You got to look up before you think. >> Hey, are we ready to begin? >> Are we ready for anybody? >> There's nobody >> on Zoom. >> On Zoom? No. >> There's nobody on Zoom. Is there everybody? >> What is this? >> Are we ready?
>> Yes. >> Okay. The uh town council budget workshop will now come to order. If we could uh stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. the flag of the United States of the
one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Um and if we could just have a moment of silence. Representative Joe Cassello passed away and actually his Joe Cassello Buen Beach. Um and actually they're actually having his memorial
service right now. So I thought it would be appropriate for us to have a moment of silence. Okay, if we can have a roll call, please. Valerie. >> Council member Coleman >> here. >> Council member El Remy >> here.
>> Council member McClendon >> here. >> Vice Mayor Herszog. >> Mayor Kaine present. Town Manager Raala >> here. Town attorney Kurtz >> here. Public works director Galant is absent. >> Okay. Um and this is the time of the
evening when we allow for public comments on non-aggenda items. Do we have any of those? >> We're not doing that. >> It's we don't have any. >> I'm sorry. I'm just following the script. >> I thought you were referring to the
committee discussion. Uh we do have one comment from Miss Standish. Okay. On a non-aggenda item, Virginia. Yeah, >> I believe y'all will correct me if I'm wrong. >> I wanted to
>> I guess just homework and to confirm what day. >> Virginia. Oh, no. I'm trying to see whether you're I don't think you're >> going >> testing. There we go. >> Okay. >> We just want you to be recorded as well.
>> Virginia Standish. Um just a little factchecking. I wanted to confirm when the town received their rural designation and what form of documentation we received. the first world rural designation are you asking about
>> or what our current whatever our current status is and what documentation we have to verify that. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> And then I have a second question. >> Okay. We received our rural designation in um October I believe of 2023
and we received a two sentence letter from the Department of Commerce on that. >> Okay. And then last year I met with the department of commerce to try to get because it's an annual renewal thing, right? I by annual renewal thing. I requested that at this renewal which is
in process that maybe they would give us a 5-year renewal so that it wouldn't be such a drain on our resources. And I'm still working with >> So we received it and we're currently going through renewal. And what is the the current one? How long is it good for? Is it one year or two years? >> They're two years.
>> Two year. Okay, that's what I thought. All right. And then my next question, um, because we now have a town attorney, but I'm confused when I watched the finance meeting and it says he's reprised his role as project coordinator. Um, I understand the town
attorney is a charter officer equivalent to the town manager, but a project coordinator is a town employee underneath the town manager. So, could you explain to me? >> It was my attempt at humor. Pardon? >> It was my attempt at humor.
>> I'm a humor at >> Okay, but it confuses the public. So, I'm asking for clarification. >> The clarification is that I am the town attorney at that particular meeting. We are in a transition. We don't have anybody to um handle that particular
role. Um so, I filled in as I was the most knowledgeable person, but I am the town attorney. >> Okay. That doesn't mean I can only >> and my concern as a member of the public when we hire a town attorney that they are acting as a charter officer and not as an employee underneath the town
manager. That's what I'm looking for clarification on. >> You're a charter off. Okay. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> And that's it, Valerie. >> Yes, mayor. >> Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> Second.
>> All in favor? opposed. Passes 5 to zero. Okay. So, we're going to go over continuing our discussion on the fiscal year 2026 budget. We already had our preliminary budget presentation.
David, are you ready for the presentation to pulled up? >> Yeah. Do you uh do you have it on on your end? Yeah. Do you want us to quickly go over what the fact recommendations were or the fact discussion? >> Sure, we'd love to have the fact recommendations. I think everybody would
love to have the fact recommendations. >> Yes. Everybody finish them. >> I would Whatever the committee voted on, that's what we would like to have. Yeah. >> Well, I want to say that the committee the committee voted on two very particular um
two very particular motions. Um but they they also uh we had a brief discussion um as to where they were at with respect to the proposed millage rate of three mills um and the assessment rate of
$300. Um and there were no negative comments about those rates and uh there was general acclamation that um those rates were appropriate. Um but they wanted us
to spend the the money wisely. With respect to their motions, I had it right in front of me just a second ago. There were two motions that they adopted.
