2014.03.25_TC_Minutes_Workshop TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
WORKSHOP MEETING
Tuesday, March 25, 2014 1:30 PM
Mayor Bernard Featherman called the Workshop Meeting to order in the Library's Goldstein
Community Room at 1:30 PM.
CALL TO ORDER:
Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Bernard Featherman; Vice Mayor Ron Brown; Commissioner
Dennis J. Sheridan; Commissioner Louis P. Stern; and Commissioner Carl Feldman. Also present:
Town Attorney Brian Shutt; Town Manager Kathleen Weiser; Deputy Town Clerk Valerie Oakes;
Finance Director Cale Curtis; Public Works Director Edward Soper; Police Chief Craig Hartmann;
Library Director Maria Suarez; Assistant to the Manager Zoie Burgess; and members of the public.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of silence.
1. ADDITIONS. DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:
Mayor Featherman asked for any additions or deletions.
Vice Mayor Brown requested that Item #4 Boards and Committees be scheduled after Item #2 Public
Comments and Requests. Change authorized by a Consensus of the commission.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REOUESTS;
Marjorie Lanthier Co- President of the Friends of the Library, thanked the Mayor and the
Commissioners for their invaluable support for the Library. She stated that at the Annual Meeting the
Board unanimously voted to urge the Commission to erect Library signage that can be seen driving or
walking on A 1 A. They are requesting that this matter be included on the agenda for consideration at
the next Commission meeting.
Mike Ferrara, 4748 S. Ocean Blvd — I would like to thank the Friends of the Library for all the work
they do. We have a wonderful Library. I would also like to thank all the citizens of this Town who
came out to vote. Congratulations to Commissioner Sheridan on his re- election.
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4. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:
A) Board Correspondence:
• None
B) Board Action Report:
• No Report
C) Board Vacancies:
• Code Enforcement Board - One Appointment
Talent Bank Interview
Robert Ford — 3740 S. Ocean Blvd.
Robert Ford 3740 S. Ocean Blvd gave a brief description of his background. He owned an
Electrical Contracting firm prior to his move from Pennsylvania to Highland Beach. He was also
a Commissioner in Pennsylvania and was responsible for evaluating all the departments in the
state to come up with cost savings. Mr. Ford has written a book titled "The Rise and Fall of the
Unions" and is in the process of writing a second book. He is very much interested in serving our
Community.
Consensus was to place this item on the Consent Agenda for April 1, 2014.
D) Monthly Board Meetings:
• Planning Board — April 9 th — 9:30 AM
• Financial Advisory Board — April 11 — 9:30 AM -Town Hall Conference Room
• Beaches & Shores Advisory Board — No Scheduled Meeting
• Board of Adjustment & Appeals —No Scheduled Meeting
• Code Enforcement Board — No Scheduled Meeting
3. PRESENTATIONS:
A) Proclamation — Water Conservation Month
Deputy Town Clerk Oakes read the Proclamation into the record.
The Town Commission of the Town of Highland Beach, Florida proclaims the month of April 2014 as
Water Conservation Month and calls upon each citizen and business in the Town of Highland Beach to
help protect our precious resource by practicing water saving measures and becoming more aware of
the need to save water.
B) Presentation of the 2013 Audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Ron Bennett of Nowlen, Holt &Miner, and P.A congratulated the management and staff, in particular
the Finance Director and Town Manager, for doing an outstanding job. The complete report can be
found on the Town's website. Every year the Town applies to the Government Finance Officers
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March 25, 2014 Page 3 of 7
Association for a Certificate of Achievement in financial reporting and has received this for the past
22 years.
Mr. Bennett prepared a handout for the Board and residents to view showing the financial highlights.
He indicated that this is a five year summary and gave a synopsis of the report as follows:
Governmental Revenues is all the governmental funds. There was a 13.8% increase in revenues
from 2012 to 2013.
Governmental Expenditures increased by 4% from 2012 to 2013.
General Fund/ Fund Balance — Mr. Bennett gave a five year summary of the fund balance. He
explained the Unassigned Fund Balance; Assigned Mandatory Reserves; Assigned Disaster
Recovery; Assigned Subsequent Year; Restricted and non - spendable. He indicated that by the
end of 2015 the Disaster Recover Fund will be up to $500,000. He also stated that in case a
category 3 or 4 hurricane hits the town and there was a major disaster, the total of the unassigned
fund balance, assigned mandatory reserves and assigned disaster recovery would be close to six
million dollars in funds available to the Town.
