North Bay Village Residents Are Up In Arms!!!!

Treasure Island Neighborhood Association held their first meeting on March 27, 2013 @ 7:30 pm.   Mr. Barry Smith of Trio was gracious to allow us to meet in his beautiful Trio restaurant.  The residents of Treasure Island voiced their disappointment and disillusion on the performance of our Commission, Village Manager and our Chief of Police.  Our residents are up in arms and ready to take action to demand from our elected officials more than just lip service.  Yesterday was a great day for North Bay Village and the ability of our residents to organize a movement was very evident.

Our Streets are dirty and unsafe, the residents are saying: enough is enough. The Police Department is 67% of our budget and doing a lousy job. We have good police officers in North Bay Village just an incompetent leader that cannot get the job done with the resources available.

According to a reliable source and the Village Memorandum posted on the website for a special meeting on Monday April first our Village Manager’s days are numbered.   Please attend this very important meeting and help shape the future of North Bay Village. We have a lot of work ahead of us and have no one to blame if we do not participate in the process.  TINA will be a force that needs to be reckoning with!!!!  

Our next Village Manger should have all the credentials and experience to get the job done. North Bay Village deserves nothing less. We should consider hiring a head hunter to search high and low for the best candidate. Furthermore, if the candidate comes from within North Bay Village he or she should have an advantage over the others by 10 points. We cannot afford another hiring mistake. Let us show the door to those that will not do their job.

Humbly opinionating,

Mario Garcia

PUTTING NORTH BAY FIRST

 

 

Village Hall Continues To Be Closed!!

This is the noticed that appears on the Official North Bay Village Website:

 

 

Village hall building including post office and others will be closed

Printer-Friendly Version

	Village hall building including post office and building department will be closed until further notice. For coordination of services please contact the Village at 305-756-7171. We are sorry for the inconvenience.     This was initiated after some village workers developed ill signs and symptoms of possible ventilation toxicity that required the evacuation of the village hall and some sent to the emergency room to be evaluated. Thankfully according to what we know these workers were unharmed.  This happened Wednesday March 13, 2013 and prompted an investigation to identify the source.   According to a reliable source the detailed and thorough investigation has yielded no results as of today March 21, 2013. This is definitely good news, the problem is that other than a sign posted on the village hall doors basically announcing the closure, our residents have been kept in the dark. In today’s media capabilities that is definitely unacceptable. The village administration has the responsibility to keep our residents informed, I would want to know; how about you?      Mario Garcia   March 21, 2013   PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

 

Tolerance Level on Empty!!!!!

Tuesday’s March 12, 2013 commission meeting was held at Treasure Island Elementary School.  The all clear for the Village Hall is still pending an investigation of a Sick Building Syndrome. Environmental Hygienist is scheduled to come in within a week and it will take roughly seven to ten days for the results to be available.  The results will give Legal a better perspective for who is responsible for the expense that this will cause.

Tuesday at around 6:30 pm upon my arrival from work, I intended to go to the meeting and stay for its duration.   It was a beautiful cool and breezy evening.  I decided around 7:10 pm to walk to Treasure Island Elementary School. My walk was cheery and pleasant until I got to Galleon Street. The filth and ugliness of the area turned my stomach; the multitude of cats roaming the area did not help. The deaf ears of our elected officials and the Village Management’s lack of action to address this problem irritated me as I walked past the site.  Naturally, by the time I got to Treasure Island Elementary School Auditorium for the scheduled meeting, my tolerance level for nonsense was zero.  

The Meeting was called to order at 7:39pm. Mr. Kevin Vericker of the Youth and Education Services Board again expressed his concerns for the lack of enthusiasm and participation for the TIES PTA (Treasure Island Elementary School Parent Teacher Association) and vowed to make it a priority for the YESB.  Mr. Vericker voiced his disappointment for the failure of Chief Robert Daniels to implement the necessary steps to revive PALS.  This sentiment is shared by the commission and the residents of North Bay Village.  Mr. Vericker explained that the YESB would be looking at other organizations such as the Boys Scouts of America and the Boys and Girls Club of America to fill the need of the youth in our community.

One of our residents Mr. Jorge Brito expressed his disillusionment with the police department and with the commission for the failure to implement the PALS program. Mr. Brito explained that the PALS program should have never been allow to be dismantled. That the allegations that caused the PALS program to be discontinued were never validated.  We need more people like Mr. Brito and we thank you for attending the meeting and expressing your opinion.