There they are. Went to the bottom. Um >> so these are their recommendations that were voted on by the >> committee. These were the um motions that passed uh 3 to2. Um it was the
first motion was to that passed was to um hold FY 2026 general fund expenses um at approximately $210,000 over the FY2025 level. that was to match the increase in
the general fund um revenue. So match the increase in in expenses to the increase in um general fund revenue um which was approximated at $210,000. Uh the second motion that passed and
this also passed uh 32 um with uh Sam Herody and uh Freddy who um voting in the negative and the chairperson
Manish Sud vice chair Tracy Rafowitz um and Peter Lamudo voting in favor um and that was the same folks that made up the first three to uh was the motion was to freeze any non-essential hiring vendor
expenses expenses um including lobbyists uh credit card use training travel until we have received the FEMA pending invoices build the reserves and properly funded the capital improvements plan. Um so >> can you read that again a little bit
more slowly please? Thank you >> this handout. freeze any non-essential hiring, vendor expenses such as liaison and lobbyists, credit card use, training, travel. >> Thank you. You don't have to.
>> Okay. And there there was some discussion as to what would be considered non-essential um or and there was not a definition um given by the community uh the committee
to to that um and they were limited by time because of the uh um pine tree meeting that was following uh their meeting at 4:00. So that I and I should say that they also passed a couple motions with respect to
um timing of meetings and and uh um having to do with not not having meetings scheduled after them. Uh those were not really recommendations with respect to the budget, but they were recommendations uh with respect to staff and their scheduling needs.
>> So >> So motion A2 and A4 as per this sheet are the two that were passed three. Correct. >> And A4. >> Yes. A >> A3. >> A3. It's It's the Yes. >> I see. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Yeah. >> All right. >> So, uh hi. Hi. Can you hear me? Okay. Testing. Thank you. So what um when when we went when we went back uh you know we we had uh we had discussion amongst
among staff and then uh at that time uh hire uh the decision to bring um a legal counsel in house was made and so uh we went ahead and we we uh we adjusted the
the budget you know got got rid of uh Jeff's former former position and then and and and got rid of legal and and and and things like that. And so, you know, so what what I did here is is is I I
updated the uh the line items, but but but you'll notice here, I don't know if this thing has a pointer on it. >> But well, I guess Oh, yeah. I guess it doesn't point to the TV. Points there, but it doesn't there. Okay. Oh, sorry. Uh what it uh Let me go back. Sorry. So,
what what we did is you can see, you know, we dropped $350,000 um from the legal. Okay. Uh uh I I suggested that we we uh we add maybe
$50,000 there for legal just for any type of specialty legal that that you may need in the future. You know, that's uh and so I I I left that in there. But but any changes that we made to the budget, the the only thing we did is we
we didn't change the the bottom line uh where it says total uses. But what we did do is we sent more funds and this has always been our goal. We sent more funds to CIP,
you know, as as uh as to to to send funds to CIP and and and that's what that's what you'll see there on the on the bottom. So we increased you know uh you really you you really have two choices right when when it comes to it
right you can uh you can either go to your reserves you know with any extra that that falls down to the bottom or you can uh transfer it out to those other funds i.e. in this case here uh CIP. So, so that there was some of the
changes that that we made uh to the budget uh on on the on on on the general fund side. Um and and then and then what we did is is we went to the uh I got to point it this way. We went to the the
the road and drainage side and uh we we adjusted that budget as well. you know, we we excuse me, we we looked a little bit more closely at insurance and we found that oh uh one through the
through the the year worth of of people coming and going and what have you normal attrition in various departments. Uh you you you have where you know uh you hire new people and maybe they have insurance with their spouse and they
don't need insurance and so on and so forth. So, and so we we we found that and so we we reduced the the budget need for that. And and then and then the probably the biggest thing that we found was more of a it was a uh it was it was
a it was a an an oversight in that uh typically your leases and rentals. Um, in generally accepted accounting principles, they're located in debt service because really that's what a
