HomeMy Public PortalAbout05/08/1965Commission Meeting Held May 8, 1965
Present: Mayor Curtis H. Dodson
Vice Mayor Stewart B..Iglehart
Commissioner John G. Hart
Commissioner J. Phil Hoyle
Commissioner William S. LaPorte
Also attending: Messrs. Henry Lilienthal, Henry Lilienthal Jr.,
C. P. Young, Bailey Wolf orth, Henry Pope,
William Koch2 Roy Cowart and William Gwynn.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Dodson.
The minutes of the meeting held April 10, 1965 were read
approved and adopted. The financial and water report for April,
1965 was read and approved. All expenditures in this report
were approved. It was noted that water sales of 17,030,000 gallons
in April set an all time record for one month.
The floor was given to C. P. Young. He first presented photo-
graphs he had taken of the stables and surrounding area. Mr. Young
then read a lengthy memorandum covering the following subjects:
rendering annual financial statements to all residents7 de -annexing
the "Reed Subdivision" up grading the police department and certain
protection recommendations, Mr. Pope's subdivision roads; taxation
of Mr. Pope's holdings in the Town, and removal of stables, improve
the quality of water and certain recommendations to the Commission
to improve conditions of the Town. This memorandum is attached
hereto and becomes a part of these minutes. Mr. Hart left the meet-
ing during the presentation by Mr. Young and returned on the com-
pletion of the reading of the memorandum. After a short discussion
of the various topics Mr. Iglehart moved this memorandum be tabled
until the next meeting after all the commissioners had a chance to
study it. Motion seconded and passed unanimously.
A letter from Mr. M. P. Dickinson requesting the Toon install
a drain at Banyan Road and Oleander Way was read to the Commission.
The Commission instructed the Town Clerk to advise Mr. Dickinson of
the Town's policy to not pay for any drainage work2 but the Town
would co-operate in obtaining prices for this work and also to fur-
nish him with the drainage report on file at the Town Hall.
A letter from Mrs. Oliver requesting the Town aid in getting
the County to close off the northern entrance to County Road. The
Commission agreed to help in this matter if she would obtain written
consent from each property owner on both sides of County Road.
The Police reports for April, 1965 were read and approved.
Mayor Dodson pointed out that the 59 hours overtime by Chief Cowart
were at his request after receiving several requests from residents
who had been aroused by strange phone calls and fear of burglars
passing through the area on their way north at the end of the season.
Building permits for April - 3 totaling $93�500.00-
Mr. Koch reported that he had several sites under consideration
for future sources of water supply. Mr. Iglehart stated the Town
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should proceed at once on this acquisition and moved that the Tom
obtain three proposals for an adequate amount of land that would be
required for a future water supply and obtain an option to buy the
C one best suited to the To;an's needs. Motion was seconded and passed
unanimously. It was further painted out that after securing the
necessary option, the Town could proceed to drill test wells to de-
termine the lands' water capacity and quality of the crater.
Dir. Hart reported that the Gulf Stream Golf Club was agreeable
to renewing the water contract so as to extend the expiration date
to t.arch, 1979 with two qualifications:
1. Should the Town raise its water rates, the Club would
be entitled to the same proportionate increase, namely
60;3 of any increase in rates to the Town's consumers.
2. They will not be held to the contract should the water
level of the yells be lowered to such extent that it en-
dangers the watering of the golf course.
Dor. Iglehart said he could not approve item ,#2. Mayor Dodson
read paragraph #13 of the present contract and stated that he thought
this paragraph protected the Club adequately by stating ° _(club)
shall not be responsible to the Tovm in damages by reason of its in-
ability to supply water of satisfactory quality." Mr. Hart then
state(': he was sure the Board of Goveners would drop this request. It
was moved, seconded and passed unanimously to accept the Clubs offer
to extend the contract including the rate increase as proposed.
1r. Pope was given the floor to discuss the subdivision ordinance
which was on the agenda for second and final reading and adoption.