Water & Sewer Operations: Mr. Bennett explained the five year summary of the Profit and Loss
Statement for the combined operations for the Water Fund and the Sewer Fund. The Water Fund
is the larger portion of it. The revenues plus the transfers in from the General Fund were almost
equal to the expenses. The biggest single increase from last year was for the repairs and
maintenance which was an increase of $152,000.
Mr. Bennett stated that they are our auditors 365 days a year and anytime there is a question, please call him.
There is no extra charge since this is all part of the contract they have with Highland Beach.
Commissioner Stern — I would like to thank Mr. Bennett for making us feel like we are doing a decent job.
Mr. Bennett — You are doing extremely well.
Commissioner Sheridan — I would like to formally complement our Finance Director Cale Curtis for doing an
excellent job. I would also like to recognize all the department heads for doing such a great job and making his
job easier, as well as our Town Manager.
5. PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:
A) ORDINANCE NO. 14 -005 O —
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA
AMENDING ARTICLE IV, "ZONING DISTRICTS," OF CHAPTER 30, - ZONING
CODE," OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING TABLE 30 -4 OF
SECTION 30 -67, -USES PERMITTED, SPECIAL EXCEPTION, AND PROHIBITED
USES," AND SECTION 30 -68, " SUPPLEMENTAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS,
SUBSECTION M, "TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ", TO MODIFY THE APPROVAL
PROCESS FOR TEMPORARY STRUCTURES; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION;
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PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Deputy Town Clerk Oakes read Ordinance No. 14 -005 O into the record.
Town Attorney Shutt — On March 6` you adopted an Emergency Ordinance that allowed temporary
sales trailers to be located on property without having to obtain a building permit for the construction
of the building, at the same time they get the building permit for the temporary sales trailer, and
without having to get a building permit or start construction within fourteen days of the temporary
sales trailer being located on the property. That Emergency Ordinance is only good for sixty days, so
it will expire sometime in the beginning of May. We have come back with an ordinance that
addresses the issue which would allow temporary structures, but they still have to obtain site plan
approval. However, that would not have to come to the Commission. If the temporary structure is
visible from the right -of -way, then the Planning Board has to approve it. If it is not visible from the
public right -of -way, the Building Official can approve it. Then they can grant some extensions.
However, at no time can the temporary structure be in place longer than two years without getting
approval from the Town Commission. We also removed the criteria that, when they come in for the
temporary structure to obtain a building permit, they do not have to obtain a building permit for the
construction of a building going vertical on their property and do not have to start construction within
fourteen days. However, they do have to start construction within one year after the building permit
for the temporary structure is issued.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
A) Commission to Authorize the purchase of a replacement Fire Monitoring System at the
Public Works/Water Treatment Facility in the amount of $24,600.00. Funding is
available in Account #401- 535.000/546.200 Renewals and Replacement Account.
Town Manager Weiser — We are asking to replace the Fire Monitoring System since the one we have
is obsolete and is constantly undergoing repair. Another problem is the frequency of false fire
alarms that we are getting on that system. The amount of the replacement is $24,600 and the funds
are available in the Renewals and Replacement Account.
Comm. Feldman — Is it common that the old system has only lasted ten years? Public Works Director
Soper — It is my understanding that the system was obsolete when they bought it. It is not state of the
art by any means. Comm. Feldman — Why did you go with Honeywell? Public Works Director
Soper — Honeywell is the one that monitors the Library and they have had good luck with their
Notifier System. They are a well -known firm and stand behind their equipment. I will check into
the warranty period and availability of spare parts for you.
Vice Mayor Brown — Why the big difference in cost? There is over $10,000 from the lowest cost to
the highest cost. Also on the WSA, I don't see anything about there being a warranty on the
equipment. What is the cost of that? Public Works Director Soper — I will check into it and see what
the warranty period is.
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Consensus was to place this item on the agenda for April 1, 2014 under Miscellaneous Items Left
Over.
7. MISCELLANEOUS — ITEMS LEFT OVER:
A) Minutes:
February 25, 2014 — Workshop Meeting
March 4, 2014 — Regular Meeting
March 6, 2014 — Special Meeting
Consensus was to include minutes on the April 1, 2014 Consent Agenda.
8. REPORTS —TOWN COMMISSION:
A) Commissioner Carl Feldman — I received three calls from some of the residents who
attended Mass at St. Lucy's Church on Saturday. They were concerned that they had no police
protection or help leaving the parking lot. It took over one -half hour to go north on A 1 A. Police
Chief Craig Hartmann — It is a service that the Police Department voluntarily provides to the Church.
