HomeMy Public PortalAbout09 11 15 MeetingMINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
OGULF STREAM ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 AT 5:01 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 5:06 P.M.,
advising that comments from the public are limited to 3 minutes.
II. Roll Call.
Present and Scott W. Morgan Mayor
Participating: Robert W. Ganger Vice Mayor
Joan K. Orthwein Commissioner
Thomas M. Stanley Commissioner
Also Present & John Randolph Town Attorney
Participating: William Thrasher Town Manager
Rita Taylor Town Clerk
Garrett Ward Police Chief
Chris Davies Resident
Edward Slominski Property Owner
Frank Giacalone Resident
Paula Marra Resident
Martin O'Boyle Resident
Christopher O'Hare Resident
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III. Presentation of the Proposed Budget and Proposed Millage Rate for
Fiscal Year 2015-2016.
A. Explanation and discussion of Proposed Millage Rate as
compared to the rolled back rate.
The proposed millage rate was presented by Town Manager Thrasher at 5.0
mills, levied against the taxable value in the Town of Gulf Stream of
$965,427,964 with the calculated rolled -back rate being 3.6335 mills.
The proposed millage rate is 37.61% higher than the calculated rolled -
back rate. Highlights of budgeted expenditures include one million in
various capital expenditures (new street lights, updated police radios,
storm drainage and paving, new water meters in Place Au Soleil), new
police officer position, $600,000 added to the reserves as was suggested
in a recent long term planning meeting and one million for legal fees.
Mr. Thrasher stated he had compared the Gulf Stream proposed millage
rate to those rates proposed by 18 other similar communities and found
Othat Gulf Stream is the 3rd lowest in that group. He explained that those
communities who contract fire and EMS services from the Palm Beach
County Department pay for those services thru a Municipal Service Taxing
Unit which assesses a millage rate of 3.4581 which is over and above the
municipal operating budgets.
B. Comment from the Commission and the public.
Each Commissioner commented on the budget being considered and were
Ounanimously in agreement with what was presented.
Those from the public making comment were:
Chris Davies, requesting better police communications on weekends.
Town Commission Tentative
Budget Hearing held on
September 11, 2015 at 5:01 P.M.
C� Edward Slominski encouraged settlement of law suits.
Mayor Morgan took this opportunity to explain that the town had an issue
with Mr. O'Boyle in 2013 that ended in litigation with the town and, in
good faith, the town paid a considerable sum of money to Mr. O'Boyle for
him to withdraw his law suits and his large number of public records
Orequests. Almost immediately after that Mr. O'Boyle began the process of
filing more law suits and public record requests, as he has done in many
other places. Then Mr. O'Hare began to file law suits and make public
record requests because he had some issues with the town. The Mayor read
some examples of the public records requests and explained that they are
of a harassing nature and require legal advise prior to a response. He
pointed out that there are other types of law suits that have been
brought and are pending against him and several of the other attorneys
that are also being funded from the line item legal fees in the budget.
Mayor Morgan pointed out that Mr. O'Boyle and Mr. O'Hare brought these
cases and it is up to them to drop these cases and that he suspected the
cases against them could be discontinued too. He said he had no
authority to say that but if that were to happen, he would certainly
recommend it.
Martin O'Boyle denied that his requests are harassment and claimed it is
his constitutional right and the performance of the town staff has
Oimproved over the last year and a half because of his actions.
Paula Marra had mixed emotions about this matter having just moved to
Gulf Stream in 2013. She commented that she had to try to explain to her
children what the signs meant in Mr. O'Hare's front yard and had
questioned the wisdom of the RICO suit. She pointed out that from the
information learned at this meeting that there was a large drop in the
number of requests after RICO was filed, maybe it was the RICO. She
.suggested that it is time for both sides to consider settling.
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Frank Giacalone asked what started all of this and how can it be ended.
Mayor Morgan advised it was when Mr. O'Boyle applied for changes to his
house which were not in compliance with the code and were denied. With
regard to Mr. O'Hare, he believed it was when he was denied the type of
roof he was requesting that was not code compliant or perhaps when some
plantings in front of his home had to be removed.
In answer to the question of settlement, Commissioner Orthwein reminded
that she had been involved in settling the matter with Mr. O'Boyle at
which time he was paid a large sum of money and was allowed to do
whatever he wanted to do to his house and in turn Mr. O'Boyle promised
he would leave the town alone.
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Town Commission Tentative
Budget Hearing held on
September 11, 2015 at 5:01 P.M.
OIn answer to Mr. Giacalone's question, Mayor Morgan repeated that a
proposal from Mr. O'Boyle and Mr. O'Hare to withdraw their law suits
would most certainly be considered.
Vice Mayor Ganger reminded that this is a budget meeting.
Christopher O'Hare stated he had not received a dime from the town and
Ostarted the public record requests when an officer trespassed on his
property. He said that when he discovered that he only received a
portion of the photos he had requested, his demeanor changed and that is
when he began the court actions. He predicted that by next year the
legal budget will double.
IV. Adoption of the General Fund Tentative Millage Rate for Fiscal
Year 2015-2016.
Commissioner Stanley moved to adopt the General Fund Tentative Millage
Rate of 5.0 mills for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 and Commissioner Orthwein
seconded the motion with all voting AYE at roll call.
V. Adoption of the Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016.
A. General Fund
Commissioner Stanley moved for the adoption of the Tentative Budget for
the General Fund and then amended his motion to read that he moved for
adoption of the Tentative Budget for the General Fund in the amount of
n $5,776,085 for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. Vice Mayor Ganger seconded the
/ amended motion and all voted AYE at roll call.
B. Enterprise Fund (Water)
Commissioner Stanley moved to adopt the Tentative Budget for the
Enterprise Fund for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 in the amount of $1,172,000
and Vice Mayor Ganger seconded the motion with all voting AYE at roll
call.
VI. Public Hearing Date for Final Adoption of Millage Rate & Budget.
Vice Mayor Ganger moved to hold the Public Hearing for adoption
of the final millage rate and budgets for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 on
September 22, 2015 at 5:01 P.M. at the Town Hall. Commissioner Orthwein
seconded the motion and all voted AYE at roll call.
VII. Resolutions.
A. No. 015-3; A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE
CTENTATIVE LEVYING OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE TOWN OF GULF
STREAM GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON OCTOBER 1,
2015 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
The Clerk read by title Resolution No. 015-3. Commissioner Orthwein
moved for the adoption and then amended the motion for the adoption of
Resolution No. 015-3 to include that the Tentative Levying of Ad Valorem
�) Taxes is based on the gross taxable value of $965,427,964. The amended
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Town Commission Tentative
Budget Hearing held on
September 11, 2015 at 5:01 P.M.
Omotion was seconded by Vice Mayor Ganger with all voting AYE at roll
call.
B. No. 015-4; A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE GENERAL
FUND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON OCTOBER 1, 2015 AND ENDING ON
SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
OCommissioner Orthwein moved the adoption of Resolution No. 015-4
adopting the General Fund Tentative Budget in the amount of $5,776,085
and Commissioner Stanley seconded the motion with all voting AYE at roll
call.
C. No. 015-5; A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE WATER
FUND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON OCTOBER 1, 2015 AND ENDING ON
SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Vice Mayor Ganger moved to adopt Resolution No. 015-5 adopting the Water
Fund Tentative Budget in the amount of $1,172,000 and Commissioner
Orhwein seconded the motion. All voted AYE at roll call.
VIII. Adjournment.
Mayor Morgan adjourned the Public Hearing at approximately 6:15
P.M
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Rita L. Taylor
Town Clerk
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