lease is, but I didn't want to get into the the weed so much. And so at at the end of the day, we noticed that it was in two places on on our workpaper only only on our workpaper. We we noticed that it was on two places while while
scrubbing it. And so uh we we we save there as part of the total expenses there. We can drop that estimate of expenditures for next year. We uh we were able to drop that down. So, so here what we did here is we we not only
reduced the the the total uses, but we we also had an opportunity to have less of a transfer from either the transportation fund or the general fund to this other department. You know, if
you recall in the past how we've always funded the uh the the the revenue gap in these other departments when when maybe rates weren't approved, maybe going from
$200 to $250 to $300 in the past when that wasn't done, you know, it was always the general fund that would send funds over to uh either the road and drainage or the CIP. P or what whatever may be the case, whatever needed to
balance because that's really the the one of the goals of this is to sit there and go, okay, uh and and that's why in in budget terms, we tend to look at sources and uses. You know, we don't we don't necessarily look at it as revenues
and expenses, although they're synonymous. And so and so here what we did is we said okay uh we can reduce that down there. And so you know we we reduce that uh level there. Uh and and
then you can see here CIP al although we're we're a far cry from where we need to be with CIP and and and everyone can see that that hey in the
past whether or not you go five years back or three years back or or what have you uh we we had funds available to us to um improve, fix, whatever the the
case may be to the town's property. And and and we we we've tended to always always do that. And and again, uh we have this issue that that stands before us that says, "Hey, uh those things are
are no longer available in the foreseeable future." Right? I mean, when when we fast forward to this time next year, it it it's going to be different as well. You know, no one has a a a
crystal ball or what have you, but we can anticipate that instead of an 8% property growth, you're probably going to go down to three and a half to 4% property growth. It it's it's the normal ups and downs of uh of of property
values. And so and and that's somewhat normal. Uh but anyway, you can see here that CIP were able to bump that up, right, to to approximately $817,000 that we can say, "Hey, we're the the general fund. It's going to bring in
it's going to bring in enough money to um to hopefully send $817,000 to CIP." Now, let's talk about if it doesn't. You know, the the reality is is that
these budget numbers that you're looking at assume that everyone is in agreement on the board and we get the three mills.
If we don't and um and it's not a it's not a a majority or or or what have you uh then what happens is we roll back right we roll back and and what that
will do is that will trigger um the roll back rate which will not be at 3 ms it will be at 2.8 8 something mills. And so therefore, that means that
your general fund is going to have $110,000 approximately, $110,000 less of revenue. You're you're not going to have that >> what you have budgeted at three. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> Not than last year. It would be the same as last year.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, they do add it in for any growth or or anything like that, but yeah, with within reasonleness, but but you're right. You're you're absolutely right. And so, and so you you tend to uh ask yourself the question,
and that's okay. Uh um all right, then then these numbers have to change. Now, uh we don't have a a very big budget to begin with and and and and we know that. And so we sit there and we have to play
Sophie's choice at at at some point uh because there's just not enough. Now, yes, you can look at other sources of revenue and and things like that and and uh we'll obviously continue shaking those trees. Uh but in reality
uh what the bigger picture in in my opinion the bigger picture is what are we going to do about CIP? Yes, we are waiting on FEMA funds.
Yes, we are waiting on potential uh grant reimbursements. Um it's almost like that adage, you know, the the checks in the mail, you know, and meanwhile,
our infrastructure still needs to be maintained. And so and so it it has this cascading effect that alls we're asking for from from a staff's perspective and to maintain
current levels of service and our goal is to improve them because when we sat down over the last two weeks with your counterparts on the fact committee Yeah. we heard, you know, loud and clear that,
you know, they want improvements and, uh, to the the standard service. Um, and so, um, you know, that's what that's what we're looking at here. So, so at the end of the day, this right here, the what changed was
how much the general fund was going to send over, you know, and and and by the way, potentially next year's issue is going to be solid waste potentially.
