Pontificate (verb), “to speak or behave in a pompous or dogmatic manner”. Also (less commonly) to “pontify”.

Just in case you may have missed this from
yesterday, a blog post titled:

“Is it time to table the 0.25 millage rate reduction? Stop the ‘pontificating’?”

And also check out the blog post following this one (or use this link). Do you remember when addressing the problems with our historic preservation efforts in this City was seen as one of the biggest hindrances to our local economy and public perception? Anyhow. . .

Remember the multitude of complaints and grievances against a former Lake Worth commissioner — the one with a PhD and a fondness for pontificating and wedge (divisive) politics — should be vividly recalled as we near the end of another budget process here in our City.

Because in the end, it was because of Hurricane Irma and Mayor Triolo’s unfortunate absence from a meeting on August 22nd, not politics, that the public didn’t have the opportunity to learn more about Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell’s idea — an idea almost everyone agrees is a good one — but now most certainly is “not the right time” as commissioners Andy Amoroso, Herman Robinson, and Omari Hardy all are in agreement.*

Mayor Pam Triolo and Maxwell need to listen
to Amoroso, Robinson, and Hardy. . .
because they’re right.

Why? Because of what happened on August 22nd and September 12th. Let’s take a look back to the Budget Work Session on August 8th as reported on this blog when lowering of the millage rate was first brought up:

     This meeting was short. It began at 6:00 and ended at 7:15. However, there was one idea that took everyone by surprise. We’ll learn more about this later in the budget process because Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell’s idea of lowering the residential millage rate by 0.25 mils was taken seriously by commissioners Andy Amoroso and Omari Hardy but they both want to see how that affects the budget first.
     According to Maxwell there hasn’t been a lowering of the millage rate in 10 years. Although 0.25 mils is not substantial it would send a strong signal to Realtors, those considering relocating here to the City of Lake Worth, and City residents as well.

Now let’s proceed to the City Commission meeting
on August 15th, from the Action Agenda, the
meeting on Sept. 12th begins to loom important:

Item 10E. Ordinance No, 2017-22 - First Reading - designate the restricted/committed/assigned fund balances for Fiscal Year 2017 in accordance with GASB 54 and schedule the public hearing date for September 12, 2017

and. . .

Vote: Voice vote showed: AYES: Mayor Triolo, Vice Mayor Maxwell, and Commissioners Hardy, Amoroso and Robinson. NAYS: None

Note, very important, the “public hearing date” on Sept. 12th was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. More about that later.

Now let’s proceed to August 22nd, excerpts
from this blog:

This was the last meeting prior to the process of actually adopting a City budget which will happen at two meetings next month, according to Finance Dir. Marie Elianor. Mayor Pam Triolo was absent; Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell officiated the meeting which ended before 7:00, less than an hour.

and. . .

     Maxwell’s push for a 0.25 reduction in the millage rate appears dead in its tracks (it would turn out to be $211,000 in the budget). There was talk of giving Triolo a chance to chime in but with commissioners Amoroso, Herman Robinson, and Omari Hardy opposed there’s little to be gained it would seem.
     Hardy said this fiscal year is “not the right time”, and Robinson added a millage rate reduction “would indicate a [City] management success” but next year would consider a reduction in the millage instead of this year. Amoroso, “Agree with lowering the rate but not right now”.

It was at this August 22nd meeting, Mayor Pam Triolo was absent, that Maxwell stated the mayor should have a chance to speak on this topic of lowering the millage rate.

That would have been the budget “Special Meeting” on Sept. 12th. Again, cancelled due to Irma.

Now let’s proceed to September 19th, from
the City’s “Action Agenda”:

SECTION 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Item A. Resolution No. 43-2017 - First Public Hearing - establish the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 tentative general City millage rate and set the second public hearing for September 26, 2017
Action: Motion made by Commissioner Amoroso and seconded by Commissioner Hardy to approve Resolution No. 43-2017 on first hearing to establish the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 tentative general City millage rate and set the second public hearing for September 26, 2017.
Vote: Voice vote showed: AYES: Commissioners Hardy, Amoroso and Robinson. NAYS: Mayor Triolo and Vice Mayor Maxwell.
Item B. Resolution No. 44-2017 - First Public Hearing - adopt the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 proposed City budget and set the second public hearing for September 26, 2017
Action: Motion made by Commissioner Hardy and seconded by Commissioner Amoroso to approve Resolution No. 44-2017 on first hearing to adopt the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 proposed City budget and set the second public hearing for September 26, 2017.
Vote: Voice vote showed: AYES: Commissioners Hardy, Amoroso and Robinson. NAYS: Mayor Triolo and Vice Mayor Maxwell.
Item C. Resolution No. 45-2017 - First Public Hearing - adopt the debt service rate and set the second public hearing for September 26, 2017
Action: Motion made by Commissioner Amoroso and seconded by Commissioner Hardy to approve Resolution No. 45-2017 on first hearing to adopt the debt service rate and set the second public hearing for September 26, 2017.
Vote: Voice vote showed: AYES: Commissioners Hardy, Amoroso and Robinson. NAYS: Mayor Triolo and Vice Mayor Maxwell.

Now, let’s recap the meetings vis-à-vis Maxwell’s idea of lowering the millage rate by 0.25 mils:

• August 8th budget Work Session: Maxwell brings up his proposal for the first time.
• August 15th regular Commission meeting: Upcoming budget Special Meeting on Sept. 12th (later cancelled) looms very important in the City’s budget process.
• August 22nd budget Work Session: Mayor Triolo absent.
• September 12th budget Special Meeting: “CANCELLED”.
• Sept. 19th: First public hearings on the City budget. Split votes (3-2) on budget items 5A–C. Mayor Triolo and Vice Mayor Maxwell the “No’s” on all three votes.
• Sept. 26th (next week): Second public hearings on the budget.

Now you decide.

Whether you think lowering the millage rate is a good idea or not, do you think there has been enough public input? Or, “It’s just not the right time”?

And lastly, this is not about politics. This is about the untimely arrival of Hurricane Irma and the mayor’s unfortunate absence from a crucial City meeting. Had neither of these things happened we may very well have been seeing a 0.25 mil reduction in the millage rate this year.

But this year? No. Maybe next year.

Let’s hope there’s a 5-0 unanimous vote at next week’s “Special Meeting” on the budget and no more ‘pontificating’. Especially after Hurricane Irma, in the opinion of Yours Truly, this is a time for healing and unity on our City Commission.

So. What do you think?

Use this link to contact the mayor, vice mayor, and City commissioners. Make your voice heard, one way or the other, and remember to be polite and don’t forget to ask, “What can I do to help our City?”

*One of the more serious concerns going forward is “the proverbial Elephant in the Room”; here’s an excerpt from this blog posted on Sept. 20th:

“Despite Finance Dir. Marie Elianor stating there will be no reduction in service levels in this year’s budget we also learned from City Attorney Glen Torcivia that the FEMA issues from past years are still out there. This is very significant.
     There is still approximately $4M in question in years past from previous hurricanes and there is ≈$9M for “risk management” the City has available. Hardy pointed out until we know what is going to happen, and what FEMA is going to do, lowering the millage rate now is not the right time. Torcivia also alluded to the fact FEMA could withhold sending the City any assistance for Hurricane Irma to make up for past, well, let’s call them ‘accounting’ or ‘rounding’ errors by past administrations.”