Salary Increases for Employees Proposed at February City Council
At the end of the February City Council Meeting during “Items for Council Action and Discussion”, Vice Mayor Premuroso floated the idea of spending a $1.5 million apparent surplus in the current year budget on employee raises and selected capital improvements. The raise amount suggested was 2% – equivalent to what working people are paying again at the expiration of the two year reduction in the payroll tax. The others were enthusiastic in their support for the idea, as Councilman Russo added “the employees are our biggest strength”. Russo was not for carte blanche capital spending, however, preferring to look at each proposal in detail.
The proposal was placed in the context of the Council’s intention to maintain flat millage for several years. Property valuations, which bottomed out last year, are expected to rise – perhaps significantly this year if the anecdotal evidence is credible. If so, “flat millage” will not be a friend to the taxpayer.
We are expecting a spending spree at all levels of government. The President has said that we “.. don’t have a spending problem”, although 83% of the country know we do. Our one-time “conservative” Governor has proposed major increases in the state budget, trying to win favor from a variety of voting groups as he looks to the 2014 election, even as CFO Jeff Atwater was predicting a flat $70B only a month ago. The County has a large pent up demand for more spending after several years of flat growth. Hopefully, Palm Beach Gardens will not succumb to this spending fever.
City employees may be due an increase after several years of going without, and there are likely some capital projects in the area of deferred maintenance that could use some attention. The economy is still weak however, and many businesses in the country remain shuttered. The Council would be wise to exercise restraint as the budget is developed, and consider the taxpayers needs as well as the government’s. A millage decrease would not be out of line if valuations head upwards.
In other action at the meeting, the Council approved on first reading the “implementing ordinance” (Ordinance 4, 2013) for the successful ballot initiative which granted them the ability to award tax exemptions to new or expanding businesses they favor. Although the ballot measure was sold with the idea that specific rules would be written into the ordinance to identify qualifying recipients, the ordinance is vague. The Council would prefer “flexibility” so as to make awards to businesses that may be outside the intent of the measure with out the “risk of lawsuits”.
Several bookkeeping adjustments were made to the comp plan and code of ordinances (Ordinance 27 and 30, 2012 and 3, 2013), a minor amendment was made to the Trevi at the Gardens PUD, and a resolution was passed supporting the state proposed ban on texting while driving.
The next scheduled Council meeting is Thursday, March 7.
Palm Beach Gardens Municipal Election on March 12
Two of the seats on the 5 person City Council are up for election this year. In group 2, current Councilman and former Mayor Joe Russo is currently unopposed. In group 4, former Councilman and Mayor David Levy will face newcomer James D’Loughy.
Qualifying by petition ends on Monday, January 14, but candidates can still qualify by paying a fee up to January 31. For more information about this election, see: Posting of Election.
It should be noted that March municipal elections in the Gardens are low turnout affairs, and a candidate typically wins with votes from about 5% of the 35K registered voters. There is typically little media attention and the City itself does not promote the elections. It is only through the actions of concerned citizens that step forward to support a candidate that our government can be representative of the citizens. Tell your neighbors to get involved and VOTE on March 12.
Group 4 Candidates
James D’Loughy, a Republican, is the founder of Gardens law firm AdvisorLaw PLLC. He has a degree in Political Science as well as experience working on Capital Hill, and has lived and worked in Europe. His law practice represents clients in complex business matters. James is active in his Frenchman’s Reserve Homeowners Association, acting as a leader of the HOA board. As a Councilman, James would focus on promoting business development in the Gardens, improving ethics and transparency, and supporting the city’s first responders. James is married to Anne Louise D’Loughy and has three children Fredericka, Wilhelmina and his newborne son Maximilian.
David Levy, a Democrat, was first elected to the Council in 2004, beating Carl Sabatello in a run-off election after no candidate in a three way race achieved a majority. He was re-elected in 2007 against Michael O’Rourke,and again in 2010 against Rob Palladino. He served for 8 years until resigning in 2012 to run for the County Commission seat vacated by Karen Marcus. Losing that race, he wishes to return to the Council.
A Geologist by trade, with an MS in Geological Services, he is the owner of Southeast Remediation Technology and an adjunct professor in environmental geology at Palm Beach State College. He has regional experience working with the League of Cities Environmental Committee, the Regional Hazardous Material Oversight Committee and the Water Resources Task Force, as well as participating with Workforce Alliance, the Biotech Land Advisory Board, and the Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council. He is married to Penny Levy and has two children Jacob and Gail.
Group 2 Candidate
Joe Russo, a Republican, was first elected to the Council in 1989 and has served for 24 years, many of them as Mayor. In recent years he has successfully defended his seat against Adrian Salee in 2004, and Pat Hughey in 2010 but was unnopposed in 2007 (and this year so far). Joe has a BS in Business Administration and is a self employed Certified Public Accountant and Financial Planner.
Have the Ballot Questions been Fairly Portrayed?
