Other than self-satisfaction for a fleeting moment, when has retribution done anyone any good? Is it satisfying to know that one has received his " just deserts" or met with a comeuppance by three city commissioners with the power to show who is boss? Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso want to exercise control and fulfill the wishes of their supporters. Amoroso, former member of the CRA, spoke out against the P&Z Board when he was campaigning. Now with the power, it was just easier to change the Ordinance. Now they can justify their "fairness" towards volunteers who have done a great job for Lake Worth. There is not one fault from the P&Z that I can state other than my personal opinion on the Venus Cafe variance.
Tomorrow night, all the trumped up political propaganda of late will come to fruition--this visionary commission has the power to eliminate all present members on our Planning & Zoning board no matter their appointment expiration date on the pretense 1) they want "qualified" people and 2) they want a 5 member voting board, not 7. This will no longer be an independent planning and zoning board but one they want to appoint consisting of members with special interests...those who make their money from development. They want to get rid of their "undesirables" and shhh, an "anarchist."
It shows you the power of one political group that wants to "give away" our city by making things easier for their developer friends. Some squawk about heights, mentioning our comprehensive plan that was developed years ago before we had a sustainability director and a professional who actually knows what he's talking about...they want higher buildings. They want to take control and continue to give favors by making it easy for developers who come before the P&Z board to get their site plan approved on first try. Afterall, they say, development is what we need for our tax base, any kind of development. It doesn't matter that we have empty and foreclosed townhouses all over town. They want more.
Even though this present P&Z (smart and knowledgeable people who followed our code as well as making common sense decisions when necessary) insisted that some of the projects before them be better designed and asked a few developers to improve their plans, and even though this present board has not denied one request before them, this doesn't matter to this majority commission. They have been listening to some complainers and have drummed up an excuse of "qualifications" in order to replace many of them well before their terms expire. This action is unprecedented in Lake Worth. I ask you--who are the real anarchists?
Look for more Lucerne condos in the future. Look for many more variances and not just the type they gave to the Venus Cafe which has happened with frequency in this City. If any member of the P&Z had gone against that particular variance and had followed our Ordinances, it would have been suicide for sure. It just shows you should always stand up for principles. The Commission approved it on a 5/0 vote. We just don't have enough bars. Give it to one, you have to give it to all. This started years ago.
What brought about removing members and changing out the P&Z was a result of the highly contentious CRA townhouse plan, ooops loft plan, that was previously before them. The CRA, dying to spend part of that $23 million grant on time, packed the P&Z meetings with angry people who spoke in their normal caustic manner using all sorts of negatives to make their points. When you want "angry," you know exactly who to call upon. Some of these folks are probably on speed dial. The CRA did not want any deterrents to its plan. There is no civility any longer in this city. What we have is bad politics and a few vocal sheep who act as if they are leftovers from Charles Manson's cult, continually bending the ear of this majority commission.
- Kate Sheffield (appt. October 26, 2011) serves as a planner and her term expires in 2013
- Cara Jennings (appt. August 11, 2011) serves as a citizen at large and her term expires in 2014 (They forgot to say she was elected twice to our city commission and previously worked on our Master Plan and has untold knowledge of this city)
- Gael Silverblatt (appt. August 11, 2011) serves as a citizen at large, but has extensive landscape experience and her term expires in 2014 (They forgot to say how intelligent and conscientious she is)
- Lawrence McNamara (appt. March 25, 2010) serves as a citizen at large, but has real estate experience and his term expires in 2013 (They forgot to say he is a paralegal and obtaining his law degree)
- Robert Waples II (appt. July 31, 2009) serves as a project management and his term expires in 2012
- Linda Davis (appt. July 31, 2009) serves as an appraiser and her term expires in 2012
- Lynda Mahoney (appt. February 5, 2009) serves as a real estate mortgage investor and her term expires in 2012. (They forgot to mention she does her homework and understands the big picture, our Code and Ordinances and is always looking out for Lake Worth, we the citizens)
Also, under Consent Agenda is an owner at 182 Vassar Drive wanting approval on a variance involving installation of pavers on their driveway which causes an encroachment on city right-of-way. I see no evidence that this came before the P&Z or even the Historic Preservation board but instead it is approved by the Public Works Director. Perhaps this property is some exception.
Is this what the City has now become? No law. No order. A board literally "thrown under the bus" to the detriment of the City of Lake Worth all for politics...all for a couple of people who wanted to derail our casino, or got a nose bent out of shape because he was not appointed to the "right" board, or build to one hundred feet.
