Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Town of Highland Beach Town Commission meeting. Today is Tuesday, November 4th and it's now 1:30 and I'd like to call the meeting to order. If we could have a roll call, please. Commissioner Chinowski >> present. >> Commissioner Goldberg >> present.
>> Commissioner Peters >> present. >> Vice Mayor Stern is absent. Mayor Moore >> present. >> Town manager Labony >> present. >> And town attorney Ruben >> present. If >> we could all rise for the pledge. >> One nation under God.
this fall. >> And I'd like to make a slight modification to the agenda, which is to add a presentation in honor of uh Tom McCarthy's retirement. So, if we could have a motion to modify the agenda. >> Yes. I move to modify the agenda
accordingly. >> I'll second it. >> All in favor say I. >> That's for the record. That's going to be under six >> 6A. >> Okay. Any other items moved down? Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, so moving on to our first item, which is to honor Tom McCarthy, our esteemed fire chief, assistant fire chief um for his retirement. Wow. So,
first and foremost, I'd like to thank the commission, mayor, commissioners, manager, laby um amazing journey. Never thought in a million years um through my career that I'd be starting a new fire department.
Not on not on the bingo card. However, I I can say this. Uh from the time I got the first phone call from Marshall back in the summer of 21 when I was still uh uh EMS chief from River Beach Fire Rescue, it sounded like a pretty worthwhile project. And as I retired
out, I took a dive into the consultants report and I said, "Oh, wow. Wow." And um with Chief Joseph and consulting on this project, uh Mary Hman's passion and I'm telling you his passion. I I I hope that somebody in this room got to feel
how forceful he was with uh manager to make this happen and to play a small role in the the beginning of this agency as far as getting the building built, getting the people in the building and getting the people to provide service to
an amazingly um grateful customer base was all you can ask for as a chief. And um the support that we've received, the agency continues to receive. Um it's just mind-numbing. It really truly is. I can't thank you enough for the blessing
to be able to have worked here, to have been able to call Highland Beach my home for the last three and a half years. Um it it's it's quite an honor. It really truly is. Uh when service is in your heart for whatever reason, you have to answer the call. And I'm very confident
that between the administration that stays behind uh the men and women downstairs tasked with it uh obviously with your guidance and stewardship I know that the department and the town are in some amazing hands. Thank you all very much for your time. Thank you all
very much for your support and the love. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm gonna steal a couple of seconds here just to say thank you to Tom for all of his work. We started this about three and a half years ago and his part of this he says the small part that's an
understatement was a essential part of getting it done, getting it done on time and getting it done well enough that we became the model for the rest of the communities in the county. So, thank you so much for all you all you do and all you're going to do in the future. Before
we I'd like to introduce his wife staff. Say hello. Uh this is Mrs. McCarthy. >> Thank you so much for sharing time with us over the years. I mean it was a lot of work, you know, the late nights and the 3:00 wakeups and the notes in the middle of the night for making sure
everything's done and done correctly. We appreciate you supporting him and we welcome you to into your retirement. Yes. And uh your daughter come on say hello. That's
his grandson >> Wyatt. >> Oh, is he a >> his daughter? >> That's what daughter just like his grandma. Same pulling here. >> So that's his job kind of going out. That's his next assignment is babysitting. But we would couldn't say
goodbye without giving something to remember us by. So, uh, we went out and purchased >> Oh, wow. >> a flag. Tom McCarthy, assistant chief of operations, in recognition of your outstanding contribution and invaluable role in establishing the High Beach Fire
Rescue. Your dedication, guidance, and service will never always be remembered. Thank you very much. It means a lot to be a part of a family. So, thank you very much. I appreciate everything. >> Thank you for your service. >> We'll have refreshments upstairs. >> Great.
>> So, if you're still here, come on up and >> Excellent. Check that. >> Excellent. Congratulations. Next item, resolution number 2025-027, a resolution of the town commission of the town of Highland Beach, Florida, ratifying the selection, re um
appointments and term of office of members of the planning board and providing for an effective date. And this is for Mr. Roger Brown and it is a reappoint. he already served a three-year term and uh this is a re a reappointment to serve out another
three-year term. Um because it's a reappoint um it's not in our typical interview process or anything like that. So, um, if there's no discussion, if we could have a motion. >> Stop resolution number 2025-027. >> Second it.
>> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Motion carries. Moving on to Veterans Day proclamation. Um, so we'd like to recognize November 11th, 2025 as Veterans Day and honoring all who have served and are serving our
country. Whereas the United States of America stands as a beacon of liberty, justice, and dem democracy, values preserved by the unwavering dedication of the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve in our nation's military. And whereas the
freedoms we hold dear come at a tremendous cost, borne not only by those in uniform, but also by the their families who have shared in the sacrifices and the service demands. And whereas on this Veterans Day, we gather
as a community to recognize and honor the courage, resilience, and selflessness of veterans and active duty personnel, both past and present, whose sacrifices have safeguarded our way of life. And whereas it is fitting and proper that we as a community honor our
local veterans, including our residents and employees who have worn the uniform, expressing our gratitude for their service and steadfast commitment to our nation. And whereas our community stands united in appreciation, recognizing that
our veterans bravery has enabled us to live in peace and freedom and are committed to honor their legacy through gratitude and support. Now therefore, Natasha Moore, mayor of the town of Highland Beach, and on behalf of my esteemed town commissioner
commissioners, do hereby proclaim November 11th, 2025 as Veterans Day. So, uh, yes, we we um really appreciate and recognize all the veterans in our community and thank you for your service. So, okay,
moving on to public comments. Um, do we have ch >> go first? >> Yeah. >> Mayor, commissioner, good afternoon. Today I am proud and pleased to present to you our Florida Commission on Accreditation
Certification Award. And as you know, this is uh something that we did back in 2016. We became an accredited agency with the state of Florida under their commission. And we've since been accredited three different times. the processes every 3 years that an
assessment team will will travel to us and and spend two two and a half days with us and review all of our policies, our standards, our protocols, interview our our staff, ride with our officers. Um they do an an in-depth dive in your
agency to get that reertification every year. And uh again this year, this is the second year, second term in a row, third year that we received flawless a flawless report from the accreditation
commission that came here to inspect us. And that's that's I won't say it's unheard of, but that that is not common. That is their job to look for your deficiencies to where you may be at fault to may where you may lack. Um, but this accreditation is so important to an
agency, all agencies. We are we meet the standards of of every agency in the state of Florida that subscribes to this. It's not an easy process to do. Uh, it takes commitment. It takes time. It takes expertise. And that group came
here and and and spent time with us. Gave us a glowing report for some of you that were in the room on their exit interview. Um it it was so impressive to hear as the chief to hear what they viewed uh about our department