If you live in the city, chances are you have received at least one phone call and a mailer describing the two ballot questions. There was also a “tele-town hall” conducted by City Attorney Max Lohman in which several hundred people participated. These communications were part of the city’s campaign to educate the voters about the ballot issues. They were not supposed to take sides or suggest how you should vote.
Were they impartial? The Palm Beach Post didn’t think so. See: Palm Beach Gardens defends charter change flyers in wake of criticism
In the story, they quote Larry Casey, a local attorney, who thinks the flyers left out some important information.
The Flyer described Proposition One thusly:
“Proposition 1 would amend the Charter to modernize the document and bring it into compliance with State Law.” Examples they site are allowing for electronic banking, prohibiting removal of a sitting councilman by the other concilmen, and changing election scheduling so it won’t “disenfranchise military voters”. Sounds like a good thing, right?
What they don’t say is that among other things, Proposition One will also:
- Remove the requirement for the City Manager to live in the city
- Remove the requirement for an annual evaluation of the City Manager
- Limit the ability of the Council to affect hiring/firing decisions
- Remove the requirement for periodic review of the Charter
- Allow for appointment to vacated Council positions in lieu of a special election
- Remove the requirement for an annual audit
- Limits the ability of electors (citizens) to initiate ordinances or resolutions that relate in any way to money/taxes/salaries
Are these the changes you would like to see? If so, vote YES. It is all or nothing though, so if you object to any of these you should vote NO.
Proposition Two would allow the Council to grant tax exemptions to current and future businesses under certain conditions. The county government has this ability and is asking to continue it in the county Proposition Two. While it adds something to the toolbox of “economic incentives” available to the city, it is one more avenue for taxpayer funds (or expected revenue) to flow to those businesses “favored” by City Government. If you are OK with that, vote YES. If you object to the government “picking winners and losers”, vote NO.
The Presidential election will see a relatively high turnout. In Palm Beach Gardens, there could be as many as 25,000 voters. Given that a typical March municipal election draws about 3,000 and many do not pay attention to city government and the result is hard to predict. Make up your own mind on these amendments and tell your friends and family about them.
District One Races for County Commission and School Board
On October 1, TAB, along with the South Florida 912 and the Palm Beach County Tea Party, hosted a candidate forum for County Commission district 1 and School Board district 1. Moderated by Steve Rosenblum of the blogTalkRadio show “CRF Radio with Steve and Daria”, the candidates were asked a set of questions about current issues facing their respective bodies, some of which proved to offer a real choice between the candidates. Present for the forum (and keeping them honest) was outgoing Commissioner Karen Marcus, who we thank for her service, and several of Mayor Levy’s councilmen, Bert Premuroso and Eric Jablin.
Two PBG Ballot Questions for November Election
The fall election will have a complicated ballot. Way down at the end, on the back of page 2 of the ballot, beyond the candidates, beyond the 11 State Constitutional Amendments and past the two Palm Beach County questions, are the following:
Proposition 1 – Amendment of the City Charter
Proposition 1 asks:
“SHALL THE CITY CHARTER OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, ADOPTED IN 1976, BE AMENDED AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE 20, 2012 OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS?”
and
Proposition 2 – Property Tax Exemptions
Proposition 2 asks:
“SHALL THE CITY COUNCIL BE AUTHORIZED TO GRANT, PURSUANT TO S. 3. ART VII OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION, PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS TO NEW BUSINESSES AND EXPANSIONS OF EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO CREATE NEW FULL-TIME JOBS IN THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS?
For details and background, see PBG Ballot Questions
Council Rejects Proposition Two, Sends Remainder to November Ballot
Last night (July 12, 2012) the Palm Beach Gardens City Council voted 4: 1 on Ordinance 20, 2012 which will place on the November ballot a Proposition to amend the City’s Charter. The opposing vote was by Council member Joe Russo.
The Council kindly moved the discussion earlier in the agenda to accomodate the 11 people who had come to speak out on the Ordinance. After considerable debate, the Council unanimously agreed to remove Proposition Two – which would have changed city elections to ‘plurality’ wins from the current ‘majority’ wins, however they were unwilling to delay putting the remaining charter modifications to a later election. The removal of Proposition Two is significant and was a direct result of your efforts.
The wording for Proposition One remains unchanged. The text of Proposition One as well as the proposed charter (Exhibit A) can be found in the Agenda Item.
While what remains of Ordinance 20 is still troubling for the lack of public input to the substantive changes it contains, it at least can be discussed objectively in the context of the governance process. We will use our various websites, voters guides, and other resources to explain what it does and inform our readers of the choice they have to make.
Bill DiPaulo’s article in the Palm Beach Post summarizes the meeting and lists the substantive changes that are in the Ordinance.
Thanks to all who took the time to email the Council, and to express their positions on the proposals: Mark Marciano, Kevin Easton, Tracie White, Larry Casey, Lauren Miller, Mel Grossman, Terry Brady, Sally Schmiedl, Francisco Rodriguez, Fred Scheibl and Iris Scheibl. Sorry if I missed anyone.
It made a difference and demonstrated to our elected officials that we are watching them.