Uh and so, you know, as as a as an elected body, we have the responsibility to um see if we can manage these demands. And at this time, um staff needs sources of funds to
manage these demands uh that that that we're looking at. Um, so these right here are your are your Oh, and and then not that though, but let's put salt on the wound and let's knock out another $375,000
going forward that from the local option sales tax that that that goes away. We recognized because that doesn't go away until the end of December. we recognized, you know, $75,000 of it, but
uh but but going forward next year, it's gonna this is that's that's going away as well, and we we're all aware of that. So, you can see where any fund that has
available resources, our goal is to push it into capital improvements. And so uh so that's what we have there. While we're also looking at operating,
we're also looking at uh our reserves. And so you can see there that that uh you know, since we lowered the uh the the uh the expenses on the road and drainage side, you know, 25% of the expenses came down. And so that dropped
a little bit more money into our estimated estimated reserve balance. And so uh but you know we're that's our job is to try to balance all of the demands all of the requirements and uh to do
that you know uh we we try to squeeze efficiencies where we can. Um but at the same time we do have to have uh essential staff to do that and uh you
know uh I I I know what's going on in the news and I hear all that with Doge and what have you what have you but but at the end of the day Florida local government's a little bit different. Uh but um so that's your that's your that's your new updated fund balance reserve
and these right here are your you know this right here's your you know your uh your sources of funds right what we're going to get in you know uh uh one of the council members you know mentioned the fact that when I go to the next one the uses of funds that yeah you know uh
salaries and related is is a third of your budget. Um, now that includes health insurance, that includes pension, right? I think that it's okay for to provide people the the
availability to retire at one point, but and it also includes uh payroll taxes and all those things. And I know that's high for Florida local government. The reason why is is because the state of Florida has one of the strongest
pensions. Uh we do uh you know we do uh we're we're thankful as staff not me but as the staff uh that that you allow us to >> one second could you clarify something you just said because I want to make sure that I understood it. >> Yeah.
>> Are you saying that being at oneird is high for local government? Are you saying that pensions are high in the state of Florida? What what I just heard you say is that we have an unusually high and in my ex business experience a third of your budget to payroll and
benefits is pretty standard and normal whether you're in government or any other business. But >> I I couldn't agree with you more. And for clarification, yes, you're you're >> so that's not what you meant. I just wanted to make sure I didn't hear what I thought of. >> The pension costs in general are high.
They they they just are. there's uh but we don't get to state that, right? We we don't get to set those rates, right? The state of Florida does. Uh but but but at the end of the day, also what's coming down the path and that we're seeing across the board is health insurance, right? And so historically, we've been
in a period and and and everyone here knows that that we've seen property t not I'm sorry, property insurance go skyrocket. we've seen uh other costs continue to go
up. Well, you know, the the next thing that that's starting to creep up that we're seeing anyway is health insurance. You know, that's that that's that's the next one. Uh so so but anyway so but to have a third of your expenditures
not for just pay but for pay for pension for health insurance uh uh yeah I I think it's I think it's more than reasonable. I have other communities that are much much higher
but they do have fire and police and those are the biggest um sources of of expenditures in those pension funds. Uh but but you know at the end of the day it seems very wellbalanced and reasonable. Uh and uh
and so those right there are are this is what you know. So when we ask you to set a budget, what we're asking you is first approve the appropriate millage rate so that we can have the resources
available and then number two what we're asking is uh we're standing before you saying that we will not increase these expenditures
and we will transfer these funds out to not exceed those limits and if they do we will come before you and ask for a budget amendment and then that's when you get to say wait a second I didn't think you were going to do this or why
and and we'll give you the rationale and at that time there you can say yay or nay um but you know we're just trying to get to a point where we can solidify the budget in big picture and advertise
and move forward with, you know, uh uh a $9.1 million uh budget which is broken out by these by these five funds. And uh yeah, that's that's it in a nutshell,
but uh I can entertain any any questions that that you may have. I I think that what you're going to find coming from this council, and I don't know how everybody up here feels, but I'm pretty sure they feel similarly, is that as as one of our previous managers
used to say that it's it's probably time to sharpen your pencil a little bit. >> Okay. >> Um and uh so I know that I have several reductions that I have to s that I'd like to suggest, but does anybody else have something they want to say first?
