Additional Q & A to and from Tom Ramiccio

You say we should sell our power plant to FPL. But we have 2 years left in the exit plan now under way from our utility's contract with FMPA. Why would FMPA let us out of a contract without a financial penalty?

If and when we negotiate with FPL, we will ask them to take over our responsibilities of FMPA. In addition to which, it might take that long to finalize a deal with FPL. 

When you were Mayor 1998-2001 Garrison Electrical Consultants wrote in a report for the city that “little had been done to improve the utility,” and they warned of blackouts. Why did your administration ignore maintenance of the power plant?

We were partnering with a private utility firm to upgrade the system with a heat recovery plan that would have saved Lake Worth millions of dollars and make the system more efficient. That company went bankrupt and I lost my reelection campaign to Romano. FACT: I did begin a process to make the system more reliable. We maintained the plan the best that we could, like today, they are doing the best they can with old and out-dated equipment that is not reliable or cost efficient.

In 1997 you ran for mayor on a platform of “saving the beach” yet in 1998 you “led the effort to develop the beach” into a 250-room hotel, with 200  Wetimeshare units and a 75-year lease. (Palm Beach Post 12/11/98) Given how you flip-flopped on that, can residents trust your word on anything now?

Yes, I ran on saving the beach from overdevelopment. I never wanted a plan that would have given a developer a 100 year lease with no control from the city. The citizens trusted me on this issue over and over. A proposal came in to put a hotel on the beach and I voted NO. Perhaps you should revisit other press reports where I stated, “We need to take this slow. This could be the last chance to fix up the beach for another four or five years.'' (PB Post November 11, 1998)

Or (PB Post: December 10, 1998) ``We need to keep the beach public. I propose to reject all four proposals and start all over to see what the public wants.''

Or the PB post article stating: “Mayor Tom Ramiccio wants to forget about getting a developer and seek state and county aid to restore the casino, give the area a face lift and replace the oceanfront parking with green space. He would pursue a private-public deal for a parking garage and ``a few more shops.'' The mayor says ``we would have no control'' once land is leased. He's right. Also, while public access may be retained in theory, just the presence of a hotel would discourage the public from coming.”

I voted the right way on the beach and I stand by my vote. I did the right thing for the city. I don’t agree with your assessment. I encourage you to check the facts.