2008.02.26_TC_Minutes_Workshop•
' TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
WORKSHOP MEETING
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:30 P.M.
Mayor Harold R. Hagelmann called the Regular Meeting to order in Commission Chambers at
1:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER:
Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Harold R. Hagelmann; Vice Mayor Joseph J. Asselta;
Commissioner Miriam S. Zwick; Commissioner Jim Newill, CPA; and Commissioner Doris
M. Trinley. Also present: Town Attorney Tom Sliney; Town Manager Dale S. Sugerman;
Town Clerk Beverly M. Brown; and members of the public.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of silence in
honor of members of the military, both living and deceased.
• 1. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA
• None
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
Emily Firtell - Beachwalk East
As Chairman of the Cultural Board would like to thank the Commission for their support.
In addition, this Thursday night, the Cultural Board will be sponsoring a presentation by
Dr. Gordon of the University of Miami on life-saving techniques.
Joe Yucht -Boca Highlands
Recently heard the Mayor-Elect of Boca Raton speak about their plans for a Multi Model
Transit District (MMTD). The City is dividing the town into four districts and the
transportation will be between the four districts. We have no public transportation in
Highland Beach and the Commission should be looking into this type of project. Will be
attending a meeting of the Boca Raton Airport Advisory Committee this evening. We will
be discussing the "alleged noise problem," but I have not received any complaints from
residents of Highland Beach.
Commissioner Newill questioned where the funding for the MMTD was coming from.
Reply- Did not know.
Town Commission Workshop Minutes
February 26 2008 Pa eg 2 of 5
• 3. PRESENTATIONS
• None
4. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
A) Board Correspondence
• None
B) Board Action Report
• None
C) Board Vacancies
• Board of Adjustment & Appeals -Status of Member
Vice Mayor Asselta -Mrs. Colarullo feels she was appointed by this Board and
she intends to stay. Commissioner Trinlev - It was the Commission's error, why
should the onus be put on her? Attorney Sliney - If the Board wishes to do it,
someone could make a motion to waive that sentence of Section 20.46. We need
something in the record to waive this requirement in her case. Comm. Trinlev -Feel
we have the ability to not reappoint her, but not to remove her. Vice Mayor Asselta -
Is this the only Board that has this restriction? Atty. Sliney -Have not checked, but
believe it is. Commissioner Newill requested that Attorney Sliney review all the
• Boards for this requirement. A ..Sliney indicated that he would review the Code to
see if this is an issue any place else.
D) Monthly Board Meetings -read into the record by Mayor Hagelmann
• Beaches & Shores Advisory -Mar. 11th -Regular - 9:30 A.M
• Planning Board -Mar. 12th -Regular - 9:30 A.M.
• Code Enforcement Board -Mar. 19th -Regular - 9:30 A.M.
• Cultural Board -Mar. 27th -Regular - 9:30 A.M.
5. PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
• None
6. NEW BUSINESS
• None
7) MISCELLANEOUS -ITEMS LEFT OVER
• Minutes Approval
Workshop Meeting -January 29, 2008
Regular Meeting -February 5, 2008
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Town Commission Workshop Minutes
February 26, 2008 Pa e
• Commissioner Newill - Noted a couple of errors that need to be corrected. On Page 4
of the January 29, 2008 minutes, under my comments do not know what consructive
means. Page 4 of the February 5~' minutes, my comments should be: "The balance
sheet is crisp and clear. The expense and revenue report can hardly be read." The fifth
line down in the second paragraph should read: "On the report it identifies an
unrealized $30,000 gain/loss?" When the Commission gave approval for their fund
raising letter to the Cultural Board, I presented a check to the Cultural Board as their
first donation, and it should be so noted. Clerk will make the corrections prior to the
Regular Meeting. After the corrections are made, minutes to be included on the
"Consent Agenda" for the Regular Meeting.
8) REPORTS -TOWN COMMISSION
Commissioner Trinlev - In the February 8~' weekly memo, the Town Manager stated that
we have a new hire -Deborah McCray. Is this the woman who brought a suit against the
Town? Reply -Yes. Comm. Trinlev -What is the status of the lawsuit? Town Manager
Su eg rman - We are still in the process of discovery. No discovery has been taken as of
yet. Comm. Trinlev -And the Chief hired her? Mana eg r Su eg_ rman - No, the Town
Manager did. The Town Manager is the appointing authority.