and how they felt the connection that they saw the community people the people that came in from the community that spoke to them um and met with them about how we interact and how we support this community. uh hearing from some of you and and the town manager, uh it was
certainly uh something they they valued and they reiterated in their report, but also what they picked on picked up on and talked to us about was the culture that we have here in in our police department and spending time with our officers and and understanding uh their
commitment to what they do and and that was uh as a chief, there's nothing nothing more value than to hear people talk that well about your own agency, the the town, the the commission that they interacted with. So, um,
we don't get there by just signing a piece of paper. Eric Aranowitz, you come on up here, Eric. Eric's our accreditation training manager. um when he came here 15 years ago for this purpose and he's the one who led this agency to behind the scenes
to to establish these policies, procedures, uh best practices and it took a couple of years for us to to do that and 2016 was our our first accreditation process and then every three years we we go through this process again. It's such a valuable
piece to to any place, you know, universities and and and hospitals, uh, but certainly for your law enforcement professionals, it's a big deal. And and you know, you as a governing body give us that authority to enforce laws, to
restrict people's movement, take their freedom, and in extreme situations, even even the authority to take somebody's life if we have to. Uh, and and we don't take that lightly. And this process ensures that we have those policies, protocols, best practices, and we are
measured up to any and the biggest agencies in the state. That's not a small undertaking for a small department. Uh so to have that level of expertise and commitment that that Eric brings to the table that um when we started doing this, we had to talk to
other agencies. We didn't know where we were. We were we were a little dysfunctional and and we had a lot of work to do. Um, I can't tell you now what a feeling it is that other agencies are checking in with us to see what do you do, do you have policy on how do you
guys deal with that? Uh, I had agencies, bigger agencies, five times the size of us that were asking for some of our policies and procedures when they left here. They set two days with us that they were impressed with some initiatives and projects and things that
we were working on. So, I You know, it's it's to be here today and and talk about the staff that we have, the officers that the commitment that they make to to this department, the the staff that we have, uh the job that Eric does behind
the scenes. It's it's it's you see us out there, you know, all those things happen, but it's the little pieces, the tees that are cross, the eyes that are dotted, the things that keep us as a as a a a high-risk position. it keeps us in check is this process and these
accountability pieces that we put in in place that we do day after day. So, uh I can't say enough good things about where Eric has taken us. It's not just accreditation. He does our training. He does our procurement. He does evidence. I mean, there's you you you wear a lot
of hats sometimes in a small agency and um Eric's got the biggest head. So, I'm kidding. But he wears a lot of hats for for for our agency and uh and we're very fortunate. I'm proud to work with the professional, the staff that I have, the commitment that these guys make to
to the agency. Um very fortunate and I'm I'm glad to present this again to you today. And we have another uh accommodation again for for Eric, our department accommodation that we recognize his work day in day out that's unheralded that's not seen by everybody
else out there, but is is one of the key reasons of why we are where we are as an agency and how we're uh revered and and and appreciated and respected in in in our uh profession and around this county. So again, another accreditation process for us. Thank you for your
support in doing this. It's a big commitment town manager that you help us move forward so much so much of this of what we do. Uh really appreciate that. So thank you. >> Congratulations. Excellent job. >> Excellent. Um any other uh public
comments? Go ahead. Please state your name and your address, please. My name is Edward Atamian, 2727 South Ocean Boulevard in Highland Beach, better known as Villa Magna. Uh, I am the president of the board of
trustees of Villa Magna. And first, before we begin, we want to thank the commissioners, Attorney Rubin and Mayor Moore for their time. We're here to present to you a quick vision of what we
would like to accomplish at Villa Magna. Before I begin, I would like to also acknowledge a couple of my fellow board members here today. Mr. Sherman Nef, our treasurer, John Phillips, our vice president,
um Joan Stein, our director and our co-chair of our decorating committee, along with many other residents that have joined us. I I would like to take a moment to just share with you, and we'll get to
those in a minute. In n in 2018, Villa Magna became a building under construction. We started with our post-tension cables and realized we had a problem. 7 years later, we have exceeded $22 million in
renovations. We have completely redone our landscaping in our pool area, our upper deck parking. Our plan was to finish the lower landscaping with new signage and lighting and shrubbery, but we decided
to postpone that until A1A project was completed. Currently, we have but one sign for our main entrance of Villa Magda. In determining the look and the size of what we're proposing to you, our main
concern was safety. We are somewhat unique at Villa Magna as we have three driveways covering more than 375 lineal square feet with cars and trucks entering and
exiting each day only to have many of those that get turned around because they've entered the wrong driveway. and it's become a safety issue. Also, right next door to us is Delray Sands Hotel. They have four driveways, two on the
east side, two on the west side. What it does between the 500 and some odd lineal square feet of footage, it becomes a very active and sometimes congested and dangerous roadway. If I could, and I know we've sent
binders um to everyone, I think yesterday, Gerald has some photos we'd like to show you. If you would just start with the main entrance, you can see our proposed
signage where we would like signs left and right of our main entrance. So, coming north, coming south. Right now, if you come south before you get to the main entrance and you hit Villa Magna, you've got almost 200 feet of linear
footage. And I've had residents recently tell me because they knew about our meeting. They tell people where Villa Magna is, it's across from the flag pole because by the time you get there, you've missed it. So, what do we have up
for us? Okay. >> So, if you look at the north entrance sign over here, these are currently what we have day and night for the north entrance. This is what we're proposing.
North entrance. Next one. on the north driveway. This is what's there now, day and night. And you can see they're back lit, more modern looking, a little bit larger in
size. And we we really feel we can reduce our congestion and our potential accidents with larger, more visible, more modern, more upto-date site.
So, just to uh interject, there is a limit on public comments of about five minutes, which we've exceeded, but I don't know if you want to wrap it up. >> Okay. >> So, this is what we're looking at. These two signs and that's how they will look at night.
Almost the back lit is like Fanova has right now. >> If there's any questions, I can answer, but that's our that's our vision and we're looking for your approval. And if you do approve it, take it as our contribution to Highland Beaches three
miles. >> Thank you for your comment. Um, I guess I have a question for you, Marshall. The normal process is to submit >> go for building permits. But I believe the reason why everyone's here or they would already have a building permit is my guess, right? Is the signs do the
number of signs is okay. Location is fine. It's they're too big to our code. Therein lies the issue uh we have today. Uh the main entrance sign I believe is 20 square ft um and our code locks it
into 10 square feet. Um, so they're and the other the smaller signs, they can have those, but they're locked to three square feet and they're at about 12. >> So is this something that should go before the planning board and be a variance or something?
