HomeMy Public PortalAbout2024-15 Approving an expenditure of funds in the amount of $75,000 to the beneficiary of Mr. Ronald ErbelRE S O L U T IO N N O . 2024-15
A RE S O L U T IO N O F T H E V IL L A G E C O U N C IL O F T H E
V IL L A G E O F K E Y B IS C A Y N E , F L O R ID A , A P P R O V IN G
A N E X P E N D IT U R E O F F U N D S IN T H E A M O U N T O F
$7 5 ,0 0 0 T O T H E B E N E F IC IA R Y O F M R. R O N A L D
E RB E L ; P R O V ID IN G F O R F IN D IN G S ; P R O V ID IN G F O R
A U T H O R IZ A T IO N ; A N D P R O V ID IN G F O R A N
E F F E C T I V E D A T E .
W H E R E A S , M r. R onald "R on" Erbel ("M r. Erbel") served the Village of K ey Biscayne
("V ill age") fo r 26 years and w as one of the fo unding m em bers of the Key Biscayne Fire Rescue
("K B F R "); and
WHEREAS, prior to his service to the Village, he served the com m unity as a volunteer
firefi ghter, w hich w as then affiliated with M iam i-D ade C ounty fo r m any years; and
WHEREAS, fo r over 20 years, M r. Erbel served as K BFR's Chaplain developing, in
part, peer support team s that assisted first responders w ith m ental health concern s; and
WHEREAS, M r. Erbe! 's dedication to service also included responding to the 9/1 1
tra gedy w here he spent 17 days in N ew York C ity as part of the U rban Search & Rescue as a
m em ber of the Fl orida Task Force 2; and
WHEREAS, prior to 2015, M r. Erbel w as diagnosed with cancer, which he
presum ptively contra cted w hile responding to 9/1 1 and searching thro ugh the ru bble of the
W orld T ra de C enter; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, as a result of the com plications relating to his cancer, M r. Erbe I
retired fr om the V ill age; and
WHEREAS, on O ctober 29, 2019, the Village C ouncil adopted Resolution 2019-63
appro ving a M em ora ndum of Understanding betw een the Village and K ey Biscayne
Pro fe ssional A ssociation Local 3638 ("A ssociation") recognizing the pro visions of Florida
Statute 112.1816 and pro viding M r. Erbe! with $25,000 for his diagnosis of a qualifying cancer;
and
WHEREAS, on April 9, 2022, after several years of battling cancer Mr. Erbel lost his
courageous battle with cancer; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Erbel's beneficiaries have requested that the Village, pursuant to
Florida Statutes 112.1816(4)(c) and 112.191(2)(a), provide death benefits in the amount of
$75,000 to the beneficiary of a firefighter when a firefighter, while engaged in the performance
of his or her firefighter duties, is accidentally killed or received accidental bodily injury which
subsequently results in the loss of the firefighter's life; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council finds that there is a public purpose in conferring a
death benefit to Mr. Erbel's beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS, as such, the Village Council desires, pursuant to the Village's home rule
authority under Section 2(b ), Article VIII of the Florida Constitution, Florida Statute 166. 021,
and the Village Charter, to approve the expenditure and provide a death benefit in the amount
of $75,000 to Mr. Erbel's beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council finds that this Resolution is in the best interest of the
Village.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND VILLAGE
COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. That each of the above-stated recitals are hereby adopted,
confirmed, and incorporated herein.
Section 2. Approval. That the Village Council hereby approves the expenditure of
$75,000 to Mr. Erbel's beneficiaries.
Section 3. Findings. That the Village Council, pursuant to its home rule authority
under Section 2(b ), Article VIII of the Florida Constitution, Florida Statute 166.021, and the
Village Charter, finds that there is a public purpose in providing a death benefit in the amount of
$75,000 to Mr. Erbel's beneficiaries.
Section 4. Authorization. That the Village Manager is hereby authorized to issue the
expenditure in an amount not to exceed $75,000 and to take all actions necessary to implement the
purp ose of this Resolution.
Section 5.
adoption.
Effective Date. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
ATTEST:
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VILLAGE CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIE ",__,=
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WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE & BIERMAN, P.L.
VILLAGE ATTORNEY