If we get impacted with priority calls, there may be times when we are not able to get there. When
we are free, we are there at every Mass that we can get to.
B) Commissioner Louis Stern — We recently have had two presentations from one of our
residents, Jerry Wolf, who has been having a water problem usage at the end of Russell Drive. On
today's date, he has copied me with a letter which I have shared with the other Commissioners. I
would like to put this on our next agenda to see if there is some possible solution for his water
problem and for saving ourselves the opportunity of not being sued, which he is now threatening in
the letter. He is giving us another five weeks to possibly come up with a solution. In addition, I
would like to include on the next agenda, a review of the policy for travel reimbursement, specifically
local travel. Since we receive a monthly stipend, I would assume this covers local mileage. It makes
no sense to be reimbursed for travel to Boca Raton or Delray for a very small distance, whether it is
for a breakfast or a lunch. We do get reimbursed when we attend classes to further our education and
need to drive a distance.
C) Commissioner Dennis Sheridan — No Report.
D) Vice Mayor Ron Brown - I would like to thank the Beaches & Shores Advisory Board for
hosting a presentation with Dr. Rusenko. It was very informative. I would also like to thank the
Police Department for taking the initiative to meet with all the construction sites and going over
specific codes. To our Finance Director Cale Curtis, you did an outstanding job.
E) Mayor Bernard Featherman — I attend many meetings that start at 7:00 AM and do take
advantage of the travel policy, and do not feel this is an abuse of it. The renovations to the
Commission Chambers and Police Department have begun. The two women that are working in the
construction area and are most affected, Valerie Oakes and Rosalie DeMartino, have done a
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wonderful job. I want to commend them for working in a noisy and dusty atmosphere and
continuing to do a fine job.
9. REPORTS — TOWN ATTORNEY GLEN TORCIVIA:
Town Attorney — I am filling in for Attorney Torcivia today and have no report.
10. REPORTS — TOWN MANAGER KATHLEEN DAILEY WEISER:
I want to thank our Public Works Director Ed Soper and our Assistant to the Town Manager Zoie
Burgess for getting the electronics and all of this set up for our meetings here in the Library. A
special thanks goes to Rosalie DeMartino in the Clerk's Office, Bertrand Desir and Martha Pando in
the Library who were a big help in making sure this came off today with no problems. We are under
construction and hope everybody understands that. It should take about six months. For those of you
who are used to coming in the front door of Town Hall to go to the Library, Building Dept. and Post
Office, there is no longer an exit to get to these places. Visitors who are coming to the Police
Department should come in the front door of Town Hall and we will get a representative from the
Police Department to meet you there. I have a memo from Police Chief Craig Hartmann indicating
that we have been approved for CPR grant funding. Our Accreditation Training Manager, Eric
Aronowitz, researched and submitted for a grant to the Fire House Subs Public Safety Foundation for
CPR training equipment. The Highland Beach Police Department was approved for the grant and
awarded the requested equipment at a value of $8,485. In the future, we will be offering CPR
training not only to our employees, but people in the community.
11. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RELATED TO ITEMS DISCUSSED AT
MEETING
Mike Ferrara, 4748 S. Ocean Blvd.
Regarding the Governmental Expenditures, I am pleased to see there was a decrease of $83,200 in
Governmental expenditures. I have a question regarding Debt Service which had a decrease of
$8,503. Finance Director Cale Curtis — Regarding the decrease in Debt Service, the General Fund
has two outstanding loans; one for the Library and one for some bonds that were funded back in
2005. The reduction is our continued annual payments of principal and interest. As long as we don't
add on any new debt, those payments will go down as we pay down the principal on them.
Town Manager Weiser stated that there was a presentation from Marjorie Lanthier regarding the
Library's request for signage and asked if the Commission would like to place this item on the April
1 St agenda for discussion. Consensus was to add this item to next week's agenda.
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12. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Mayor Featherman adjourned the
Workshop Meeting at 2:32 PM upon a MOTION by Commissioner Feldman and seconded by
Vice Mayor Brown.
APPROVED:
1
Bernard F atherman, Mayor
Ro own, Vice Mayo
D
9PI
s J. Sheititan. 4mmissioner
mmi i er
Car eldman, ommissioner
ATTEST:
Beverly M. Br , MM
Date