20 comments:
What a great analogy---your comments under the USDA symbol.
Interesting points, comments and concerns.
One person’s “special interests” is another’s qualified.
The old Lake Worth battle between “Agenda Driven” vs. Knowledge and Experience seems to never end.
My personal favorite is the group that classifies non believers as Pavers who want 100 ft buildings vs the group that thinks their non believers want to stop development of any kind in any location.
Certainly the lack of civility from this side of the dais results in little influence on the other side.
After an election in which the experiences ranged from no opposition to a landslide to a hard fought campaign, I am guessing that those electeds probably think they know the will of the majority of the people. Since you tell me the vote was 5-0, I don’t understand the bullying charge.
Certainly the Neighborhood Associations are becoming more organized and demanding. I guess we will see if it is a factor Tuesday night.
Since you tell me the vote was 5-0, I don’t understand the bullying charge
You are kidding, right? Sometimes you have to know when to "fold them."
There was no bullying charge in my blog. What there is, however, is the observation that this is all POLITICAL and bull--not bullying--but BULL.
You are right about the neighborhood associations. The power they have accumulated here was developed by an activist. I touched on that a few years ago in a series that has all come to fruition.
Just a reminder-
Debate the blog, not its author. Refrain from personal attacks. You may have some very legitimate complaints but they will not get published here when you resort to personal attacks.
We are all going to see this differently. So, watch your anger; watch your temper--take them both somewhere else.
When these two boards were combined, P&Z and HRPB, qualifications were required by Statute. When the boards were separated, the qualification requirement was no longer necessary for P&Z. The commissions have always appointed people to boards who they have felt were qualified or would vote per their agenda. They are most definitely political and to believe that they are not, is naive. I do not like the sneaky process this commission took regarding the planning board. I don't appreciate them removing people who were appointed to a specific term. Changing the rules like this is corruption. There are three positions up for grabs at the end of July and they should have waited for the board interviews and voted accordingly per their newly written ordinance. So, it is bullying if for any other name.
Let's talk a few facts:
1. William Waters is the one who insisted the size of the two boards, P&Z and HRPB, match. Since Mr. Waters said the HPRB currently had 5 members and 2 alternates and needed to stay that way, the P&Z was set up with 5/2.
2. "Angry" can apply to a number of people. I heard Katie McGivern's comment at the last P&Z meeting and that was definitely screaming.
3. One member of the P&Z board actively solicited help with work on a home including mold removal serious enough to required protective breathing gear. There is nothing wrong with doing such work, but it is wrong to do it without the necessary permits. And the same P&Z member made it difficult for Code Enforcement to inspect the house which isn't acceptable from anyone.
I believe I said that they were thrown under the bus. We do not know why William Waters wrote this all into one Ordinance. For all I know, Maxwell could have told him to. No one on the commission objected, did they? It was a stupid thing to do and in the end, you usually do what your boss tells you to do. And that's another thing, commissioners going directly to staff and telling them what to do. Totally wrong even if Bornstein doesn't care. Who actually manages this city anyway?
Angry applies to most everyone in that Chamber who follow the Trio, especially the mean-spirited people in the back row. It is shocking when anyone other than the usual suspects get upset. Certain people there should be asked to leave but are allowed to heckle, talk, snicker, and just be ugly.
You named Katie, now name the P&Z member or is this just 2nd hand information that can't be verified? It's easy to accuse when you remain ANONYMOUS.
Don't you realize that blaming Scott Maxwell for EVERYTHING, (even if it's only the wild conspiracies in your head) is only going to make him stronger as the city turns around?
"For all I know Maxwell could have told him to". Really? You thought this but act and report as if it really happened. I thought you would have learned your lesson after the bus trip payer conspiracy blew up in your face.
The ANONYMOUS poster said they HEARD Katie MGivren's comment at the last P&Z meeting. How is HEARING something second hand?
Scott Maxwell IS the leader right now. We also know, for a fact, that some commissioners are going directly to staff, on their own.
Next, the bus trip did not blow up in my face. I have my sources on this who state it as I wrote it. You can choose to believe whomever you want...your choice.
I believe you need to go back and re-read what I wrote. I SAID: now name the P&Z member or is this just 2nd hand information that can't be verified? It's easy to accuse when you remain ANONYMOUS.
That still stands, ANONYMOUS.
P.S. You sound angry.
Scott Maxwell has ntohing to do with the city turning around. It has everything to do with a past commission. As an example, reducing the budget that he voted against, completing the Casino, that he voted against, completing the reverse osmosis system that he was against. Those are a few for starters. I do not believe that mean, heavy handed people win out in the end.
