Commission
Meeting of 2-12-2013
After
call to order, pledge of allegiance and roll call all the participants that
made the Jr. Orange Bowl Parade possible were honored and recognized with a Certificate
of Appreciation. Please go to nbvmario.blogspot.com for the details.
Mr.
Fausto Gomez our Tallahassee lobbyist presented his report. North Bay Village
Commission had presented 30 different items as priorities. Mr. Gomez explained
that these priorities fell under 6 categories. These categories were as follows:
Parks and Recreation, Water and Environment, Education, Transportation, Safety
and Security and General. Presently the only thing scheduled for Tallahassee is
the DOT Causeway Project for 2014-2015. The tearing down of the link fence and
the addition of the pedestrian rails are not included. DOT had agreed to do it
after the meeting with the state last year. However there are no
guarantees. Considering the state’s
financial health I wouldn’t count on it. The rest of the priorities are going
nowhere for now.
Presentation of Independent audit
report for fiscal year 2011-2012-Keefe, McCullough & Co., LLP was
favorable. According to the report, the financial health of the village is
strong. Thanks to the leadership and hard work of our Financial Director Mr. Bert
Wrains the audit went smooth and was presented in a timely manner this
year. It was reported that the results
of the report meant that if the village were to find itself without revenues it
would be able to run for 3.5 months. I
am hoping once the Finance and Oversight Board is off and running that this
will be their first order of business to verify these numbers reported. Additionally
this was a preliminary report and can change.
Business
Development Board Report
Please
go to the open letter addressed to Mayor Connie Leon Kreps posted at
nbvmario.blogspot.com for all the details.
Youth
and Education Services Board Report
Mr.
Kevin Vericker expressed his concerns regarding the lack of interest in parents
that have children in Treasurer Island Elementary School in joining the
Parents, Teachers Association (PTA). According to the report at the last PTA
meeting only one couple showed up to the meeting. Mr. Vericker got the green
light from the commission to use $ 150.00 of the windfall from the donations
collected for the Jr. Orange Bowl Parade. This $ 150.00 will be used to set a
Clothes Line Art Display at the Farmers Market scheduled to be set at the
Commission Meeting of March 4, 2013.
Planning and Zoning Board
Chairman Rey Trujillo asked the commission to
reinstate the previously approved $ 50,000.00 for reviewing the Planning and
Zoning codes. This budgeted money was placed on hold when the unreserved
reserves came into question in 2012 by Commissioner Richard Chervony. He pointed out that the committed unreserved
reserved were dangerously low. Here is the deal, Commissioner Chervony’s
observation are still correct. However, some of the current P & Z codes are
antiquated while others need to be updated. This process is crucial if we are
to pave the way for North Bay Village to grow. I agree with Mr. Rey Trujillo
that this money should be made available for the timely and much needed review
of Village Planning and Zoning Codes.
Public Safety Discussion
The
Neighborhood Crime Watch Program has not dwindled down. It appears that if we
have North Bay Village resident interest it may actually go forward.
Commissioner Reports
I will not
bore you with the details, simply summarized “NO SUBSTANCE TO REPORT”. This
sentiment also applies to the Village Manager Report. However, the only one that continues to
report things that may matter to North Bay Village is Commissioner Richard
Chervony. In addition, I believe that At Large Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez may
be coming out of his shell.
Commissioner Gonzalez was instrumental in negotiating the legal contract
for the village and he is actually paying attention to the needs of our
village. Although his success was limited and the contract is still very
expensive, he did the best he could under the circumstances. He also admitted
been aware of the mess and ugliness by the water processing plant and Public
Works building. Furthermore, he appears to take interest in the various water
accesses that continue to be blocked illegally to the residents of North Bay Village. Hopefully Commissioner Wendy Duval will follow suit.
Village Attorney Report
None for this meeting
Consent
Agenda matters that are self explanatory and are not removed for discussion
passed unanimous 5/5. These items were as followed:
1) The proposed Resolution will allow
North Bay Village police to provide aid to the
City of Aventura when necessary.
2) The proposed Resolution will allow
participation in the City of Miami car-sharing program with the Village for one
year trial period, Pilot Program (CAR2GO N.A., LLC).
3) The proposed Resolution encourage
for homes and businesses within the Village to turn off non-essential lights
and appliances for an hour from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013 to
show support for the environment.
Commission Action -----“No Brainer”
The propose resolution will allow the hiring of a
Grant Writer. It appears that person will be Lakisha Morris. We welcome her and
hope she gets right to work; 5/5.