>> You can't get a variance. The only thing you can do under code because it's not in the zoning code, it's in section 23. So basically what it allows is you could go to the board of appeals and adjustment to see if an error was made in interpretation, not a variance from the size. So, did we apply something
incorrectly? I I don't believe that that exists. It's just the signs are just bigger than our ordinance allows. The the number where they want to put them, what they look like, they look great. They're just too big. So, that they're that's the issue um that they have. We
had a similar issue at Villanova, too. >> Yeah, we had the same. >> So, they had to shrink theirs down, too. >> So, you guys just shrunk them. >> We We It was 10 square feet. So they we made 1 foot letters and 10 ft long and
what we did we wanted to put the number up there but then we would have to change the the thing so we didn't do it we just kept with it 10 square feet. >> Yeah. >> So are they talking when they say the letters are that size or or the monument that they put?
>> That's interesting. Right. So, um, if it was a retaining wall, let's say retaining earth or some type of larger wall structure, then the letters would all be locked into the 10 square feet. If it's a standalone monument sign, the
monument dimensions have to meet the 10 square ft. >> That's where we came in. We have a big waterfall there that >> it holds up your driveway. So, it's a big white wall. So, you only got 10 square ft for the letters. where they're doing a standalone which can be 6 in off the ground but it can only be 10 square
ft. So in today's presentation what I'm guessing they're asking for if you give me a little bit of flexibility here is would or is there interest to modify that ordinance? We can't there's no variance. So we would have to change the
ordinance to allow for greater size of signs. So that's up to the commission. Do you want larger signs or you know or not? And then the process would be anything that you prescribe which we'll talk about later in the meeting is our process. I I'm guessing the residents
would be the champion or the stakeholder of interest for the change and then you can move it through uh the planning board. You go to the board of you send it to all the boards and commissions for their opinion. Um I think the process will take some time unfortunately if if
there is a desire just because it's kind of subjective right um some people will say 10 square feet's too small some will say it's too big some will say it's just right so getting through that process I think is going to take a little bit of time and I'm sure even if you've sent it
to the planning board they're probably going to want to have first discussions and try to solicit comments from the public to say what should we do because it's it's difficult now If we do recall House Bill 180, uh I know that Len and I and I know that Commissioner Goldberg
was asking is this considered more burdensome which then the statute says we can't change any ordinances until 27 as it relates to signage. Um that's that's something that we'll have to get Len to weigh in on is you know
how do you determine burdensome or more restrictive? One would assume that if you make it bigger it's less restrictive. However, somebody might say more signs or bigger signs are burdensome to my quality of life. I don't know. So, I'll leave that to Len. That sounds challenging. So, let him uh chime in on that. But that's basically
what we want. I know you guys are you're getting it for the first time. Uh we have a passionate group. So, they want the the larger sign. So, it's a matter of uh do you want to move it forward? More information. What do you tell me what you want and I'll take it from there.
>> You want to take it? >> Of course. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. Uh, first of all, you've done a beautiful job over there. Thank you. >> Uh, very, very impressive. Nice assessments, uh, you've done a fabulous job. Um, as far as health and safety, when I give directions to people that ask me where is Villa Magna, I'll tell
you what I tell them. I don't even look at the sign. I tell them they're right across from where all the lifts are >> and there'll be two boats there and they're right across. Now, what I wasn't aware of, and the chief could probably help us out, I wasn't as sure from a safety issue if you were having
accidents there. That I had not heard. So, has there been a track record of accidents in front of Villa Magna? >> It's more of the coming and going and unnecessary turnaround because, and we see it, our security sees it on their camera all the
time. Truck pulls up, back up, go into traffic. I've seen it with Uber drivers. They go to the south driveway, then they got to back up because the three drive, you know, it all looks alike and all the sides, no disrespect to anyone. I'm sure these signs were great back when the
building was built back in ' 82. I'm not sure that 2025 is the same. Everything changes. Uh we started out with larger wants and then we've shrunk them down. We're not looking to put up a billboard with
flashing laser. This would and we're almost in the middle between Linton and Spanish River. This I think enhances everything as well as what we feel is our safety issue. >> So that's for everyone. >> So if I could weigh in just a little bit so we don't we could have a long
discussion. This wasn't a noticed agenda item. This is a public comment to consider it. >> It's f we can talk a little bit. just we can't get too deep into the conversation because the public hasn't been noticed that we're going to discuss this ordinance. But if you say, "Hey, we're
interested to hear more move forward." I can uh either we can we can start the conversation at our next meeting here or we could probably what we need to do to kick it forward with more instruction to uh the planning board. So I'd suggest we
talk about it here as our next step has have it properly noticed and have us >> a little bit more informed and you and if you could bring more information for us and then we can determine uh the next steps >> so that so next to the next meeting I'll
bring it back as an agenda item. So, please come back and engage in the conversation and then we'll try to figure out uh it's December 18th or December. >> Oh, second. >> I December second. >> I support that to move it forward. Um,
and particularly, and we had a brief conversation before we opened, um, with the new state uh, law that prohibits us until 2027, uh, from making a a more restrictive. I'd like to know, is there defined that
statute restrictive? I'd want to know more about that >> and u, you know, can we I think that the signage would you did a wonderful job. Thank you. >> And quite beautiful. >> Um but I think that we need the the
attention to the uniformity and where we going on the signage and certainly um it can be limited and reduced in size and still have it prominent whether the letters are are you know reflective of the light etc. Um but I think that we
should look at it as part of our town planning on all sides. So, just just to respond to that to Commissioner Goldberg's comment, there is no definition in the statute. Um, there is a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 180 that's been filed and they actually now
filed their motion for injunction. So, we might, if all, you know, the stars align perfectly, we might get some relief on it. Um, but one of the allegations is the failure to define what's more burdensome or restrictive. So you kind of hit upon a salient point
there, but um I'm happy to look at it and be prepared to address the next meeting. >> Thank you. >> That's it. So we should plan on December 2nd. >> Yep. >> Come back. >> Come back. December second we'll be right. >> Yeah.
>> Thank you again. >> And just to level set expectations too. This is a long process. It's gonna it's gonna go to >> the process takes a little bit more. Uh you've been patient to date. The road could still be under construction. Just kidding. Just kidding. Just kidding.
>> But it it'll take a little bit of time to but >> looks positive and tracking in the right direction. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. >> Nice to meet you all. Thank you. >> Thank you. We lose our biggest audience.
