The role of government is to protect its citizens.

This basic concept applies to local state and local government as well. North Bay Village residents will be placed at a disadvantage and could face possible dangers that could be a matter of life and death if the planned cuts to the fire department and fire rescue take place. Our Village has an elementary school, multiple day care schools and a senior citizens facility all of which will be placed at risk should an emergency arise and help is not available or  takes too long to get here. We have multiple high rise condos and apartment buildings that could suffer should an emergency arise and help is delayed.  Mr. Kevin Vericker has published all the stats and North Bay Island Commissioner Richard Chervony has clearly explained what these cuts could mean to North Bay Village residents.  On Tuesday August 27, 2013 at 6:00 pm there will be a meeting to decide the future of engine 27 at  Little Haiti Cultural Center 212 - 260 NE 59 Terrace Miami, FL 33137. 

I will not be able to attend because our neighborhood crime watch meeting had been previously set up for the same day. I am asking all our North Bay Village residents to answer the call and attend this crucial and deciding meeting. Please be there and let Mayor Carlos A Gimenez know that this is a dangerous and intolerable choice that affects the safety of us all in North Bay Village.

Honesty Opinionating

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

Mario Garcia

August 22, 2013        

 

Finally score one for the village!

 Yesterday at the special commission meeting, Ms. Nina Boniske North Bay Village Attorney of Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske, P.L. presented a detailed report of the litigation history that started January 2006 and hopefully has ended August 2013 against then property owner Mr. Rose.  The bills, fees and penalties were for unpaid water, wastewater, sanitation, and storm water plus unpaid fines.  The property owner of 1755 Kennedy Causeway went back and forth with negotiations and at times making ridiculous settlement offers that were insulting and disrespectful.

The new owners, a prestigious real estate investment company offered a settlement of $ 210, 000.00 under the corporation known as 1755 NBV, LLC.   This amount will cover the legal fees that total $ 70,000, 00 leaving $ 140, 000.00 to cover the unpaid bills and fees.  In return all liens, charges and fees would be deem paid and balance zero.   This is the same real estate investment company that purchased the property where the Crab House Restaurant was located.

The commission with Commissioner Chervony absent but according to Mayor Connie Leon Kreps let it be known that he would not approve anything but the full amount paid.  It was pleasant to see Treasure Island Commissioner Wendy Duval back on the dais where her financial knowledge is welcomed. Vice Mayor Eddie Lim, Commissioner At Large Jorge Gonzalez and Mayor Connie Leon Kreps made their political statements and accepted the settlement with a unanimous vote. However the victory is for North Bay Village and the Credit goes to Nina Boniske our Village Attorney.

Honestly Opinionating

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST!

Mario Garcia

August 14, 2013

 

 

The stage is set and the parameters are in place.

 North Bay Village’s millage was set at 7.5 for Trim Notices at yesterday’s commission meeting. This number was arrived at because the commission agreed to give themselves some room to maneuver.  The North Bay Village operating budget for 2013 -2014 Fiscal year if no changes are made will require a millage of 6.0031.  In addition the proposed debt millage was set at 1.0405. The total millage is geared to be set somewhere from 7.0031 to 8.5405 if no further cuts are made to our operating budget. In perspective an assessed home valued at $ 240,000.00 will receive a North Bay Village Real Estate Tax increase from roughly $ 237.26 to $ 606.24 per year.

The largest item and most relevant is the police budget, if adopted will go from $ 3, 182,368.00 to $ 3,802,453.00 an increase of $ 620,085.00. Additionally this commission is not making any serious attempts to making wasteful cuts and painful decisions.  Commissioner Richard Chervony is on a well deserved vacation and Commissioner Wendy Duval made an attempt to partially participate via conference call. The audio was terrible but from what little we understood through audio interference and low quality noise polluted sound it was apparent that Commissioner Duval was not happy with the proposed Trim Millage, but voted yes with Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Eddie Lim and Mayor Connie Leon-Kreps. The absent vote was Commissioner Chervony which we know it probably would have been a nay.

We are making some progress however, at the meeting the new Interim Manager Frank Rollason controlled the discussions and made sure that the commission stayed on track. Mr. Rollason was articulate and spoke with authority. It was clear that he was prepared, informed, and cooperative and provided professional wisdom to the commission.    

The September Commission meetings were set for Tuesday September 17, 2013 and Wednesday September 25, 2013. These are the meetings where the commission decides and votes to finalize the operating budget and set the millage rate. Mark your calendars! Mark your Calendars!

We need to show up to these meetings! Residents of North Bay Village let us show this commission that we are fed up and will not take it anymore! I am hoping for wall to wall Village residents to be present at these commission meetings held at Treasure Island Elementary School Auditorium. If we don’t we will face the same budget problems for the 2014-2015 budget. Fiscal responsibility is not a choice, it is an obligation.

Honestly Opinionating

PUTTING NORTH BAY VILLAGE FIRST

Mario Garcia

August 1, 2013