Cara Jennings---
3. One member of the P&Z board actively solicited help with work on a home including mold removal serious enough to required protective breathing gear. There is nothing wrong with doing such work, but it is wrong to do it without the necessary permits. And the same P&Z member made it difficult for Code Enforcement to inspect the house which isn't acceptable from anyone.
Now post it!
Commissioner Maxwell voted against the Stanton Budgets because they were proven & consistantl frauds--voted against the Casino because it was poorly planned, mismanaged and he knew that if the Public ever knew the size of the overruns, they would never vote for it--the RO Plant still hasn't got a permit for more than 50% use and the money used for it can not be used to cover the $6,000,000 shortfall in the Electric Utility "shortfall".
Do the only people not understanding this comprise the ever shrinking "never to be considered" minority at Commission meetings?
Lookie Here 9:02 am = About the bus payer, the infor by the writer of this blog was correct! Ask around, do the research Jackwagon!
As said, the "over-runs" were not over-runs until Maxwell and this commission allowed them to be funded.
As far as the utility is concerned, we will leave the shortfall up to vocal residents to harp about. Once we get our internal auditor on board, he will perhaps be able to find out what IS going on at our Utility. When it was decided to go with the 26.4kv, it cost the city nearly $6 million in wasted money to finally do the right thing and go with the 13.2kv. Until then, it is everyone's guess. I believe that we have all the permits that we need for our RO. Check it out.
As far as the bus to Orlando, I have 2 sources that say differently. Thou protest too much. It is immaterial anyway and certainly doesn't deserve any more comment. Heady and Heran have NO business in Lake Worth or comparing our Utility with one in any other city or getting residents all up in arms about selling something for which they have no idea of its worth.
Bullies are never strong people. Regarding the reduced numbers of reasonable people who used to attend meetings, what is the use now? Why bother when this city is being run by 3 rookies and Mr. No.
If I had to make a choice whether to believe Lynn's two anonymous sources or Mary Lindsey's (the one who organized and thought up the trip)written assurance, with her name on it, that FPL had nothing to do with funding the bus trip to Orlando, you might imagine who's side I'd come down on.
The meeting was not about FPL or a potential sale of our utility to them. It was about our exit from FMPA.
"getting residents all up in arms about selling something for which they have no idea of its worth."
Why are you so against finding out just what it's worth or whether it could make sense to sell it to FPL, reducing our rates to what they charge all their customers?
We spend collectively about $40 million more to Lake Worth Utilities per year for the same amount of power than what FPL would charge. The utility contributes about $10 million to the budget.
Do the math and see whether it deserves a look.
If it turns out that it cannot feasibly be done, then we are stuck with owning our own utility. Right now, we only pay 40% higher rates for all the "control" we have. Will it make sense to look at selling when it reaches 60% higher.... how about double?
What's wrong with getting information?
c
Well, "c" why not look into it for us and report back. Be sure to check with Heady and Heran though. These two schmucks will have all the answers for all of us. Don't forget everyone on the bus who paid for their seat.
Did I say anything about FPL paying for the bus? How do these things get so twisted. Ooops, forgot--Lake Worth politics and those who shout louder are believed the most? Is that it?
If I had a choice, we wouldn't even be having this discussion about selling our utility based on .....????
Let's not be making any premature decisions or projections on our Utility. Until the city commission has a formal discussion about this, directs staff to go out on an RFP for an appraisal and until FPL even indicates they want to buy it (which they won't), then it all is ridiculous.
When Durger King Scott Maxwell level people makes decisions,or nasty remarks,trying to show new Mayor Pam Triolo that he is the Mayor, not she, and that he is in charge:
you can see the lack of knowledge of the level of value of Palm Beach Island Land , how it can be the most lucrative source of Lake Worth's revenue, to sustain itself.
He did not know that the Concrete bunker style Casino and Beach has cost us millions in maintenance, with way below Palm Beach Island scale rentals,he never corrected, and expensive life guards service!
Burger King is in
substandard level locations and its' products are of that area socio economic and mental level.He's been movin' on up,
but did not grow with the new position and remained negative ,against all plans for progress and sustainability, produced by generating revenue!
He has never brought one plan to generate revenue for our City and to make it sustainable. Negative cracks result of deserved personal,ill humor, unhappiness, due to serving the God of the holy water dispensed at Dave's Last Resort and other similar assorted Churches of that sort of Holy Water?????.
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