Anybody got pardon? Go ahead. So you had talked about the percentage of uh our employees and what they cost the town and every industry is different and we're a service industry here, right? We're not building cars. So since we're a service industry, we're going to be heavy on labor.
>> And if you go back to 2016 when I was first on the council, we had zero employees. Zero. Because it was all contract management. Francine was our first employee. The district became dependent and we went from one to nine employees overnight. Right. And as time has gone on, we've taken on things that
used to be contracted out. Code enforcement, right? We brought it in house. So there was all these different things. We got rid of Underwood Management. More employees came in house. So we've added a ton of employees, but we still have the same amount of labor, right? It was just paid
for differently, right? So when everybody says, "Oh, we have 18 employees. We have so many employees." We were paying all those employees before. We were just paying them through contracts, right? So to say that because we're the 33% or whatever it is that's high. We're in a service industry. We're
not building homes. We're not building cars. We are servicing people. You know, they're coming in with paperwork for for building department, right? We've added the building department in house. It used to be used to be with uh Palm Beach County. So all these things we've added in. And then people say, "Well, you got
to start cutting these people." Well, where are we providing too much service? Well, we get complaints about cone enforcement. That's not enough, right? We want more grow roads grade more, right? So, we're not going to cut it there. Where are we supposed to cut? You know, where do we have too much? And I only know of one contract where we have
too much. And it's a big contract, >> right? >> So, the question is, where are we going to cut the services? Right? Nobody wants to cut code enforcement. Building department, everybody's complaining that takes too long. You call for
inspections, that takes too long. Where do you want to cut services? That's what it comes down to. Where are we going to cut services? And it comes to and that happens at the federal government. Everybody says, "Oh, our federal taxes are too high. Do we want to get rid of some of the people at TSA?" Well, no. The lines too long at the airport. Do we want to get rid of
air traffic controllers? No. That's dangerous. Where do you want to cut? Right. So, that's the question is where do we have too much? Where? I have a solution as to one >> contract that takes care of all of our problems and then some. And I think all
five of us up here know where that is. So, I'll leave it at that for right now. >> Okay. Well, Lisa, um I think uh the point that was brought up previously was we went from 5.5 million and now we're at 8.5 million and
we still have $500,000 to spend on capital improvements. And I believe we were promised uh uh some information on that. capital improvements. >> No, >> how we went from 5.5 million in revenues
back in 2020 2021 to 8 and a half million in revenues and we still only have 500,000 to spend. I know there was sir tax money spent and there was ARPA funds spent. I know there's state appropriations spent but that was our revenues back then and we were told we would be provided tonight a reasoning
why that has changed. David. >> Oh, sorry. >> That was at the August 5th meeting. >> Okay. And why not pull up the past five years of
budgets and show and essentially I think what you're going to see is it's in capital improvements and transfers. When I first got here, the budget was $13 million. And that's because the budget included debt and capital projects that didn't need to be there. But if you go
back and you go ahead and strip out the capital and you strip out the transfers, you're going to get down to a budget that ranges about $5 to $6 million. And that stayed pretty constant. And that's why I'm asking Mr. Delena to go ahead and pull up um
his uh >> multi-year comparison where it shows the revenues before the transfers in the capital. >> Lisa, is that possible? That was before the district was um dependent. >> No. >> No. Okay. >> I came on after that change. So >> um but Francine just
>> very Yeah. Right. when all that >> is that on page 15 or >> all all that changed simultaneously and and I think Francine touched on something. So I pulled up the strategic framework that's on the town website and
we budgeted for expenditures for this year 25 12.85 million but our revenue projections were only 10.4 million. So I think maybe a little explanation of how does government say we budgeted for this
amount of spending and we have no possible way to pay for it. >> Well uh well that's a that's a very good question. Uh typically you can only get that from two places, right? You can only get that from
uh reserves, right? Uh and and you're going to pull from that, >> right? It would be like uh it'd be like your your your home budget having your uh operating account and then your uh 401k, let's just say, you know, and and
you and you can pull from that. Uh or uh sometimes you can have a budget, right? And you're hopeful that you will get grant funding. Now, I can't spend what I
don't have, right? But you'll see sometimes lo local governments will say, "Well, uh, we're working on a grant for that or we hope to get that." But at the end of the day, I can't move forward with that project. I can't do anything
with that project until it's almost like it's predicated. Yes, we would like to spend uh $12 million and let's just say $2 million is uh from grant grant revenue. Uh, yep. Oh, the grant didn't
come in. Then what we do is we we can't go forward with that project because the grant dollars didn't come. >> So I think you addressed that on one of your pages here where you talk about the 750,000 which we didn't get from the state from
the 20. It was the updated uh CIP fund page. >> Well, I think the 750 Oh, the only 750,000 that Oh, you're not talking about tree mitigation. No. No. Okay. Go ahead. >> I don't think so. Uh it says grant talking about the grant that we had in the governor's office.