>> Thanks, guys. >> Okay. What are we doing? >> Of course. Of course. >> Oh, you're ready for the next Hey, Maggie. Come on up. >> Hi, Maggie Chapelier. Bair Drive. I was
just listening to this sign. Um, 2027 is the restriction. I've been working with Jason Chidowski. Did I say it right? >> I'm waiting for it. >> I'm waiting. I want to hear what John's gonna
>> and I think I've made this presentation to the commission. >> Yeah. >> That realtor signs are really out of hand. And as John just pointed out to me, it's the structure itself that holds up the sign is also out of control. And
um I heard that I had to wait for 2027, but if you say that it's going to be lifted, >> well, I'm not saying it's going to be lifted. I said there's a possibility it could be >> because the realtor says hoping it could be lifted >> are a big deal on the side streets and
probably on A1A. We are bombarded sometimes depending on the market with these ugly signs. I I've made that presentation what a year ago and I've have Jason here to help me on it and so I was slowed down because of the 2027
thing. So let me know. Okay. >> Yeah, absolutely. We listened and I think that was what the our attorney said. So thank you for bringing that forward. Thank you. A lot of discussion we did support we moved it forward. >> We are supportive. It's just we're
limited in what we can do. Yeah. Any other public comments? Very few people are left. Okay, moving on to ordinances. There are no ordinances. Moving on to consent agenda. There's one item on the consent agenda.
Any discussion? And if not, >> can we have a motion to accept? >> I move to accept and approve the consent agenda. >> A second it. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Moving on to unfinished business, building department reertification program update.
>> So, the building department is not in today. Well, they're here, but the person uh cats out ill today. So, uh we have 28 since your last we have 28 buildings that have uh reached their reertification. So, that's good good news. 28 uh buildings are done and we
have 21 that are under permit and then two uh two buildings uh that we sent a noter that they're within within the strike zone of the ordinance, meaning within the next couple years they have to to get these things done because their buildings have finally aged to a
point where they have to uh meaning they've reached that 20 year mark. So, uh we're making great progress. All buildings are committed to this, moving through it. I know it's frustrating out there. I hear you all. I receive comments. It's good to see people at the homecoming want to talk about it, too. I
understand it's frustrating, expensive, time consuming. But hopefully at the end of the day, we'll have a very safe and sound three miles of paradise with healthy buildings that everyone can live in comfortably without concern. >> Hey, Marshall, I think they've done an
incredible job. I mean, having them go to a couple of buildings and find a number of items and have people say thank you is really a real thing and people are saying thank you to the team. They've done a great great job. >> Yeah. >> And I I think some of the comments people are starting and I understand it
and we kind of mentioned it and I'll kind of it's on topic but slightly off is the uh fire safety inspections are um are still out there. We we knew there was a problem. I'm looking at Glenn because we knew that we were going to get we just didn't know the scale and
the scope a lot bigger and deeper than we thought of how many issues in these buildings. I know that's also striking the nerves of some folks like we just went through all this and now we've got to put in fire doors when they didn't have uh you know we're working with everybody. The fire department's doing a
great job giving them some some room to to exercise judgment and cost uh perspective to get these things done. But that's also, you know, frustrating folks a little bit. Um, so but once, you know, we're getting there. We will get there at some point in the near term.
Everybody will be safe and sound. All buildings will have passed fire inspections and then we can stop with the false alarms. I mean, this is driving me crazy. So, um, and the reason why I say that, you know, uh, it cost, you know, rough numbers,
you know, $9 to $10,000 for if you take all fire costs and every time it exits to go to a false alarm for the third or fourth time at the same address, it starts to get expensive. So, uh, I thank you again for changing the fee structure to begin to try to recapture some of our
lost cost uh, on those false alarms. But once we get through the fire safety and all that stuff gets fixed, I think we'll be in a much better place. >> That's great. >> Okay, >> moving on to the Florida Department of Transportation trip project update.
>> There's a project. Um, >> yeah, we're I hope I hope I hope we are in the last throws of this. They're supposed to be done November 16thish. I still see a lot of little stuff. Uh the
road may in fact be paved by that date with the final wear course, but uh there's a lot of touch-up work with driveways, ADA crossings, sod work, minor grading. They still have a lot of work, so I think they'll be around for another month or so. Uh but
hopefully they're getting out and uh out of the way because we're having wild success. Thank you, Maggie, for giving me the email uh with our sanitary sewer lining project that's going uh very well. Um, and we're basically coming in behind FDOT. So, the side streets are
pretty much done. So, that's how fast they're moving. So, they've all been lined with great success. We haven't seen a lot of major issues in there. Uh, but we're going to be getting out into A1A over the next week or two and then start lining uh the rest of that and hopefully be done before the holidays come and all of our snowbirds come back
and use a lot of water. So, >> wow, that's super fast. That's great news. What I want people to know is the difference between a townun job and an app dot job. And you will see that uh when you go outside.
