2017.03.23_TC_Minutes_Special TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, March 23, 2017 1:30 PM
Mayor Featherman called the Special Meeting to order in the Town Hall Commission Chambers
at 1:30 PM.
CALL TO ORDER:
Roll Call: Members Present: Mayor Bernard Featherman; Vice Mayor William Weitz, Ph.D;
Commissioner Carl Feldman; Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker and Commissioner George Kelvin.
Also present: Town Manager Valerie Oakes; Town Attorney Glen Torcivia; Deputy Town
Clerk Lanelda Gaskins; Police Chief Craig Hartmann; Finance Director Cale Curtis; Public
Works Director Ed Soper; Library Director Lois Albertson; Building Official Ken Bauer and
members of the public.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commission, followed by a minute
of silence.
Civility Pledge: The Civility Pledge was recited by the Deputy Town Clerk.
1. ADDITIONS.DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:
Mayor Featherman called for additions or deletions to the agenda. Hearing none,the agenda
was accepted as presented.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS:
Neal Haynie, Chairman of the Federation of Homeowners in Boca Raton thanked Mayor
Featherman for the excellent job he has done in extending cooperation between Boca Raton
and Highland Beach. Congratulations to the newly elected officials.
Deputy Town Clerk Gaskins read an email she received from Carol and Larry Wittenberg
into the record thanking Mayor Featherman for his years of service and congratulating the
newly elected Carl Feldman as Mayor, Elyse Riesa as the newly elected Commissioner and
the re-election of Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker.
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
March 23,2017 Page 2 of 4
3. DECLARING THE MARCH 14,2017 ELECTION RESULTS:
RESOLUTION NO. 17-005 R
A RESOLUTIION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON MARCH 14, 2017; PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Deputy Town Clerk Gaskins read Resolution No. 17-005 R into the record.
Discussion ensued amongst the Commission regarding the positive outcome of the election
and they thanked Town Manager Oakes and her staff for their time and effort in making this
possible.
Mayor Featherman thanked everyone for their support over the last six years stating that he
was proud to have served as Mayor of Highland Beach.
Deputy Town Clerk Gaskins read the election results into the record.
MOTION: Commissioner Feldman moved to adopt Resolution No. 17-005 R. The motion
was seconded by Commissioner Zelniker.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Feldman - Yes
Commissioner Zelniker - Yes
Commissioner Kelvin - Yes
Vice Mayor Weitz - Yes
Mayor Featherman - Yes
Motion carried 5 to 0.
4. SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS:
A) Carl Feldman, Mayor
B) Rhoda Zelniker, Commissioner
C) Elyse Riesa, Commissioner
Deputy Town Clerk Gaskins administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected officials.
5. SEATING OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS:
A) Mayor Carl Feldman
B) Commissioner Elyse Riesa
C) Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
March 23,2017 Page 3 of 4
Town Manager Oakes called on each Commissioner individually to take their seats as newly
elected officials.
Town Manager Oakes presented the Excellence in Leadership Award to Bernard
Featherman for his years of service on the Town of Highland Beach Town Commission
from 2011 thru 2017.
Mayor Feldman commented on former Mayor Featherman's service to the community, his
future endeavors and his friendship.
Town Manager Oakes presented Mayor Feldman, Commissioner Zelniker and
Commissioner Riesa with their Certificates of Election.
6. REPORTS—TOWN COMMISSION:
A) Commissioner Elyse Riesa thanked the Town Manager, the staff and the Police
Department for the great job they did in managing the logistics and process of the
election. She also thanked all who supported her during this election. Commissioner
Riesa stated her goals as Commissioner.
B) Commissioner George Kelvin commented on the remarkable turnout for this meeting.
C) Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker thanked all those who supported her during this
election; especially her family and friends. She also thanked everyone for giving her the
opportunity to serve the Town and its residents.
D) Vice Mayor William Weitz, Ph. D. congratulated all the newly elected officials and
thanked former Mayor Featherman for his six years of dedicated service and the
amazing job he did leading this Town. He also commented on the election and how
efficiently it ran with the help of the Town Manager, her staff and Police Chief
Hartmann and his staff. There were no problems with accessing the voting site as well
as parking at Town Hall. Residents were able to speak with the candidates in an
appropriate speech area. He feels that all municipal elections should be held at the
Town's municipal facilities and will be a strong advocate to enforce this for all future
municipal elections.
E) Mayor Carl Feldman — I want to thank all of the people who supported me, and I am
proud to have been elected as Mayor of the Town of Highland Beach.
7. REPORTS—TOWN MANAGER VALERIE OAKES:
Congratulations to our newly elected officials. I look forward to working with you and it
will be a good future for the Town of Highland Beach.
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
March 23,2017 Page 4 of 4
Regarding Election Day, it did run very smoothly and at no point was the parking lot full.
Spaces were always available. The polling location was set up in a very efficient and
effective manner. Thank you to our poll workers who did an excellent job. A special thank
you to Deputy Town Clerk Lanelda Gaskins who is an intricate piece to the whole election
cycle. Also, thank you to Police Chief Hartmann and his staff who worked their posts to
ensure the utmost safety conditions for the voters arriving in vehicles and on foot. Officer
Semple accompanied me to Riviera Beach and provided security of the ballots, thank you.
8. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Mayor Feldman called for
a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting at 2:05 PM.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Weitz moved to adjourn the Special Meeting at 2:05 PM. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Zelniker, which passed unanimously.
APPROVED:
C Feldman, Mayor
William Weitz, Vice M or
George Kelvin, C mmissioner
yse esa, issioner
a
o Zelnik ommissioner
gel d
ATTEST:
Valerie Oakes, CMC tbatel
Town Clerk, ex officio