>> That was state appropriation that we had the day it went to the governor's office. >> That's number that that was one of my questions on that presentation. >> But I'd like to talk about that tree mitigation money too at some point. >> Did you have another question? >> Mr. Delina, you you have a detailed line
item. >> We can get into some more of this. >> You have a fiveyear comparison. >> Well, they have it on their on their page 11. Paul, did you have a question >> of this? >> Yeah. So, I think that's what had to be explained. >> Sorry. >> All right. Well, you brought up some
questions I had. Um, I I I think again we're all aware of what Todd's going to be talking about further, but um I also think that um something that Lisa touched on uh at the last meeting uh that there are some
positions at the top that uh perhaps cannot be funded moving forward and that we have to find some way to restructure the organization to cover what those positions do. but um not fund them and not funding some top
positions will uh free up quite a bit of money. Um, I also want to talk about that seven that 7 what is it? $729,000 of team victory mitigation money. If am I correct in that we have to make a
decision of what to do with that money? It's just sitting in an interestbearing account right now and that it could be what can we use tree mitigation fund for? Can we use that for drainage project? Can we only use it to plant new trees? What what exactly can we use that
tree mitigation money for? Section 87 of the code has required an update for quite a while. We have one in draft to bring forward to you which will add the missing part and piece which is how we can spend the money. The code currently
does not dictate how we spend the money. So right now it's we could spend it anyway we want. We could spend it. >> That's one interpretation, but I'm not an attorney. What we think is we >> Okay, Mr. attorney, what's your interpretation of how we could spend that $729,000 of tree mitigation money?
>> I think we need to define it. Um because we don't want to get into the argument that uh we are expending without authority. So, >> so moving forward, if this council decided to use to say the tree mitigation money could be used for drainage or infrastructure
uh improvement, >> acquisition of whatever it happens to be, >> acquisition of equipment that could be used or something like that that we could we could do that. Okay. That we have, excuse me, I'm sorry in char. But I'm going to answer your question and the draft that we have has a very
explicit and detailed list of what the monies can be used for and they are for environmental. They do include acquisition of land. They do include replanting of trees and we need to bring that forward to you for discussion so the council can give direction on how
that money can be spent. And by the way, it's not only 700,000. We're about to be getting another tree mitigation payment of perhaps a million and a half dollars. So, we would have $2 million. Now, um
it's tree mitigation. So, I would I would even though I'm not an attorney, caution you that it can't really be spent on operational. >> No, but it can be spent on environmental. >> It can be spent on environmental and it can be spent >> Okay. Well, a lot of the projects we need to do are environmental projects in
the community and a lot of our capital projects are environmental projects >> and that's exactly why section 87 has been a top priority for your staff and me personally for the last several years. >> Okay. Well, we need to get that moving. Anybody else have >> I hope you all say yes so Mr. Curts
hears you and >> dashes. Sorry. >> Do do we want to go through some of this line by line because I had some questions. Um, just starting with the first page. Um, >> what are you on the this the smaller
piece the general thing? Just want to make sure I'm on the same page you are. >> Nice presentation. >> That seems like the most up-to-date information. >> Just want to make sure we're we're >> and I and I I just want to before before we start on this going the line by line,
I just wanted to um Is the FAA meeting again? Uh no, they don't have a scheduled meeting. The next meeting on the budget that we have scheduled is um the September 3rd uh council meeting um at
which you would um be adopting your u your solid waste budget um your uh road and drainage budget and doing the first hearing on your general fund budget and your military.
