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Home My Public Portal About09 22 15 Budget MeetingMINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF III. Consideration of Adopted Tentative Millage Rate and Adopted Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year A. Explanation and discussion of Tentative Millage Rate as compared to the rolled back rate. The Tentative Millage Rate was presented by the 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 Tentative Millage Rate is 37.61% higher than the calculated rolled - back rate. He reported that the budget is balanced with revenues equaling expenditures of $5,776,085. In the budget, including parts from the water fund, there is over one million dollars of capital improvements projected, the addition of one full time police officer, Oand anticipated increases to the fund balance (reserves) by $562,000. The expenditures include a line item of one million for legal fees with any funds not expended for legal fees to be added to the Reserves. B. Comment from the Commission and the public. Those from the public making comment were: Martin O'Boyle suggested a settlement negotiation of the law suites brought by he and Mr. O'Hare be arranged between he and Mr. O'Hare, C� members of the Commission and three members from the public. 4 GULF STREAM ON TUESDAY, F. KOCH, JR. COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 AT 5:01 P.M. IN THE WILLIAM CHAMBERS OF THE TOWN HALL, 100 SEA ROAD, GULF STREAM, FLORIDA. I. Call to Order. The Public Hearing was called to order by Mayor Morgan at 5:01 ^ P.M., advising that comments from the public are limited to 3 �ll minutes. II. Roll Call. Present and Scott W. Morgan Mayor Participating: Robert W. Ganger Vice Mayor Joan K. Orthwein Commissioner Thomas M. Stanley Commissioner Donna S. White Commissioner Also Present & John Randolph Town Attorney Participating: William Thrasher Town Manager Rita Taylor Town Clerk Garrett Ward Police Chief Martin O'Boyle Resident Charles Velie Resident George Elmore Resident Peter Klein Resident Bob Donhauser Resident �) Edward Slominski Property Owner Tom Murphy Resident Melanie Bazarte Resident III. Consideration of Adopted Tentative Millage Rate and Adopted Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year A. Explanation and discussion of Tentative Millage Rate as compared to the rolled back rate. The Tentative Millage Rate was presented by the 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 Tentative Millage Rate is 37.61% higher than the calculated rolled - back rate. He reported that the budget is balanced with revenues equaling expenditures of $5,776,085. In the budget, including parts from the water fund, there is over one million dollars of capital improvements projected, the addition of one full time police officer, Oand anticipated increases to the fund balance (reserves) by $562,000. The expenditures include a line item of one million for legal fees with any funds not expended for legal fees to be added to the Reserves. B. Comment from the Commission and the public. Those from the public making comment were: Martin O'Boyle suggested a settlement negotiation of the law suites brought by he and Mr. O'Hare be arranged between he and Mr. O'Hare, C� members of the Commission and three members from the public. 4 Minutes of Town Commission Budget Public Hearing September 22, 2015 Charles Velie commented that it is difficult to understand why anyone �J would want to spend the last years of their lives trying to destroy something so good as what has existed in Gulf Stream like these two have. George Elmore advised that Mr. O'Boyle has a prior legal agreement through which Mr. O'Boyle received $180,000, to which he personally Ocontributed, in settlement to stop the foolishness he was doing. He further advised that subsequently he was asked by Mr. O'Boyle for his support as he was seeking a seat on the Commission. Mr. Elmore reminded Mr. O'Boyle at that time that they had a legal agreement and asked him why he didn't live by it to which Mr. O'Boyle replied he was running for Town Commission and didn't have to. Mr. Elmore said he is alerting all that Mr. O'Boyle's word doesn't mean much. Peter Klein, having looked at what is going on, urged to move on and felt there must be a way to settle these things. Bob Donhauser, representing residents in Polo Ridge, believed these two men have hurt the Town but urged that we move on to a resolution by sitting down and trying to negotiate. Edward Slominski suggested that, rather than asking that all law suites be withdrawn, everyone agree that no additional be filed. OFrank Giacalone asked if it is necessary to include an amount for legal fees in the budget and wondered if this expense could be billed to each property owner as had been done with the undergrounding project. He also noted that he is a member of the Little Club and believed they would be increasing their annual membership fees to cover the tax increase that would amount to duel taxation to him and others who are members. Mr. Thrasher advised that it is necessary to provide in the budget for expense that can reasonably be expected, and that trying to fund the expense thru the method used for the Undergrounding project would not be practical. Commissioner Stanley stated that clubs and organizations have their own budgets and assess their members according to their expenses. In becoming a member of a club you are agreeing to pay their fees. Tom Murphy stated this has become a run -away train that must be stopped. He said that this does not mean he is "taking up Marty's spear" but it must be stopped in order to restore the tranquility in the Town. He said that the lawyers are the only ones to profit by this. Melonie Bazarty recommended resolution of this matter and asked what is holding the Commission back from resolution to which Mayor Morgan C, replied that nothing is holding the Commission back, that the cases are frivolous and abusive, and need to be withdrawn. He said, if they are 2 Minutes of Town Commission Budget Public Hearing September 22, 2015 C1 withdrawn, the Town's actions go away, their actions go away, and legal fees cease immediately which seems to be a reasonable approach. He reminded that he has stated a number of times that if they have a settlement offer they should have their attorney to prepare it and present it to the Town's attorney for presentation to the entire Commission, not to just one member, so it can be considered jointly in conjunction with the Town's legal counsel. OCommissioner Ganger reminded this is a budget hearing and pointed out that when one knows there is a situation at hand that will cost money to face, it is only reasonable to provide funds that may be needed. Christopher O'Hare maintained that he had been denied access to records he had requested, he had been wronged in other ways that have jeopardized his 1st amendment rights and he has invested too much, is not backing down and this can be counted on for years to come. IV. Adoption of the General Fund FINAL Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. Commissioner Orthwein moved and Commissioner Ganger seconded the motion to adopt the General Fund Final Millage for 2015-2016 fiscal year of 5.0 mills and all voted AYE at roll call. V. Adoption of the FINAL BUDGETS for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. C) A. General Fund Commissioner Stanley moved for the adoption of the Final Budget for the General Fund in the amount of $5,776,085 for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. Vice Mayor Ganger seconded the motion and all voted AYE at roll call. B. Enterprise Fund (Water) A motion was made by Commissioner Stanley to adopt the Final Budget in the amount of $1,172.000 for the Enterprise (water) fund for fiscal year 2015-2016 and Commissioner Ganger seconded the motion with all voting AYE at the roll call. VI. Resolutions. A. No. 15-6; A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FINAL 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. Town Clerk read Resolution No. 15-6 in its entirety. Commissioner OOrthwein moved for the adoption of Resolution No. 15-6 as presented and Commissioner White seconded the motion with all voting AYE at roll call. B. No. 15-7; A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE GENERAL FUND FINAL 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. O 3 Minutes of Town Commission Budget Public Hearing September 22, 2015 OTown Clerk Taylor read Resolution No. 15-7 in its entirety. Commissioner Ganger moved and Commissioner Stanley seconded the adoption of Resolution No. 15-7 and all voted AYE at roll call. C. No. 15-8; A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE WATER FUND FINAL BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON OCTOBER 1, 2015 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30, Oe2015; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Town Clerk read Resolution No. 15-8 in its ntirety. Vice Mayor Ganger moved the adoption of Resolution No. 15-8 and Commissioner Orthwein seconded the motion with all voting AYE at the roll call. VII. Adjournment. Mayor Morgan adjourned the meeting at 5:50 P.M. Rita L. Taylor Town Clerk C N 0