail what would happen in such a transition. But again you hear people on the dais say, "Don't worry, we're not getting rid of the Sheriff."  But the conversations still drone on about a new police department.  Now you're getting hungry and you've been sitting almost two hours waiting to speak about how great PBSO is.  Others around you check the time and some start walking out the door, shaking their heads, wondering what is really going on.  They feel confused and frustrated that they didn't have a chance to challenge these people that ordered this study saying that it's o.k. to exit the Sheriff's contract.  You did learn that the City Manager hasn't really talked to PBSO too much about this (because, in reality, she wanted her own Police Department).  After three hours and no progress in getting to public comment, most of the public that came to speak were gone.

After having stayed through 95% of the meeting, I left wondering what was actually accomplished.  The report is full of holes - none of the negotiating points with the Sheriff that are included at the end of the report were really discussed.  The main discussion was centered around details of creating a new Lake Worth Police Department.  You have a confused public that doesn't know what to think at this point and I dare say that media doesn't know what to say what went on at this meeting.

If you were there, share your impressions under comments.  I am still scratching my head.