>> Okay. Thank you. That was just a question. Okay, go ahead, Lisa. I'm sorry. >> No problem. Um, so I I have some notes that I brought with me and I also have some notes from what was presented. Uh, under salaries and related, there's a
change uh several changes here, but a total change of uh 78,000 more. And the the one that jumped out at me was uh retirement. And and I the only reason this one jumps
out at me is because I know what was um presented by the town manager in her proposed contract has a one-time payment lump sum payment and that's outside of the the FRS. And I know with that employee being in the drop program,
there's different funding, right, by the entity that pays into the FRS. >> Yeah, it does go down. You know, it does it does go down and I think it's at 22.02%. >> That's down from 30 something, right? >> Jesus.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Got to get that funding in there, right? Well, I mean, part of that is, you know, 14% of that is considered unfunded, you know, liability that the state of Florida passes. But these are these we're just >> But that's down from 30.2.
>> Yeah. Uh 34. Yeah, I think you're right. 34.2. Yeah. >> Look at that. I have a brain cell. Um, so under professional services other, >> what would that >> professional services other? That was a lobby. >> That's a lobbyist.
>> Yes. Okay. And then we have we have the lobbyists. I think we just passed a budget amendment that a lobbyist spending was put into the CIP. So we have lobbyists in different places in the budget.
>> Uh yeah, I mean that's that's pretty uh let me see. Uh the answer the answer is yes. That's proposed. It's um coming you for second reading at the September 3rd meeting and in your uh capital plan for
next year um it is proposed to spend another $100,000 for the TPA grant as a general matter and there would be lobbying fees in there that are not um in that other line item. >> Okay. >> Right. So it looks to me like operating
is a big lump here. Is is there any room in there to maybe see some because I don't know it it's not very defined what all those numbers encompass >> okay >> special projects programs and miscellaneous that's $185,000 what is
what is that buying um training travel and memberships is jumping $10,000 in these proposed changes and um so that just seems like a big number that maybe there's some room in there to cut some spending as
Yeah. Uh, you know, uh, when we put in, um, when, uh, for for for the $10,000 anyway, we we added that because now you're going to have, uh, an in-house council. Um, uh, he's got to have
certain CPE requirements. Well, >> let me just because the $10,000 um that was added in is uh not um exclusively for training, travel, and memberships. It does include memberships. It does include training and education. Includes
office supplies, office equipment, um those kind of things. So, it's the segregation of the department budget. Um and there is $10,000 um there in total. Um when uh David asked for that
information, we gave him a lump sum. I've given him a breakdown as to what the that actually is. Um I think >> but I think what I'm hearing Lisa say is before we can make decisions about or help make decisions or recommendations about where to make cuts, we need some
more detail. So, that's what we need at the next that's what that's what we need at the next meeting is some more detail on um >> on these things like you know uh the thing that Lisa touched on before I'm sorry Lisa for keep stealing your thunder but the thing Lisa touched on
before is not not funding the project coordinator position moving forward. Um and you know I told her then and I will say it now I I fully support that. I support a restructuring so that we don't need a project coord coordinator and everybody can kind of stay in their
lanes and be accountable for their lanes um on the highway. So is that project coordinator salary in here under salaries and related? I I don't know that you know I don't know that kind of >> if it said it was not. >> No it is it is not we we did add
>> right I mean but but I was using that as a specific example of what we don't know because of the lump dollars here. So, I think we need some more detail here before we can make some recommendations of how how we would like to see um costs
cut. And you know, I think that's just what we need to before we come back next time. >> Yeah. And that would probably cover most of this. Though, I will say um when I sat on council before, and I hate to keep harping back to that, we had
money sitting in we were like hatching eggs on the sur money just sitting there. what do we do with it? Oh, you can't spend it. It has to be fully engineered. And so that sat around. Then COVID came along. Boom. Federal government throws money at people. State