Kr. Pope stated that he felt the ordinance was designed for him only
and felt hurt that the Commission had proceeded this far vrithout con-
sulting him or even notifing him of the proposed ordinance. Mayor
Dodson stated that the Coiimi.ssion was not singling him out but were
looking at the vacant tracts of land in the Town and t.iat he may own
land in the Town today, someone else may own it tomorrow. He further
stated the Commission needs the ordinance to re;ulate future sub-
divisions to see that all the necessary facilities and designs are as
good as the subdivision Mr. Reed has recently developed.
Dir. Pope asked who drafted the ordinance.
Dr. Itoch replied that he had, with the help of Dr. Fleming, City
Engineer of Delray Beach and lir. Lilienthal. Iir. Koch further stated
that it was needed to protect the Tovm to see that storm Sellers,
streets and other facilities were provided according to some specifi-
cations.
Air. Islehart asked Dir. Pope what he thought was wrong with the
ordinance.
lir. Pope replied that he thought the Commission was pointing him
out for criticism and he felt hurt about it. Dr. Pone stated that he
had been active in developing Gulf Stream into the finest community
along the east coast and his develonements had proven to be good for
the Tmm.
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Mr. Pope stated that matters of this importance should be
taken before the people and ur ec_ the Commission to consider hold-
ing a Town Keeting in the fall so that this ordinance and any other
im_oortant matters could be discussed with the townspeople.
IYayor Dodson said he had no objection to holding a Town Electing
and further stated. the Com*nission Senerally felt that Mr. Pope had
done a lot of good for the community and hoped. that he did not think
there was anything personal about the subdivision ordinance which
was designed. to protect the citizens and the Torn.
It was moved seconded and passed unanimously that futher
discussion of the subdivision ordinance be tabled until such time
this winter when a Town Iieeting can be arranged.
The Cor aission approvesO, paysient of .�1,310.00 to Adams Chevrolot
Co. for a new 1965 Chevrolet Police car. This price being ?60.00
higher than their low bid of 01,750.00 approved at the March meeting.
This increase was the amount to be added for the dama;;e to the old
police car ri__^_ich was involved in a_ ninor accident prior to trading
it in.
The Commission agreed to let the `Poen Clerk have Wednesday after-
noons, 2:00 to 4:00 P.I`.2 off during the months June thru October,
subject to Mayor Dodson�s supervision.
The Commission authorized
roughs adding machine at a cost
manual adding machine.
the purchase of a used electric Bur -
of ?;114.00 plus trade in of old
The Com.^fission authorized payment of X50.00 to Mr. Fleming for
his assistance in preparation of the subdivision ordiance. tr. Pope
and Is. Young expressed their objections to this expenditure.
Kr. Pone requested. the Torn contact the State Road Department
and request that the double line on AIA be extended north from LaI_e-
view Drive to a point north of Banyan Road. The Commission instructed
the Torn Clerk to do so.
There bein;; no furthcr business tc
the meeting was adjourned.
Attest:
C,
Financial and Water Renort
April, 1965
Water Used: Raster meter
Individual meters
Water Fund
Balance 3/31/65 1];2)848-78
Deposits 744.27
Balance 4/3 1,367.16
Balance 4/30/65 `�2 22
Certificates of deposit 10,000.00
Cost of bonds 16 000.00
Revenue for Arril:
i Fs /7/ 600 344S
General Fund De roc. Fund
20;960.23 X139
5,301.91
50)000.00 172000.00
Water
;';22234.56
Licenses
3S.""
3 �j6:60
Trash
431.50
Permits
230.00
Taxes
535.96
Ot_aer
2.48
C Fines
0 . 0
Chechs drawn on Water Fund:
0+97
Otto Schneisser - service clori-nator 3
Taos.
90.00
498
Harold Corbett - meter reader
15.50
499
Picard Chemical Co. -
Clorine
42.76
500
Fla. Power L Light Co. -
electric for clorinator
26.82
501
Gulf Strea:a Golf Club -
Water - March
131
2.08
Total
�1,3b7.16
Checks draim on General Fund:
�i
#3151+
56
57
58
6o
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
30
81
82
R
886
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
3200
01
02
03
C_
Stafford Rafuse
Salary
Paul Bradwell
It
Robinson Cool: refund tax discount
Northrup Da7.Tson
If if n
Frani: DeRice
it +1 ,t
Ethel DeRice
it it If
Curtis H. Dodson
It It If
A. 3. Hancock
it ;, it
Josephine Fnoerles
it ❑ It
Lr. C. Pd. Large
it It If
Albert Purkiss
It If it
lIrs. S. S. Stewart
it it It
R. Bradley Ward
it It It
Byron Webster
It
S. Rafuse
Salary
P. Bradwell
„
Cash replenish petty cash box
Palm Beach. Post Times
legal ad
So. Bell Te le7hone
office phone
Fla. Pourer (�_ Light Co.