>> Great job. Yeah, I see they're they work long hours for sure. Very good. Okay, moving on to new business. Item A, introduction of a proposed ordinance providing reasonable accommodation procedure for certified recovery
residences. Yes, mayor. So, this is another mandate from our friends up in Tallahassee. Um, you know, this issue was a very hugely hot topic um back in the 2000s, 2010s maybe. Our neighbor cities, Boke
Del Rey, really took the brunt of it. Um, the establishment of all these recover, they call them recovery residences. The old term was sober homes. It's the same thing. It's essentially people living in a group or family setting undergoing recovery. My
voice is going today so I apologize. So basically the the legal framework is that under the ADA and the fair the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act, persons undergoing substance abuse treatment are considered disabled as long as they're undergoing
treatment. So as a government we must make reasonable accommodation to allow them variances or not technically variances but allow certain um deviations from our zoning code our regulations
um to you know accommodate the disability. The main thrust of what is argued is that it's been established by numerous studies that these group settings um help facilitate recovery and these groups and the industry will argue
these group settings should be in residential neighborhoods because it sort of normalizes and you know it helps with the recovery process. So back in 2015, um the state of Florida came up with a certification program because recognition and we all read about it in
the newspapers and the task force and all this stuff. The scams there were so many unscrupulous operators out there. So they created this certification process. So the you know the reliable operators or um you know the the typical
good operator could go through this process and be certified and then they would be run by these certified administrators. So at least there'd be some safeguards in place for these people because many people were you know they were building insurance companies they were getting built all this kind of stuff. So in Highland Beach we never
really addressed this. So, I guess you're lucky because some of my other cities did have to address this years ago. Um, never really address it. And I I my guess is the reason is when they set them up, they usually have the residences close to where they're doing the treatment. Usually they do the
treatment in an outpatient center uh near usually medical offices. So then they transport back and forth from these homes and that's the residential component. Then there's a treatment component, all this kind of stuff. Long story short, the legislature passed uh a
bill last session that says you have to come up with a procedure to for the process for these certified residences. Now, it's still the same analysis under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It's the same standards. So, what we had to go ahead
and do is create a framework, which most cities had in place, but just a framework. And the framework is pretty basic. it's, you know, they have to apply, you know, the property, show that they're licensed, show that they're certified, you know, kind of jump through all these hoops, and then they
would go through the process. It would go to the building official initially for review or whoever the building official might designate, um, go for review, and then it would come generally, we have it go to a magistrate for final hearing. It takes the politics out of the process. Um, so it's sort of
like a third party neutral because look, this is a hot topic. um as soon as somebody hears you know sober home or recover residence their you know backs go up and it it it gets very hotly contested. So it's set up similar to
many other cities that goes through a magistrate process. A lot of the the um procedure requirements in the proposed ordinance are from the statute. They there's these time frames where you have to review it and if it's not reviewed by you know it's deemed approved and you have to have the hearing within so many
days. That's all from the statute that we have to include in our um our ordinance. Commissioner Goldberg and I had a question. It was a very good question um before and well, how does this affect um condominiums or even HOAs for that matter? It does not. You can
still have restrictions in your declaration of condominium or your association documents that limits rentals, the number of people that could reside there, all those sort of things. occupancy. You know, we do have occupancy limits because they're part of the property maintenance code which we
incorporate. They're a little more generous than I would say maybe some of the condominiums and the associations would allow, but um it does not apply to those. So, you can still This is just for the town's regulations, the town's ordinances, and the town's procedures.
And really, under the town's procedures, it's really probably the occupancy where they'll get tripped up. um because there are like uh room requirements for depending on how many people you have and square footage and all that kind of stuff and I've done that analysis in other jurisdictions. But this is the
introduction because it will go as uh into the zoning code. It will have to go to planning board anyway. Um, so I just wanted to introduce to the council, see if you ha council, I'm so used to council, sorry, the commission. And, um, if you had any questions, I'd be happy to answer them or make any and, uh, in
response to Commissioner Goldberg's comment. Um, I will include something that says this does not override any, you know, association or declaration document, something to that effect. It's just meant really for the town and the town's codes because, uh, we're subject to the ADA. Okay. So if you have any
questions, I'd be happy to answer them. >> Are there um any um uh limitation or does does does the law as as it presented uh give us any uh guidance as to um any limitation within the
boundaries of our town. Um so as far as what what you have to accommodate >> it does not it's it's um you know it's the minimum necessary to achieve the goal of you know it's really up to the applying party to demonstrate that they
need this amount of people and this is what's going to contribute to the recovery and all that kind of stuff. There was a white paper that was issued years ago by um Department of Justice and a couple of agencies that you really the only time you get much discretion.
Now look, if they were trying to overload with people and it it's just unreasonable and it could be denied. The only time you get um discretion is really if they start to group in one area because if the stated purpose is that these should be in neighborhoods,
you know, just among the general population, well, if you start putting them all in one place, then you're defeating the purpose, the stated purpose of of the residents. So, that's really your only limitation. Your hands are tied to a certain degree. Um it just again, it's it's this reasonable
standard that that needs to be applied. the special magistrate. Um then fees incurred for that. >> There will be fees incurred. No. >> Can we impose them if it doesn't provide? >> Most don't. Um I don't know if we can because it's a sort of like under the
ADA FHA. Usually there's no a fee associated with it. Whether we can or not, I I'll look into that. Um I've never seen one that does, which makes me believe that we probably can't, but I will make sure just in case. >> Just with the application. >> Yes, ma'am. I would want to >> the application we don't charge for but
like you're right we'd have to incur fees for the magistrate so could we pass those along? Um, so are there best practices like like how much leeway do we have in the framework um
best practices that would um prevent these types of homes from popping up? Is the occupancy really the best way to limit? Um, so that's an interesting question, too, because what most um
cities did way back when, if they hadn't had it in their code already, we're going to go back to Senate Bill 180. It seems to be a recurring theme. Um, they have a definition of family. So, like you can't have more than three unrelated persons, >> right? >> We don't have that. Now, I think that's
probably good cuz we never had to address it. But unfortunately, cuz I was thinking when I was originally going back and forth with Ingred, we were sort of talking about how we want to structure this and I said, you know, we don't have that limitation on family, but then all of a sudden, well, we can't li limit family to three or more persons
because again, it's a Senate Bill 180. It's a more restrictive, more burdensome. So, I think it would probably come with the occupancy. Also, what's also interesting about this years ago, um, for two of my cities that when we adopted our procedures, even though
the legally it didn't say this, we require them to be certified and were never challenged on it. Sort of saying, and I did reach out to one, there's a few attorneys in town that represent um, these providers. And I reached out to one of them who I know pretty well, who's pretty much represents the quote
unquote good providers. And I said, "Hey, would you object if we require them to be certified?" and he's like no because they should be certified. So I was like okay. So and now we have to adopt the procedure and you know this is already presuming that they're certified. So it's a very there's not much deviation in answer to your
question and the only other things that we could possibly do to sort of lessen the chance of receiving these applications. I don't think we can do because of Senate Bill 180. What a tremendous scope, breath and scope of that uh of that. Uh
>> it comes up every day >> thing against the home rule. Yeah, >> it really does. And I I'm hoping it's it's North Palm Beach decided they were going to get very involved in the in the 180 lawsuit. So, I was actually drafting affidavit last week to help with the injunction, all this stuff. So,
cautiously optimistic that maybe something will come of that. We'll see >> if if they put one of these residents in, do they have to come in front of the town board and have an open meeting? And >> well, they would go before the magistrate is is how we've done it.
Yeah. And it would be an open meeting. It' be a public meeting. I mean, it's it's tough because you have the you have the emotional component of the residents. >> Yeah. >> Obviously, I mean, you know, it's understandable and then you have the legal requirements and the legal parameters that we are required to
follow. So that's why it's easier to have a magistrate rather than put you all in this position because you know you want to be responsive to your constituents. They elect you to represent them but yet legally your hands are tied in some respects. So it's easier to sort of take the commission
out of the process and have a magistrate deal with it. >> So we're required to do this. >> We're required to do this. We have another one coming soon. So it's it's the like the hits never end. The other one is is way less uh it's just about platting. It's not a big deal.