Commissioner Chervony decided to withhold his report in view of the circumstances and in the spirit of time. However the rest of the commission was not as kind. Vice Mayor Eddie Lim talked about the litter in Harbor Island and the undesirable guest at Dr. Paul Vogel Park.  Vice Mayor Lim and Commissioner Jorge Gonzales were concerned with the speeding in Harbor Island and the danger for the children that have been seen running out of Dr Paul Vogel Park; both are asking for speed bumps for Harbor Island.

Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez questioned the Village Manager why there was no Sick Building Contingency Plan for the Village; for which the Village Manager offered some meaningless excuse that other disasters and terrorism plan were in place but not for a sick building plan. Here is an idea Mr. Village Manager you could have used one of those plans in place.  After all, this was an emergency that required adopting means to continue the village business running; the same as a storm, disaster or terrorist act. Mr. Kelly failed to report it to the Health Department and directly ignored repeatedly request from the Mayor to report it to the Health Department. 

Mr. Bert Wrains our Finance director warned the commission that he foresees a deficit of $ 190,000.00 dollars for fiscal year ending 9/2013.  He explained that he does not project the projected revenues to make up for the deficit. Meanwhile, Mr. Kelly our Village Manger proposed a resolution for matching funds for up to a million dollars for Phase 2 of the Boardwalk Project without even coordinating it with the Legal Department.  Mr. Kelly had no recollection of any of the previous requests to review all contracts with the buildings in question regarding the water access agreements by legal and by his staff.

The meeting continued with the customary lip service from the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Commissioners regarding Mr. Dennis Kelly’s lack of preparation and total disregard for the commission’s request in most matters that have come before him. The “I will get back to you” I will look into it” “I am sorry it will not happen again” but it never materializes each and every time. Recalling my walk earlier and the disgusting feeling about Galleon Street and my empty tank of tolerance, I walked out of the meeting with no intentions of returning. Asking myself until when this nonsense will continue; nothing gets done because there is no follow up and accountability.  The Village has great employees like Mr. Wrains mentioned. He should have added just bad management.  This commission does not have the courage to make the necessary changes and it will continue to cost us money! Worst yet, a tax rise to cover the deficits that could have been avoided with a fiscal responsible management!

In retrospect I should be more resilient and should have stayed for the meeting. My apologies for not been able to give you a complete meeting report. It simply was not one of my better days.  I will continue to opinionate the way I see it with sincerity and integrity.  

Mario Garcia

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

 

 

 

 

North Bay Village Supermarket? Finally!!!

North Bay Village residents, our “local supermarket” is getting a makeover. Presidente Supermarket may not be Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, but never the less we are to support it! Please visit and you will see the change already happening.  We are responsible for the success of North Bay Village which means we need to support all the local businesses in our community.  Those who have complained about Food Giant used it as an excuse not to shop for your groceries locally, now this is your chance to make a difference.  I want to wish the new owners a successful and prosperous experience in North Bay Village. We thank you for depositing your hopes and confidence in this community.  I believe if Presidente Supermarket does their part in delivering  fresh and quality food choices, I am sure that North Bay Village residents will do their part; Welcome Presidente Supermarket!

Mario Garcia

March 10, 2013

Putting North Bay Village First

NORTH BAY VILLAGE FRIDAYS FARMERS MARKET

FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

NORTH BAY VILLAGE RESIDENTS SUPPORT
 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S FARMERS MARKET...
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING UNTIL
 YOU TRY IT!!!!

DELICIOUS FRESH BREAD!!!!!!

WOW THESE FRUITS LOOK GREAT!!!!

ANY ONE FOR AVOCADOS?

 

                                                  THIS FRIDAY 3/1/2013
                                        YOU WERE ABLE TO SING-UP
                                          FOR CAR2GO  MEMBERSHIP
                                          FOR FREE----THEY MAYBE
                                        THERE AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
                                              *********************
              
                                         THE ONLY WAY TO ATTRACT
                                                NEW BUSINESSES
                                          IS TO SUPPORT THOSE
                                    WHO ARE ALREADY HERE!!!!!!      

REPRESENTATIVES WERE AVAILABLE TO SIGN YOU

 

 

           UP FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP IF YOU LIVE IN NBV!!!!!!!!

