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The Board of Adjustment Hearing was withdrawn and postponed to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
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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
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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
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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.
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