>> And we're required to put it before the planning board. So that's the next step. >> That's the next step. It would go before the planning board. >> Is there like a timeline at which you have to do this? >> We're supposed to have it done by January 1st. We won't have the process done by January 1st, but as long as it's in progress, it's really considered a
zoning in progress anyway. So it, you know, it's it's not a big deal. And there's no there's no uh penalty for missing that deadline, but it is, you know, as long as it's in process, which it is before the deadline, I think we're fine. >> I I would just like a clarification. Um
do we presently have in any any code ordinance uh a a limitation uh or do we speak as to how many people can live in a residue? >> We we and that's what I was saying. We do kicking that garbage can. We do um
because we adopt the international property maintenance code by reference. So if you've ever opened it, which I'm sure you never had the fun task of doing, there are restrictions about how many people could reside and you know like look we have beautiful houses in town of Highland Beach. Um but you know
in in other municipalities it does come into play where you know if for like each person you you know one person it has to be 10 x 10 you know and then it has to be 10 x 12 for two and they keep expanding it. The living areas have to be a certain size depending on the number of persons that reside there. L
for because we lack that family definition. That's probably the most restrictive part of our regulations as they exist today. >> Okay. >> So the question before us is whether or
not we should move this along to the planning board. We really don't have much of a choice. But yes, that is that is the decision for the commission >> given we have no choice. >> Do we have a motion or agreement? >> I mean, I'd like to tell you otherwise.
>> Make motion. We need a motion >> to uh >> we need a motion. >> I think consensus is fine. You're just moving it to the board. >> Do we have >> for the proposed uh ordinance providing reasonable accommodation procedure for certified recovery residents?
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. It appears we have consensus to move this forward. All four, >> right? >> Okay. >> Consensus to move it to the planning board. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Um item B, introduction of a proposed resolution adopting procedures for the initiation and adoption of town ordinances. >> The flowchart's in the background. >> Have a flowchart. >> I saw the flowchart in the agenda. Got it. >> It's in the agenda right there.
>> It is >> right now. We're going to talk about it and I don't see it. >> It is on page 30. >> Yeah, it's uh it's right before it, Marshall. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. I saw it. There we go. >> Okay. So, uh Lela came to me, found this, and said we should probably lock
this up with a resolution so it formalizes our decision. Then it's on our strategic plan. So, let's bring it forward as the strategic plan to say, do we want to change it? Do we like it? Do we want a broader review of it? Cuz there were
a or two residents that expressed some concern over the process. Um, this is just something we put together probably five years ago. Um, that just kind of shows how we create an ordinance because we were at the time bringing a lot of ordinance is
forward and we had a couple residents that just felt like it we're getting we're just springing uh this stuff on folks. This has worked pretty well like we had today like we do an introduction. There's no real action. We're going to introduce it, bring it back, talk about it, and then you guys start formulating what direction you want to go with it.
Does it go to the planning board, all the boards? It goes to them. They take recommendations. we could say like it, don't like it, send it back again. So, that's kind of the process, but then we've also added what we call the champion or stakeholder at large that runs uh the process. It could be a
commissioner, it could be a resident group um that says, "Hey, we want this issue changed, so we're going to come to every meeting to make sure it happens." And they're the ones requesting it. Uh similar how you had Mr. Bobby do the marine accessory structures. kind of said this change is need and kind of
introduced it and kind of shepherd it through the process. That's what we have here. So before we approve it with the resolution um you know do we like it? Do we want to get some more review? Do we want to send it to the planning? Send it to all the boards. Do you like because
it could affect any of them? Do they like this process in the community that we use to adopt an ordinance? >> Looks good. >> I I do agree it looks good. But I think it would be prudent to have all the boards look me personally why not just
let all the boards look at it and provide their input. Um yeah the the resident who >> who had concerns about it you know I think you know they also want time you know to perhaps provide input as well.
So that would be my opinion is you know there's no rush really. I mean, I think we're kind of operating under this right now. >> Staff is operating under this this process. >> So, it's not like we don't have a process currently, right? >> Um, so, you know, might as well, it's on our strategic plan. Maybe get
everybody's input. You know, there's probably room for improvement. Um, >> I concur. I like it. I like that uh we we hear more of the voices out there in the community through our uh committees and councils. >> I agree with that. Go,
>> Marshall. Now, Mayor, I'm curious. Um, if we had a group in front of us called strategic planning, who would represent that right now? >> Us right here. >> We do this plan. >> Yeah. That that's always been a question I've had. Who are the strategic planning group? I know we're the approval group,
but are we really the strategic planning group? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. >> We are. And then you use the committees and boards as like your sounding board or uh sage advice if you want depending on the issue to bring it back to make those final decisions. Um, in a bigger
community it might be a little bit different, but here um you know that we do kind of have the infield. We have an active group of probably 50 to 70 residents that really pay attention to what we do on any given week and they're kind of the we're all strategic
planners, right? We're all where does a community want to go? You just kind of coales everybody's ideas and desires and puts them into to practice and keeps me focused on it. It helps us, right? Right? We do everything based on that strategic plan in the 5-year forecast. Here's what we're working on, our big
special projects. Here's what we think our budget's going to look like, and we just execute. >> So, do we need a motion? >> Do you need a motion? >> Public comment. Yes, public comment. Good afternoon, Rick Greenwald,
Tranquility Drive. Um, just a couple of comments, uh, questions that came up when I was looking at this. Uh, first of all, in general, this is the process that we've been following for some years now. And again, without quibbling over a word
here and there, I like the process because it's it accomplishes what it was designed to do, which was to give the community and the residents adequate opportunity to uh to chime in on any uh major decisions that are intent. However, in looking at this today, in
terms of the formalization of the process, I had uh two questions. Uh first one was really a legal one. uh when we do this and if it passes in the form of an ordinance as opposed to
it just being kind of a commission policy uh does that make any difference in the future should potentially and this is all hypothetical some resident uh is unhappy with a decision and decides to appeal
uh an ordinance that is then that is passed because it didn't somehow or other completely follow this process. Is that a potential problem that we could be creating that as an unintended consequence? Uh, no need to answer now. I just
brought it up. And the second again minor hypothetical concern that I might have is that uh it appears to be a requirement that uh everything go to its um uh potential um advisory board for
appropriate review before it comes back. I think that that right now our advisory boards are functioning pretty well. There have been times in the past where advisory boards have not been functioning particularly well
with problems achieving quorums with some in terms of meeting schedules with some and again I was just wondering well I think it's a good idea for these things to go through the appropriate advisory board uh whether
on occasion potentially we might be throwing unwanted obstacles in our path if there's a timing matter For example, I know I'm on the financial advisory board. We meet every 3 months and sometimes in the middle of summer,
it can be hard to find a quorum. Well, if something is going to go through the and again, I'm picking on it's just the board I happen to be on. Uh, does that present a problem if this then is mandated to go through that? And
