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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09 13 19 MeetingMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 AT 4:00 P.M. IN THE WILLIAM F. KOCH, JR. COMMISSION CHAMBERS OF THE TOWN HALL, 100 SEA ROAD, GULF STREAM, FLORIDA. I. Call to Order Mayor Morgan called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M. II. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Morgan led the Pledge of Allegiance. III. Roll Call Present and Participating: Scott W. Morgan Mayor Thomas W. Stanley Vice Mayor Joan K. Orthwein Commissioner Donna White Commissioner Also Present & Participating: Gregory Dunham Edward Nazzaro Edward Allen Rita Taylor Absent w/notice: Paul Lyons IV. Minutes Town Manager Asst. Town Attorney Police Chief Town Clerk Commissioner A. Regular Meeting of August 9, 2019. Vice Mayor Stanley made a motion to accept the minutes of August 9, 2019, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Orthwein with all voting AYE at roll call. V. Additions, withdrawals, deferrals, arrangement of agenda items The Board of Adjustment Hearing was withdrawn and postponed to the October meeting. VI. Announcements A. Regular Meetings and Public Hearing 1. October 11, 2019 at 9:00 A.M. 2. November 8, 2019 at 9:00 A.M. 3. December 13, 2019 at 9:00 A.M. B. Budget Hearing Date 1. September 24, 2019 at 5:01 P.M. Mayor Morgan called attention to this date and noted the Time being 5:01 P.M. VII. Communication from the Public (3 min. maximum) There was none. VIII. Board of Adjustment Hearing This was postponed to the October meeting. IX. Reports A. Town Manager 1. Utility Undergrounding Town Manager Dunham stated that Comcast optimized, or turned on/activated, half of the equipment they had most recently installed and then got rained on, so the plan was to finish optimizing on September 16 or 17, 2019, per the weather. Once that is finished, Minutes of Town Commission Regular Meeting & Public Hearing Held September 13, 2019 @ 4:00 P.M. Comcast will then begin to do fiber drops to the 99 homes that are signed up to Comcast Cable. They will go street by street, at which point residents can begin to make appointments with Comcast to come into their homes, Mr. Dunham added. Mr. Dunham said that AT&T still had two to three bores still to do because the conduit is too deep, so they are replacing it at their own cost and is planned to start the week of September 16, 2019. Mayor Morgan asked if there were any questions to which Town resident, Mr. Bob Ganger, came to the podium. Mr. Ganger stated that the representative from Comcast had promised over and over again at past meetings to come and fix the pipe/cable issue on his property, but that it still had not been completed. Town Manager Dunham relayed to Mr. Ganger that he had been reminding Comcast as well and that they were aware of it. Mayor Morgan then asked Mr. Dunham if he would put something in writing to Comcast regarding this issue that has been ongoing since Phase One and Mr. Dunham agreed to do that. 2. Place Au Soleil Street Lighting Town Manager Dunham explained that Commissioner White, along with Chet Snavely, had gone to other neighborhoods to look at their lighting and had made the decision to choose the black pole and fixture because the greens didn't match and weren't attractive. Place Au Soleil is ready to order them if the Commission is ready. They want to start with one light and do a test on the voltage as they weren't sure between the 3,000 and 5,000. Commissioner white moved to approve the 10 -year lease with FP&L for 26 street lights (black Washington Concrete poles and black Granville fixtures) in Place Au Soleil. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Orthwein with all voting AYE at roll call. 3. Hurricane Report/Code Red Town Manager Dunham stated that during Hurricane Dorian they did not have to call the entire police force in at one time and all the towns and cities worked well together, even to the point of getting the EOC to lift the evacuation notice earlier than they had planned. Mr. Dunham added that Code Red worked great, as it was instantaneous information and he thanked CFO Tew for feeding the information to it. Mr. Dunham added that the Town was even able to use it regarding a missing person on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Chief Allen added that the Police Department was called at 8:49 AM regarding a missing person in Place Au Soleil, Mr. Dittman, a long-time resident of Gulf Stream who suffers from Alzheimer's. They immediately issued a silver alert through Code Red as well as photos sent to other police departments and they also went door-to-door. Chief Allen stated it turned into a multi -force operation with Delray working on the south end and Boynton working on the North end, as well as Palm Beach Sheriff's Office coming with a bloodhound and drones. After six hours of searching, Boynton PD had found Mr. Dittman in good health sitting in a residential back yard in Boynton. Mayor Morgan gave Chief Allen appreciation for the concerted effort of the Gulf Stream PD and other agencies. Mayor Morgan also added his appreciation for all the monitoring and behind -the -scenes work 2 Minutes of Town Commission Regular Meeting & Public Hearing Held September 13, 2019 @ 4:00 P.M. of the PD and Town staff during Hurricane Dorian. Commissioner White also gave her appreciation from Place Au Soleil concerning Mr. Dittman. 