2016.10.05_TC_Minutes_Special TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING
Wednesday, October 5.2016 9:OOPM
Vice Mayor William Weitz called the Special Meeting to order in the Town Hall Conference
Room at 9:04 AM.
CALL TO ORDER:
Roll Call: Members Present: Vice Mayor William Weitz, Ph.D; Commissioner Carl Feldman,
Commissioner Louis Stern and Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker. Member Absent: Mayor
Bernard Fearthenman. Also present: Interim Town Manager Valerie Oakes; Deputy Town
Clerk Lanelda Gaskins; Police Chief Craig Hartmann; Finance Director Cale Curtis; Library
Director Lois Albertson; Public Works Director Ed Soper,and members of the public.
1. DECLARATION OF STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
A) RESOLUTION NO. 16-009 R
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA, DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WITHIN THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Deputy Town Clerk Gaskins read Resolution No. 16-009 R into the record.
Vice Mayor Weitz — On Tuesday, October 4h, the Governor of the State of Florida
declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of Florida.
Interim Town Manager Oakes — Yesterday we had a meeting with the Palm Beach
County EOC, and all the municipalities were in on the conference call. When asked if
they were declaring a State of Emergency, many of the municipalities had stated they
had or were in the process of doing so. The County declared a State of Emergency so
we are following suit.
MOTION: Commissioner Zelniker moved to adopt Resolution No. 16-009 R. Motion
was seconded by Commissioner Stem.
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
October 5,2016 Page 2 of 4
ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Zelniker - Yes
Commissioner Stem - Yes
Commissioner Feldman - Yes
Vice Mayor Weitz - Yes
Motion carried 4 to 0.
Commission Discussion:
Commissioner Feldman — Are we under an emergency evacuation? Police Chief
Hartmann — What the Declaration of the State of Emergency allows municipalities to
do is it gives us the authority to operate under emergency situations such as the local
building codes and procurement procedures. This does not mean that the Town is
evacuating. We will operate with some modified schedules. The emergency services
such as fire rescue, police, public works and water plant, to some degree, will continue
and provide those services. We take direction from the Palm Beach County
Emergency Operations Center. We will have more information later on today.
Vice Manor Weitz—Although it is not a mandatory evacuation, if people would like to
leave the barrier island they are encouraged to do so.
Police Chief Hartmann— All builders and contractors have been made aware that they
must secure the construction sites.
Interim Town Manager Oakes — All building inspections have been cancelled for
Thursday and Friday.
Commissioner Feldman — At what point do you turn the water off? Public Works
Director Ed Soper — We will continue to run unless there is an evacuation order. If
there is one, we will shut down our plant but we will open up the by-pass which is an
interconnect with the City of Delray Beach. We also have a backup alternate
interconnect with the City of Boca Raton. As long as their plants stay running, we will
have water.
Discussion ensued with regards to the functioning of the fire hydrants.
2. NEW BUSINESS:,
Commission to authorize the Vice Mayor to execute the Contract Extension Agreement
between Philips & Jordan and the Town of Highland Beach Amendment #2 between PBC
SWA(Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority)and Philips&Jordan.
Interim Town Manager Oakes — We were planning on bringing this to you at our Regular
Commission meeting but in light of the current situation, we want to make sure that all our
agreements are in place and approved. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
October 5,2016 Page 3 of 4
contract with Philips & Jordan provide services related to the removal, reduction and
disposal of hurricane disaster debris. She explained the amendment to the agreement, which
would extend the contract through August 20, 2017.
MOTION: Commissioner Feldman moved to authorize the Vice Mayor to execute the
Contract Extension Agreement. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Zelniker.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Feldman - Yes
Commissioner Zelniker - Yes
Commissioner Stem - Yes
Vice Mayor Weitz - Yes
Motion carried 4 to 0
Commissioner Feldman — At what point does the Police Department leave the Town?
Police Chief Hartmann — The Fire Department and the Police Department will stay on the
island until it is completely unsafe. If the barrier island takes a direct hit, no one should be
here including your emergency services. He provided comments about the process for the
staff and allowing residents back on the island, conditions permitting.
Commissioner Zelniker — What about the bridges? Chief Hartmann — The bridges stay
down. They are evacuation routes.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS& REQUESTS:
Carl Gehman, 1123 Highland Beach Drive — I belong to the CERT program and will I be
allowed to return to the island if I am needed. Chief Hartmann— You will be allowed back
if conditions permit since you are a resident. Vice Mayor Weitz — The CERT program is
activated by the coordinators, Marty and Elyse Riesa, and not the Police Department or Fire
Department. They are not immediate first responders.
4. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Vice Mayor Weitz called
for a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting at 9:21 AM
MOTION: Commissioner Stem moved to adjourn the Special Meeting at 9:21 AM.
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Feldman,which passed unanimously.
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
October 5,2016 Page 4 of 4
APPROVED:
Absent
Bernard Featherman, Mayor
WWei Vice Mayor
i
C arr Feldman, C on6Assioner
L St o sioner
s
Rfi
o da Zehul r, ommissioner
ATTEST:
L)Me�'-
4 &-�� IV 're-M6 er ��1
Valerie Oakes,CMC Date
Town Clerk