it's one of the some of the ordinances we don't really care, but some we may want to streamline the process a little bit. Uh so those were the only couple things I like the process. I like involving the boards and I just wasn't sure about the whole idea of of
mandating this if you will as an ordinance as opposed to being a I guess it's at the moment sort of an informal policy of the board of the commission. So that's my only uh only comments about it. I like the process
though. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. I mean that that's a valuable point and and um I I would I would say that if I would be comfortable with it being a guideline
and that it'd be up to the commission to determine um if uh not any it'll go through some process but whether uh that it's not mandatory it may be heard before uh all
the relevant commission So modifying language doesn't get us in that position. >> Yeah. Are you suggesting like there's um where it comes to advisory boards like perhaps just re rewarding that to say you know
if possible or or the guideline is that the appropriate advisory board would review so that it's not a mandatory like would it be as simple because I think the benefit of making this an ordinance at least what Lenelda explained to me is
that um we kind of memorialize it a a little better so it doesn't get lost if we have not the excellent staff that we currently have. I know that staff now would never let this fall through the cracks, but in the future, you know, perhaps someone
might lose this, you know, but if it was an ordinance, then it would make it a little bit more official. So I mean I wonder if one way to achieve um what was just brought up is to say something like the appropriate advisory board may review or something like that
to make it >> as determined by the >> yeah two it's a it's just going to be a resolution so it's not going to be an ordinance which is more effective law it's really >> it's sort of you know this when we're describing our procedures I think Dr. Greenwell made I think they were both
good points actually the first I think we should have something in there that the commission can wave or whatever or you know because as long as we meet the statutory requirements for adoption of ordinance that you know you shouldn't be able to challenge it beyond that. Secondly about the advisory boards. I think that like as I said anything that
amends the zoning code has to go to planning board. But I then I think it should be up to the commission where you want to send it. You know if you want to send it to natur what whatever board you want to send it to. If you want to go to all the boards I think that should be a commission determination. So I think that should be like a may >> depending on what the commission wants
to do. >> Right. >> And so I'll rework the language and when it comes back next meeting as for adoption we'll incorporate that language. a good one. >> So you have our consensus correction to um all the boards. Yeah.
>> Opinion on process for >> to get their seek their input. >> Yes, >> we do. We have consensus. Yeah. >> Okay. >> To seek their input on the process. >> Okay. Moving on to town commission comments. Commissioner Shnoski.
Uh during the last couple of weeks, we had the opportunity to see a little rain and um I was able to take a good look at Lake Milani. >> Yeah, that was a bet. >> If you had an opportunity, you know, if this was if this was in New England, we
would have had an ice skating rink, >> right? Uh and uh more curiosity u when they basically get in there to build I'm just curious are they you are they going to util uh actually use fill-in uh I'm just curious myself uh to clarify
>> I would hope so uh we haven't seen um any detailed I've always asked where are your civil drawings structural engineering drawings utility connections stuff like that they they're working on that now um actively. So, we should see
soon. But you would have to You're not going to put a parking lot small as they're proposing now underwater. They're going to elevate and do some grading. They're obligated to do that under the stipulated settlement that they have to accommodate storm water and
do best engineering practices. But yeah, they're going to have to elevate. Now, do they have to elevate as high as you would for a structure? No. But you don't want that in your, you know, every time it rains your, you know, or maybe we do. I don't know maybe so um keep it underwater more times than not but um I
think we'll see more evidence of what their final grading details will be and the civil engineering details um as they move forward. >> Yeah. My only other point is that during the rainstorm that we had the rains uh and the way they raised the road which
is very smooth when we drive down it now >> uh I think most people notice that it's coming into the sidewalks. Uh do they have a plan for that? >> Absolutely not. So um I I taken uh some creative liberties hopefully uh with
your support uh submitted an appropriation. We've been on a three-year success run, so maybe four years basically to get some monies from the state predicated on kind of a an unfinished job. The road's done, but they've wre havoc on our rightway. Okay.
So, I've asked for an appropriation to one do some minor additional minor grading repaving of the safety path. There are spots where it does need to come up a little bit and would give some relief for a walker. So, people every time it rains, they're not in the street. Um, and also to do our cross embedded crosswalk lighting. You might
as well ask while you're there. So, I've uh asked for that appropriation uh to do it because they have nothing. They've um again for all of the residents I put out in all of my communications, we're doing everything to hold them to their commitments. And if you recall, they said they were going to address some of that drainage. Now
they're walking back from that a little bit. So, um, I've been pushing that on to our state rep. Like, here are some of the emails. So, thank you for all of you that have sent emails. I forwarded them along. Um, trying to get those to FDOT as well. I don't want to say they're falling on deaf ears. We're not getting
a large response. I think they're solely focused on completion, but you don't see FDOT out here. These are all consultants. FDOT is not here. they're up in on Commercial Boulevard, you know, processing pay estimates. So, um they're not seeing that, but I don't think there
is really uh a plan because the road, if you noticed, isn't poorly. It drains much better now, right? >> Yeah. >> But because it pushes it all to to the right away. So then all of a sudden, you know, it's a lot of our especially, you know, season, we get a rain event during
season, we're going to have 20, 30 people at a time walking out into A1A. not really an optimal experience, right? We don't want to put residents, pedestrians, and traffic in the same space and whatever that they call bike. It's a marked shoulder, but putting all
three users in the same space. This is never a good idea. So, hopefully we can get there. Maybe they would take it on their own to do something. I I'm not getting that impression. Uh but we're going to ask and then maybe we can you know if they won't do it maybe you know
the legislature along with governor support will say go ahead and finish that was a you know poor job. So >> thank you. >> Uh I just wanted to acknowledge again um what we saw here with the award for Eric and and listening to Chief Hartman. I
mean that um he he exuded such pride in his department in his agency um and he should have that the level of pro professionalism and the community support running both ways is really outstanding in this town um and it's
it's just wonderful to be a resident to serve uh on the commission you know it just a really esteemed pleasure that's really all I have to say today and we look forward uh this month be going to the National League of Cities and see
what we can learn and bring back to our esteemed lovely Three Miles of Paradise. Um, yeah, I'd just like to thank Tom McCarthy for his service. Uh, it was pleasure talking to him all these past couple years I've been on a commission
and and besides being a fireman, he's a coach for our youth. So, I I hold that that's high in my book. And especially when your kids grow up, you still coach kids. That's uh that's meaningful and I'm sure he's going to coach more now. And our police department, I just like
uh Commissioner Goldberg says, uh it's uh being a police officer, they do a great job. And I'm always telling uh the chief that uh I I don't know anybody. I haven't heard a complaint with a police department. And I haven't spoke to anybody got tickets lately, but uh
everybody loves our police department and they do a great job. And I just want to thank our veterans out there. I know I come from a veteran family, World War I, two, my mother was even a Marine. So, thank you all your veterans out there.