Commissioner Newill - We have a serious problem with cars and pedestrians with the
crosswalks in Highland Beach. I recently helped a gentleman in a wheel chair trying to get
• across the street at a crosswalk; he had been sitting there waiting for the traffic to stop, to
no avail. I have seen women with baby strollers having the same problem. Just recently
read an article in USA today stating that we have a serious problem in this country with
people being killed due to poor enforcement. Comm. Trinlev - I have observed "crosswalk
ahead" painted on the streets in Fort Myers. Mayor Ha elg mane - FDOT will not allow that
because of the narrowness of the road. Comm. Zwick - At the Boca Highland community
we have a flashing light to assist residents in crossing the street. There are numerous
incidents where people drive right through, even with people walking in the crosswalks.
We need a concerted effort by the Police Department. We have tried lighting, markings,
and a hard press by the Police Department. Unfortunately, the Police Department is tied up
with numerous "false alarms." Do these owners get fined? Comm. Trinlev -Mayor can
you contact FDOT and get an actual refusal of marking the roadway? Vice Mayor Asselta
- In Palm Beach they have the little plastic sign men in the roadway at cross walks. That is
a state road. Manager Su erman -Last week the Chief and I met on this very subject, in
addition to speeders. We do not believe the solution is signage but enforcement. Two
years ago, we put up flashing lights notifying the public of enforcement. Once the signs
came down, the problem started again. 'The Chief is going to put in place a program
scheduling two officers whose specific duties will be to enforce speed and cross walk
enforcement. Do not want to be known as Highland Beach the speed and crosswalk trap,
but give us the opportunity to put the program in place. Mayor Ha elg mann -Bring the
flashing signs back. Mana eg r Su eg rman -Had received complaints that they were ugly.
• Commissioner Zwick - No Report.
Town Commission Workshop Minutes
February 26, 2008 Pa eg 4 of 5
• Vice Mayor Asselta - No Report
Ma o~Ha elmann - Have received numerous complaints of the traffic back-up on the
Spanish River Bridge after the bridge opens or closes. Contacted the Boca traffic
Engineering Department and requested that they reschedule the light at AlA and Spanish
River to allow additional traffic to turn after the bridge closings. The Engineer advised that
the traffic lights are done electronically and he will change the timing to coincide with the
bridge.
9) REPORTS -TOWN ATTORNEY
• No Report
10) REPORTS -TOWN MANAGER
At your last meeting, the Commission gave an assignment to the Code Enforcement Board
to conduct "Public Hearings" in regards to use of the public right of way on A 1 A. They
have taken the assignment and have scheduled two "Public Hearings." They are requesting
public input and to receive sufficient input have scheduled one hearing for March 19~' at
9:30 A.M. and the other for April 16t" at 5:30 P.M. to accommodate people who work. The
Board is looking for comments in regards to swale maintenance, concrete pyramids,
• rounded buttons; shrubbery, trees, red reflectors, mailboxes and landscaping. In other
words all the obstructions identified by FDOT. Some of these might be acceptable, others
might not. But, they are looking for public input. Comm. Newill - Do you prefer if the
Commission does not attend? Mana er Su erman -After they have the public hearings,
the Board will debate the issues at their own meeting; identify the town codes that are
acceptable and unacceptable, and .then made recommendation to the Commission. Comm.
Trinley -Does the maintenance agreement have any affect on changes that are proposed to
the Code? Response - No.
11) CONSENT AGENDA
• None
12) PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RELATED TO ITEMS DISCUSSED AT
MEETING
Emily Firtell - Beachwalk East
Concur with the safety at the crosswalks. I can be stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross,
and traffic in the opposite direction keeps going, in addition to the bicyclists. You often
find the bicyclists riding in the traffic lane, and they do not budge when traffic gets delayed
behind them. They create a dangerous situation. Will citations also be issued to them?
Town Commission Workshop Minutes
February 26, 2008 Pa eg 5 of 5
. Town Mana er Su erman -The Town Code does not address how bicyclists can ride, that
would be regulated by state law. They are allowed to ride 2 X 2, and are entitled to space
on the roadway as is any other vehicle. Police Officers can issue citations if they are not
following state law.
12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission. Mayor Hagelmann
adjourned the Regular Meeting at 2:15 P.M. upon a MOTION by Commissioner Newill
seconded by Commissioner Zwick.
APPROVE:
Harold R. Hagelmann, Mayor
Joseph J. Asselta, Vice Mayor
Miriam S.
Jim will,~PA, Commissioner
D-C.c.=. ~1•t _~
Dori M. Trinley, Commissio r
ATTEST:
Beverly M. Br n, MMC, Town Clerk
Date:
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