street lights & office
IVeway Uniform. Supply
sanit. dept. uniforms
I.ildred Martin
typin- ordinance
County Sanitation Co.
collection - A_nril
Walter Hatcher
bulldoze dump
Vaitt I-.acDowell
police radio repair
Itlearwater Ltd.
office
Ocean Ridge Gulf Service
sass oil, etc.
Delray Ignition police
car repair
bIobile Communication Co.
answer phone serv.
Colony Cleaners
police uniforms
Jerry Earl Pontiac
Police car repair
Ocean City Lumber Co.
general supplies
City of Delray Beach
radio service
Golf Coast Office Supply
office
O.A.S.I. Contrib. Fund
Internal Revenue Serv.
S. Rafuse
P. Bradwell
S. Rafuse
P. 3radwell
S. Rafuse
P. Bradwell
Roy Cowart
I-Ielton Partin
James Broim
Harold Corbett
William Gwynn
Barbara Gitynn
C. W. Ramsey
Motor Vehicle Comm
Total
social security taxes
withholding taxes
Salary
It
cut grass
transfer title
67.18
51.30
9.21
8.77
6.84
1.92
1.00
14.93
5.22
3.14
2.82
4.5o
2.18
5.98
67.18
51.30
4o.o6
15: 98
141.62
18.00
22.50
550.00
65.00
17.30
3.50
312.65
7.35
20.00
29.55
13.50
25.45
25.00
3.00
595.43
756.90
67.18
51.30
67.18
51.30
67.18
51.30
458.05
379.54
344.86
295.67
428.87
48.19
15.00
7.301.91
TO THE CONIIUSSIONERS OF GULF STRE:41, FLORIDA:
Generally, the individual resident, non-resident and even the
taxpayer, take little or no interest in their local government and, in
some cases, there is no doubt many residents are not familiar with
the names of their Commissioners nor are they aware of the rights of
individual taxpayers as to conditions existing in the Town as it affects
their health, welfare and the value of their property. I intend to
keep them informed.
I have lived in Gulf Stream for twelve years and believe that I
have an intimate knowledge of the Town; therefore, I speak authorita-
tively on matters pertaining to the Town.
There are many essentials necessary to good government, expecially
in a small tovrn like Gulf Stream, which has neither schools nor fire
department; and which is, for the most part, populated by people for
short terms during the winter.
The four important essentials, in my opinion, are good government,
good water, good sanitation, and a good police department. Investiga-
tion in these areas is long overdue.
It seems to me that the Commissioners of this Town are either un-
willing or unable to assume the responsibilities and to contribute
their efforts to the end that we have efficient management, good water,
good sanitation and a good police force.
The Commissioners, as a regular practice, do not issue yearly
financial statements to the taxpayers; however, for the past several
years I have obtained financial statements of the Town, and the increased
costs, dollar -wise, of running the Town are simply appalling and astound-
ing. For instance, the taxes collected in 1962 were X43,000.00; in 1963,'
a little over 443,000.00; and in 1964, a little over X49,000.00. During
this period, the cost of running the Town Hall affairs, Clerk, etc.,
has risen from about ."'11,000.00 to almost 413,000.00; the cost of main-
taining four policemen has risen from about -"'1$,600.00 to something over
"'26,000.00. In the meantime, the residents of the Town have not been
rendered increased services proportionate to the outgoing monies.
