Friday, August 26, 2016

Last night's ridiculous meeting on the Lake Worth General Obligation Bond

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Last night's meeting nearly ended before it began. It was a "work" Session to discuss the neighborhood streets project, or so we all thought. Other than Commissioner McVoy attempting to have any discussion whatsoever, there was none and none was allowed.

McVoy said that the approach we have as a commissioner should be incumbent on us [the commission] to give the public as much information as possible, that the last bond that lost at the polls and its results showed no confidence in the city as the vote was 50/50. He further stated that the big issue is the $40 million price tag and the community deserves a robust discussion.

Scott Maxwell shot him down by calling a Point of Order (his favorite thing to do when one of the minority commissioners has the floor) and when he doesn't like hearing what they have to say. A point of order may be raised if the rules appear to have been broken. Maxwell just didn't want to listen to any thing that might detract from getting this bond passed. No rules were broken. This meeting was for discussion. There was no vote on anything and the bully vice mayor was allowed to raise his ugly head once again. Can we please get a Parliamentarian?

Brent Whitfield, an engineer with ADA Engineering, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on road repairs and resurfacing. The city passed out back-up (it was still not on-line at 5:30pm according to the assistant city clerk and still fully not on-line as of this moment) of all the roads that will be repaired under this new 30 year General Obligation Bond of $40 million, a bond for which they have never told us the final cost with interest.

As Whitfield did in 2013 on the LW 2020 bond, he emphasized the fact that our city roads are not being maintained and that we needed to increase the maintenance and repair budget. Roads last only about 15 years max. Bornstein piped in that they haven't increased the budget due to budgetary constraints. In 2007, our budget for street maintenance was $1.4 million. Through the years, especially 2013, our budget was lowered to $439k. The 2017 budget is within a half million lower of where we were ten years ago. As the city NEVER maintains anything, what can we expect going forward?

We have no idea how long this project will be in effect but we do know that we will keep paying for 30 years. The following are the projected costs for the road repairs in the various districts:

District 1: $11,729,678
District 2: $ 7,365,269
District 3: $14,930,914
District 4: $ 5,474,139

To see the roads with potholes without the cost breakdown, Click here. This is not what was passed out last night.

Some residents in the chamber were hopeful that they would be allowed to speak and turned in blue cards. It didn't happen. This is how this Trio wants to inform the public--no discussion and no public input. Maxwell made a motion to adjourn the meeting and the vote was 3/2 with McVoy and Maier dissenting. We all left the packed chamber after a 40 minute meeting with our heads shaking.

Streets under Bond Program

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mcvoy had the floor. Ho dare Scott be so damn rude. Who does he think he is? Hitler? The city doesn't want us to know the details.

Lynn Anderson said...

I'm with Christopher McVoy--Does the public have the confidence to do the preventive maintenance on our roads so that they don't get into this condition again? The answer for me is "no." A lot of people will make a lot of money on this roads project and in 15 years will we have the same problems all over again? That's the concern. The city isn't talking nor are they reassuring us that things will change.

Anonymous said...

"everyone left with their heads shaking"

Everyone, if they want to admit the truth, were appalled with this meeting. exceptions might be peggy of marty.

Anonymous said...

This is just so gross of Scott. Is he in his right mind?

Anonymous said...

if this is the way they are going to treat us JUST SAY NO TO THE BOND till they learn.we have to take our city back

Anonymous said...

I can't vote for a 30 year loan for a project that won't last half that long. I work in a big HOA, and I see the kinds of things that can go wrong with a paving project. Scale the project down into manageable sections, and come back to me after one or two has been completed. Asphalt paving isn't what it used to be. Frequently, the mix is bad, and you wind up with ground up tires, bits of glass and nails. Black Pitch is a thing of the past.

Anonymous said...

That was weird. Like attending a play and the curtain just came crashing down in the middle of the first act. Is Scott Maxwell now in charge?? And rule of law and reason absent? Did anyone hear a second for him abruptly closing the meeting? Did Scottie get his panties in a wad because another commissioner decided to speak? Sure looked like it. I did not realize he was king and could make up his own rules for everyone to follow at his whim.

Anonymous said...

I did find it humorous when the Mayor made the comment about just letting the roads go to pot and then Mr. Waters can condemn the entire city. That just struck me as hysterically funny, like Saturday Night live. It still makes me chuckle, just the idea of Mr. Waters coming roaring out of City Hall with his bull dozers to level everything.

Anonymous said...

I was glad to get something in writing printed as far as what roads will be addressed. Aside from that, I'm afraid this crew is just shooting themselves in the foot again as far as transparency. I think everyone would like to see our roads fixed so a run to the grocery store feels less like a ride on a roller coaster. I would think since they lost last time due to transparency and trust issues they would not persist in using the same exact tactics this time. Apparently not.

And clearly Scott is not going to allow discussion. I still miss Mr. Timms, as he so succinctly summed up: "We're just walking wallets to you."

I do like to know what I am paying for, call me old fashioned. I don't even buy a dress without knowing the full price. When my home is on the line and a potential casualty in view of a lien throwing me out on my potholed street, I think it only customary to know details like interest rate, terms, cost to me. After all I will be paying this one for the rest of my life. It's important. And that is a concern.

Anonymous said...

"Moving forward, we will engage in a community-wide discussion on what a road improvement program should look like. It is our hope that this effort will result in a clear and concise list of projects, how to pay for them, and a timeline on their implementation. This will be another opportunity for Lake Worth to build on our sense of community and come together for the good of all."

The above is a direct quote from Mr.Bornstein just a few days ago printed on this blog.(thank you,Lynn)
Is this what a "community-wide discussion" looks like to him??

Anonymous said...

How in the world was this a workshop if there was no discussion or comment at all. And still no information on how much the proposed bond will raise taxes.

Anonymous said...

Maxwell needs to get a grip on his temper. He's not helping.

Anonymous said...

Maxwell is suffering with a messed up back and it is evidently affecting his judgment. He is obviously in so much pain that he can't even act in a rational way in a meeting. He needs to resign.

Weetha Peebull said...

If I heard correctly - these are the figures of the road budget

2007 - $1.4 M
2008 - $550 K
2009 - $702 K
2010 - $615 K
2011 - $656 K
2012 - $499 K
2013 - $439 K
2014 - $692 K
2015 - $675 K
2016 - $778 K
2017 - $952 K

Lynn Anderson said...

I would have to listen to it but I got
2009-$720
2015-$755

But these are the figures that were given by staff. 2017 is only proposed. What I am wondering is, are these the proposed figures at the time or amounts actually spent? Were these figures actual amounts? Adjusted? Or proposed?

Anonymous said...

I thought we were already at or near the top allowable millage rate. Isn't the bond a separate billing above it?? Collected separately? Anyone know??

Lynn Anderson said...

It will be a line item on your advalorem tax bill that will appear for 30 years.