4. Distinguished Budget Presentation Award Town Manager Dunham read a portion of a letter he received from the Government Finance Officers Association stating that Gulf Stream was receiving the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the current fiscal period with a certificate made out to CFO, Rebecca Tew. Congratulation and applause were given by the Mayor and Commissioners, with Mr. Dunham stating what a great job Mrs. Tew does. B. Architectural Review & Planning Board 1. Meeting Dates a. September 26, 2019 at 8:30 A.M. b. October 24,2019 at 8:30 A.M. c. November 21, 2019 at 8:30 A.M. d. December 18, 2019 at 8:30 A.M. Mayor Morgan called attention to these dates. C. Finance Director 1. Financial Report for August 2019 Town Manager Dunham asked CFO Tew to explain the notes at the beginning of the report regarding the revenues. Mrs. Tew explained that a lot of the items were from multiple tiered collection agencies and had to pass through several stages which caused a lag in disbursements. She added that the Town typically gets their last disbursement in November, which happens for everyone in the State and wanted to call attention to it because it looked questionable on paper. Commissioner White had a question regarding the water fund general and asset of which normally were the same figure but it was approximately $10,000 off. Mrs. Tew explained that there was money owed to the Penny Sales Tax Fund so that was why they weren't even and it would rectify itself on the next financial statement. She added that due to Hurricane Dorian and other duties she got distracted. D. Police Chief 1. Activity for August 2019 Chief Allen asked that his report be accepted as presented. The Mayor declared both reports accepted. X. Items for Commission Action. A. ORDINANCE NO. 19/3; AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE DATE OF THE 2020 MUNICIPAL ELECTION FROM MARCH 10, 2020 TO MARCH 17, 2020 TO COINCIDE WITH THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION; PROVIDING A DATE FOR QUALIFYING FOR SUCH ELECTION, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING AN EFFFECTIVE DATE. It was passed on first reading August 8, 2019 and presented for second and final reading on September 13, 2019. Vice Mayor Stanley made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 19/3 as presented and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Orthwein with all voting AYE at roll call. B. Auditor Engagement Letters 3 Minutes of Town Commission Regular Meeting & Public Hearing Held September 13, 2019 @ 4:00 P.M. 1. Financial Audit & Governments Responsibilities Town Manager Dunham explained this is the last year the Town can continue the relationship through engagement letters with Nowlen, Holt and Miner without going out to bid. The letter sets forth the Town's responsibilities as to what is to be provided to the auditors. Vice Mayor Stanley made a motion to approve the Nowlen, Holt and Miner engagement letter and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Orthwein with all voting AYE at roll call. 2. Compliance Examination Town Manager Dunham explained this letter sets forth the fact that Nowlen, Holt and Miner will be auditing the Town's records and books to ensure they meet the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)approval rules. Vice Mayor Stanley made a motion to approve the Nowlen, Holt and Miner Compliance Examination letter and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Orthwein with all voting AYE at roll call. C. Items by Mayor & Commissioners Mayor Morgan recalled Representative Caruso bringing up the state mandate of septic to sewer transition at the last commission meeting and added that he had met with Rep. Caruso since then to discuss the subject further. Mayor Morgan also said that he had spoken with the Mayor and Commissioners of Ocean Ridge and they had determined that this is something that is going to happen and have already engaged an engineering firm to put together a scope of work and budgetary price, as well as a financial firm to give them advice on ways to finance whatever that number may be. Mayor Morgan believed that Gulf Stream should do the same and have Baxter & Woodman bring the report that the Town had done in the 1990's up to speed and what it would take to transition the entire town over to sewer. Mayor Morgan stated that Rep. Caruso is willing to help Gulf Stream and other towns in his district to approach the State for funding to assist that transition. Rep. Caruso stressed there was a push in Tallahassee to advance this issue faster than most thought. Commissioner Orthwein stated the cost was so astronomical she didn't see how the State could mandate this and agreed with Mayor Morgan that the Town should get a cost factor for exploring it and then see what Ocean Ridge is doing about this as well. Commissioner White added that the current Coastal Star had an interesting article on the sewer system cost in Ocean Ridge. Mayor Morgan agreed with Commissioner Orthwein that the Town should find out if they can be forced/mandated by the State to move forward and get some legal input as well. Mayor Morgan asked Kristine deHaseth, who was in attendance at the meeting, if she had any input. Ms. deHaseth stated she thought the Town was on the right track and agreed with Mayor Morgan that it would behoove everyone from the smaller towns and municipalities to get together and write a joint letter to the State to get this matter on the radar. She added that Ocean Ridge had put together a Citizen's Advisory Board of five to help the staff because they knew this was going to be such a large, long-term, very expensive project. Ms. deHaseth also said Ocean Ridge would probably do everything in phases beginning with the mult-family package plants that are failing at the present time. Town Manager Dunham stated that he had already spoken to Baxter & Woodman to give the Town a 4 Minutes of Town Commission Regular Meeting & Public Hearing Held September 13, 2019 @ 4:00 P.M. proposal on updating the initial report and he would have something for the Commission Board at the next meeting. X. Adjournment. Mayor Morgan adjourned the meeting at 4:54 P.M. 5