The property now owned by Nir. Reed, situated across the canal from
the Gulf Stream Golf Club, which is really in Palm Beach County, cannot
be properly serviced by the Town. In fact, the Town refused to service
this property with water and the police certainly should not be spread
out to service the development for it is perhaps five miles there and
five miles back from Gulf Stream and if an occasion should arise when
the Eighth Street bridge is up or out of order, police could not answer
a serious call or otherwise maintain proper vigilance. A resolution
by the Board of Commissioners should be passed with the purpose of de -
annexing this property from Gulf Stream, inasmuch as it was annexed in
the first place by a resolution of the Board. In spite of the fact that
the Town is not servicing the area with water, it is servicing it by
police and garbage disposal and although this subdivision pays an annual
tax of .1,400.00 to the To -ma of Gulf Stream, it is not sufficient to
cover the expenses for services now rendered. It was never intended that
this land be a part of Gulf Stream as a subdivision thereof. It was
bought originally for the purpose of protecting the Town's water wells
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and to provide further expansion of the wells when necessary. It was
never intended that this be a part of the Town. A referendum should
be submitted to the voting taxpayers at the nest annual election,
which is in March, 1966, or by negotiation.
Police Force: It is my opinion that the police force, as it exists
today, iJU ineffective and must be upgraded substantially. I do believe,
however, that there may be capable men on the force. It is essential
that all of the police serving this Town be given strenuous physical
examinations and also be examined with regard to their knowledge of and
their ability to operate as policemen, not only in patrolling the Town
but in protecting the Town and its people against thieves, etc. These
met
etingtions should be with the standardseofbPalmtBeachgffTheeRoy aPoliceChief, Rthose
Cowart,
should be let go and a new Police Chief appointed. The Police Chief
appointed should have detective ability and should serve at times as a
plainclothesman and, again, as relief officer for the other three police-
men,
I believe that an investigation of the operations of the police
force and Town management in general is long overdue and the residents
should appoint a committee to make recommendations. The next election
is in March, 1966, and this committee should sound out persons of ability
and support those willing to serve.
The Town of Gulf Stream, which extends north and south along the
Ocean for some two miles in length and is about one-quarter of a mile in
width, has no public beaches and is, therefore, unique in this respect
in these trying times that various municipalities are experienceing.
The Town could be further protected through both summer and winter months
if the roads shown on the accompanying map were chained up at night from
9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., leaving one road for ingress and egress. Sea
Road would be the main entrance during the night hours. This would con-
tribute considerably to more efficient policing of the Town for there
would be only one road leading into A -1-A. The residents of the Town
could be so notified and I am sure it would meet with their approval.
Pope, RoadStables: Each year we have repaired and maintained
roads for Pope,
and ope, who owns the polo fields, and have expended monies to
make these roads suitable for travel. His various developments have
contributed to the destruction of the roads and this, of course, has
necessitated further expenditures.
With regard to.Popets holdings in Gulf Stream, according to hia
own statement to me, Pope is not a developer but is an investor (capital
gains position) by agreement with the Internal Revenue Department. On
the other hand, he poses as a dsreloper with the Assessor of Taxes in
West Palm Beach. Therefore, he is receiving a developer's discount of
40% which he is not entitled to, and the Town should tax him at the
full tax rate.
With regard to the water bought from Gulf Stream Golf Club, to
say that it is poor in quality is to put it mildly. A survey should be
made to obtain our own water from another source, perhaps Boynton. A
committee of three to five members should be appointed to investigate
this matter with the view of making recommendations to the Board of
Commissioners at a later date.
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The sanitation is very bad by reason of the stables and barns
maintained by Pope, which are in deplorable condition and are an unsightly
mess for a Town such as Gulf Stream, not to mention being a fire hazard.
Needless to say, the Torn is full of rats, mosquitos and flies, and these
stables must come down and the area cleaned up. This is long overdue -
polo is through in this Town. Garbage disposal seems adequate. However,
we should not consider a need for severs.
In summary, I would suggest:
1. Arrange for better water and appoint a committee of three - two
from the voters and one Commissioner to investigate Boca Raton's
water system.
2. Order Pope to tear down stables and clean up property. Investi-
gate taxes of Pope and tax him the same rate as the other tax-
payers. He can't be both - an investor and developer.
3. Appoint one Commissioner to be in charge of police with power to
investigate, reorganize, hire, fire and upgrade the Police De-
partment.
4. Put a referendum before the taxpayers at the next election with
the view to de -annexing Reed's property.
Respectfully submitted,
Cecil P. Young
CPY:amr
enclosure