The proposed Resolution will authorize the
engagement of Metro Equipment to connect the Pump Station at 7903 East Drive to
the Village’s new westbound force main system; 5/5.
The proposed Resolution will authorize Kimley-Horn
and Associates, the Village’s professional consulting engineers, to perform
construction phase services for connecting the City Hall Pump Station to the new
westbound force main system;5/5.
The proposed Resolution will approve the scope of
services and compensation for SFM Services, Inc. as the landscape maintenance
company for the Village…We need this new company to take care of our common
areas and cannot wait to see them in
action. Our common area landscape is in despair.
The proposed Resolution will settle the case by
payment of $ 1,250.00 in attorneys’ fees to avoid costly litigation in a matter
where documents should have been released. This was a simple human error in the
part of NBV and the 1,250.00 will put this issue to rest. Nothing is simple
with our commission and this item was pulled for discussion. No wonder these
meetings go on forever. Finally it was
approved 5/5, what waste of time discussing this item! Although this issue
should have been investigated as Kevin Vericker pointed out in the community
blog, it should have been done prior this meeting and under a different
discussion. Accepting to pay should not be the closing of this issue; an investigation
should take place to get to the bottom of this matter; would we ever will? Probably
not! This commission does not have the courage to ask such a question.
The proposed Resolution will amend the schedule of
performance evaluations and salary increases for the Village Manger. This
resolution passed 4/5 with Commissioner Richard Chervony the only NO. He has
already committed to the process and was ready with an unfavorable performance
evaluation. Mayor Connie Leon-Kreps voted yes but the mayor was ready as well
with a grade of failing. Vice Mayor
Eddie Lim continues to hold out his performance evaluation of the Village
Manager. The only reason for this
resolution is to allow the new commissioners Gonzalez and Duval sufficient time
for an evaluation. If North Bay Village Manger Dennis Kelly does not work
harder, pays attention and delivers what he promises, I honestly think he can
lose his job.
The proposed Resolution will extend the agreement
with Keefe, McCullough & Co., LPP to perform the annual financial audit for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013. This will include quarterly reports,
no argument here Vote 5/5.
The proposed Resolution will approve an agreement
with Bryant Olive Miller setting terms and condition as the labor counsel. The
first 140 hours at a whopping cost of $ 17,000.00 equaling at $ 121.00/ hour. However any additional hours will be billed at
$ 215.00. Here is an after the fact
idea, why it was not negotiated at $ 121.00 an hour for any additional hours?
It would have seemed fair, but then again the public did not participate. It
passed 4/5 Commissioner Chervony the only NO!
The proposed Resolution will approve an agreement
with Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske, P.L. as the Village
Attorney in the areas of general and planning & Zoning. This will cost the
village $ 204,000.00 a year or $ 17,000.00 per month. This is a three year
deal, but here is the kicker it can be renegotiated by either party yearly.
This means that if the Village Commission and Management feel at the end of the
year it was not favorable they can renegotiate.
In reality this favors Weiss Serota because it is task specific and
anything additional that may come up would be billed additionally. We are going to have to wait and see how this
all turns out.
The proposed Ordinance will provide additional
homestead exemption to persons who have legal or equitable title to real state
with just value less than $ 250,000.00 and have maintained permanent residency
for at least 25 years, who have attained the age of 65, and whose household
income meets the requirement provided in Florida Statues 196.075. This was
approved 5/5 and it has a minimal cost to the village. I believe our Financial
Director Mr. Bert Wrains stated a little over $ 1,200.00 yearly in lost
revenue. However, it would benefit the
elderly who meet the criteria and very much deserve it.
The proposed Ordinance seeks to ensure that all
elected officials and board/committee members receive ethics education; passed
with 5/5 votes. It requires for four
hour training on “conflict of interest and code of ethics”. This last Tuesday February 19, 2013 the first
2 hr training was held. Mayor Connie Leon-Kreps, Vice Mayor Eddie Lim,
Commissioner Chervony, City Clerk Yvonne Hamilton, and Village Manager Dennis
Kelly along with six or seven board members attended. The additional two hours training to be
announce. The problem now is how the other commissioners and board members
comply with the ordinance? Good idea with bad organization!
Unfinished Business and New Business was postponed
to March’s meeting. Included on this
postponement were the appointments of members to the Finance and Oversight
Board…The mice continued to play while the cat is away!!!
Humbly opinionating on North Bay Village Matters....my sincere apologies if I missed any issues that may be of importance to you. Hope to see you at the next meeting!
Mario Garcia
February 22, 2013
Putting
North Bay Village First