Thank you for uh helping some. >> Yes, absolutely. Um uh I guess the only thing I wanted to bring up was uh the Milani Park. I'm sure everyone saw the co Star uh article and I know a lot of people have been talking about it. Um
originally the park was to have um 100 parking spots and the plan is it includes 100 spot spots but the county has agreed to only move forward with um actually building out uh what they're
calling 46 spots. But of those 46, four of them are for county staff and four of them are handicapped. So the remaining 38 are the general public um parking
spots. Um given where we are here today, you know, tried to change the direction of the park and um there was the county was not going to change their mind on building out a park. So I think this is the best
outcome that we can anticipate a big reduction in in the parking spots. Um I think the plan the the the plan that the architect came up with is a really beautiful plan. Um it's it's it's been
helpful to collaborate with the county on this. Um we kept it quiet for a long time. So, I'm pleased that they came forward with a commitment of only only building out the the total of 46 spots. So, um so we are moving forward and um
and I look forward to continued collaboration with the county town attorney. Any updates from you? >> No, mayor. Thank you so much. >> Manager, >> you have a few items. See, I'll take them in uh some of the same order you uh
presented. So again, again, congrats. Thanks uh to Tom McCarthy. He did he was one of our founding committee members, team members to really get this thing together, a technical adviser uh to myself, uh Mayor Hillman, and the commission to really make this happen.
Gave us some really good advice on how to how to effectuate to get to that COCN, which is the um the rescue part of the operation. Um, and as Chief Harman, he's uh done a great job with that department. It I you really don't see a
zero comment uh accreditation on it. You just you don't see there's always something you did wrong this or that. So, uh to do it twice in a row is pretty amazing. And I think what it is and again we were saying we benchmark ourselves not only
against our you know what we hold as our own standards. We do benchmark ourselves to those larger agencies not only in the state but in the country and the hardest thing that we do and Harmon reminded me in a side conversation so I thought it was interesting to share with everybody
you know it's it's difficult all policing is difficult right you know responding to crime solving the crime apprehending a suspect getting them to jail but you know what's even harder it's kind of hard if you really put your mind around it we spend our time preventing it so you never even have to
get to at that point and that takes a deployment of a new set of thinking, new sets of uh digital tools that allow us that with your support building that real-time operations center. Uh he's going to come around and talk to you all about that uh in in good time here over
the next several weeks. Um, that's hard to do to to like to do to be so far advanced ahead of a person ready to perpetuate a crime to stop them before they even start, catch them before they get here, observe them, monitor them, and and create that. And that's hard to
do. Uh, it's a little bit expensive. Thank you. um for doing that and making those commitments to, you know, to the the real-time uh operation center that we're getting uh putting the officers in those patrol vehicles which will be tied into in time 911 control. It's the some
of the stuff is really starting to evolve. Uh the two of you that are going to the National League, you'll see some of that there. I think there's one of the case studies there. You should really see um what these agencies are starting to deploy uh around the country. So, uh that's great. Uh what works against us a little bit is the
legislature. Uh you will be hearing um a lot coming up. Uh the big conversation over the next year, I think it's going to be about a year is property taxes, right? Um I sent you all in the email. I sent you the uh
seven or eight proposals that uh uh the speaker Perez has put out from his uh committee on property taxation. different options, what's excluded, what's included, timelines, this, that. Um,
and the governor has a stronger perspective that it should be simple, straightforward, no more homestead prop, no more tax on homesteaded properties. Homesteaded properties, 43% of our property role. So,
my concern is, you know, and again, 80% of our adorum is public safety, right? That's really what you get taxed locally for is police and fire. Um the six of us that aren't police and fire really, you know, cutting us, you're not you're not going to make up the 43% that's missing.
So, um we have some challenges potentially ahead that we have to keep our eyes on and monitor moving forward. I think there's solutions. Unfortunately, legislative sessions last 60 days. Sometimes intent is lost in action and the consequences are quite
severe. Um, I think it'll play itself out in some, but I just wanted to let you know that we should all be watching it. Um, I get it. Nobody likes taxes, but at the same time, there are certain things that we're charged to provide or
you're charging me to provide, which is police and fire. Uh, that's 80%. So, I need to we need to figure that out. Um so hopefully uh uh reasonable minds uh prevail and something reasonable comes out of it that addresses everybody's
need. True compromise, true governance. Let's see if it happens. Uh but again, let's I know right. But let's keep an eye on on that and hopefully Tallahassee will surprise us all. Uh same with the electorate. processed. It requires a
constitutional amendment. That's 60% of the voters have to approve it. But also, it takes 60% of each h each body, the the House and the Senate to put a proposal on for amending the Constitution on the ballot. So, there's some big measures that you have to get
through. So, I'm thinking compromise should be somewhat forced some of those discussions. Optimism for the day. Uh I've started strategic planning. uh started working through catching up give you updates what we've done over the last fiscal year where we're going some new projects that have
propped up some new emerging issues or what I call emerging threats property tax things that we have to keep an eye on and monitor uh so we'll start that uh December January February like we usually do start here's the update here's some projects like it then you can start thinking about how you want to
organize the priorities uh and where we're going uh with that and lastly mingle December 4th it's a big Please don't forget please uh it's at St. Lucy's Catholic Church 5 to date. Uh it's always a wonderful event so please be there and thanks for those
that came to homecoming. I thought it was a wonderful event. I like the smaller ones. Got to talk to everybody a little bit more. So but it was great. Um and I look forward to the mingle jingle. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Moving on to announcements. Board vacancies. We have
one vacancy on the code enforcement board and one vacancy on the natural resources preservation advisory board. November 5th is our next natural resources preservation advisory board at 11:00 a.m. November 11th, town is closed in observation of Veterans Day. November
12th at 1 p.m. we have the special magistrate hearing. November 13th at 9:30 in the morning, we have the planning board regular meeting. And then November 27th through 28th is uh Thanksgiving and town hall will be closed. There are no board action
reports and with that we can adjourn. Thank you very much everyone. Thank you.