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