Traffic Infraction Devices and other Village Matters

Legislation February 28, 2013

Special Commission Meeting

I had plans to critique and write about the complete package that North Bay Village commissioned our Lobbyist Mr. Fausto Gomez to represent.  Mr. Gomez sent Manny Reyes as his representative for the North Bay Village Special Commission Meetings of February 28, 2013. Mr. Reyes described himself as Fausto Junior. Manny Reyes explained that he has been with Mr. Gomez his entire professional career.  Mr. Reyes did a superb job and explained the process and possibilities very well.  I posted each document separately for your reading pleasure. I decided to highlight some of the items that really bugged me, so here it goes!

Traffic Infraction Devices

North Bay Village commission voted against the legislation that would prohibit a local government from utilizing “RED LIGHT CAMERAS “and/or redirect additional revenues from same state (HB91) by representative Daphne Campbell. Meaning that the village commission wants the local government to be able to make the decision, which means that they favor the program. 

The North Bay Village Commission led by Mayor Connie Leon-Kreps concerns regarding the profitability of the RED LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM was questioned by legal and Village Manager Dennis Kelly. Mr. Kelly sited that the purpose of said program was mainly safety and could not be viewed as a revenue producing program. Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez supported the Mayor’s concerns, explaining that the Mayor’s point was a valid one, pointing out that said program has two sides one side is safety and the other is financial. Now, are you ready for a kick in the teeth? Mayor Leon-Kreps asked the Financial Director Bert Wrains, “Mr. Wrains did I hear correctly that this program is costing the village $ 10,000.00 a month?”

Mr. Wrains explained: Mayor, keep in mind that this program has changed the peoples attitude and culture regarding red lights. We are currently negotiating a new contract and are on a month to month basis. Monthly costs are roughly $ 19,000.00 a month and ticket collection has dwindled to about $ 9000.00 a month thus creating a $ 10,000.00 deficit that the Village pays.  The new contract will allow for a breakeven point, until then we pay the difference.  Village Manager Dennis Kelly added, we are planning to add four more cameras and that should improve ticket collection.    

 The Commission then decided it was best to vote against rather than in favor to get rid of the RED LIGHT CAMERA “FIASCO”, sorry I mean program. Commissioner Gonzalez said at least we will have choice, imagined that “we’ll have a choice”; what choice is that? Four more cameras as we will be the “RED LIGHT CAMERA TICKET TRAP VILLAGE”; we don’t need this type of choice. Here is a thought, get rid of the cameras save $ 10,000.00 a month and stop scheming up ways to get into citizens’ pocket for their hard earned money. The RED LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM only benefits the company that runs the program; get rid of them and save $ 10,000.00 a month.   

 I will love to see the finance report for the three years that the contract was implemented. I have the funny feeling it was a whopper of a red bill for the village!  Wake up village officials and pave the way for business to want to come to the village by offering fair and balance affordable process and you will have your revenues and a thriving community!  Your are dreaming if you think the RED LIGTH CAMERA PROGRAM will ever produce a windfall.

Open Parties

North Bay Village will monitor legislation the expands the definition 856.015, F.S., that makes it a second degree misdemeanor for a person who has control of a residence to allow an open house party to take place at such residence if any alcoholic beverage or drug is possessed or consumed at the residence by a minor. The expansion would include vacant structures and open acreage with or without a structure. (HB5 by Representative   Ray Pilon)

Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez had his thinking cap on when he pointed out that the language was not specific and definitely not clear enough. This legislation may leave an open door to prosecute innocent people. He explained that if underage squatters or trespassers were to party on an empty parcel of land without the owner’s permission or consent, that owner would be held liable. This legislation in order to go forward it would need to be clarified and properly written, Good Job Commissioner Gonzalez.

Sober Homes

North Bay Village Supports legislation that defines and establishes minimum regulatory standards for sober homes facilities and allows for more stringent local regulations of these facilities. (SB738 by Senator Jeff Clemons)

I had no idea that under the current laws a person in need of income can actually turn their houses into a halfway house for alcohol and drug rehab, thus turning into a business…This should scare North Bay Village residents, it scares me!!! This legislation cannot come fast enough!!!

Mario Garcia

March 1, 2013

Humbly Opinionating and PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

Legislation



 



authority. Extending such an option to municipalities wold allow greater flexebility
 to find unique transrtation needs.

Legislative Priorities

North Bay Village Legislative Principles