gave us some money. So between all that, it was about $4 million in free money. And I think at the time it made sense to take some of that money, pay engineers, pay lobbyists, go out, try to get that
money because we we had funds to I'm not going to call it funny money, but it was kind of free cash, right? We weren't spending our hard taxpayer dollars to go pay for a lobbyist. I liken it to I'm getting my last paycheck and instead of making my car payment, I go buy lottery
tickets. So I I look at the way we're spending now, which was a great plan five, six years ago when there was sort of free money flowing in that it wasn't our hard dollars to go chase after some potential more free money. But I I get
concerned when I see now that we're barebones with with free money flowing in. As we say, the SE tax is disappearing. Looks like gas tax is the only thing we have to lean on anymore. So I I worry that now we're actually spending taxpayer
pull it out of their account, pay it into our account, and it's dollar for dollar. And I'm a little worried that that is still the the model. I know it takes time for government to get a model up to speed, and we did get up to speed, but now I think it's time to to perhaps
take a different look at at how we're we're spending hard dollars. But yes, I would like to see more detailed numbers in some of these funding. >> Do you have something? Yeah, I just I I I think in the I I I understand fully what Lisa is saying, but I think in the environment that we're in now and how
things roll and how things work with government, I think if you don't have somebody and it kind of it's kind of stinks that we have to have two separate entities, one for Tallahassee and one for here, but if you don't have somebody knocking
on somebody's door, it's not going to happen. Um, I mean there's things happening um throughout that happened all this past legislative season that were all based on when storms hit and building departments couldn't meet the demand after the storm to give out
permits that have driven other things to happen because one or two lobbyists with a certain person involved got it done. And now you're having a an explosion of of a of
a different idea. And we almost had it luckily didn't go through. We almost had something where, you know, a private provider scenario could, you know, basically you could build a new 40 acre farm uh farm, 50 acre farm, 100 acre farm, 5 acre house, you know, 5,000
square foot house, whatever you wanted, and go sue, you know, from start to finish. and the private provider does every single bit of it, including issuing the permit, etc. The building department has nothing to do with it. So, you know, these things happen
because these lobbyists are involved. So, I I I get what you're saying, but it's kind of a double-edged sword. You get rid of the lobbyists and we get rid of we get rid of uh a finger on the pulse. we get rid of a face an edge that you
know honestly I think a small community like us we need because we need to know you know I guess my point is we can't expect that if we have you know we hold our staff right right here we're not going to hire any more anybody else we're not going to whatever we we you
know I somebody said something about a 10% reduction based on attrition you know but you know we have uh you know our our clerk is not just doing her clerk job she's doing HR job So I I don't think we can stay steady there. But you know, if we stay steady, you're
now having, you know, now so not only is is the town manager steering the ship or whatever, now we got to designate somebody who probably doesn't know how, but searching for different grants and things and writing grants and you know, we got the attorney now. So maybe nobody else is writing legislation for or you
know, resolutions, etc. for us or you know so it's it's it's I get what you're saying. It's like why am I investing money here because we got nothing this past year. Well, it really wasn't our fault. We didn't get anything in this past year. We had >> It wasn't their fault. >> Yeah. It wasn't their fault.
>> You look at the net gain of >> the fault was in Tallahassee, right? Yeah. So, I mean, it's it's just No, I again I'm with all y'all. I think we need more detail. I don't know to say the $10,000 in travel membership encompasses paper clips and stuff. I don't get that. Um, you know, I don't
understand why we have, you know, rentals and leases under operating. Um, but then cuz we don't rent or lease any of our buildings, but then we have equipment and maintenance as well. This is just in the general fund, so I'm assuming that's here, not encompassing
public works, right? Because that would be under road and drainage, right? Am I saying this right? That's it. >> So, so why do we have two line items for >> basically the same thing? Well, this right here would be uh like your copy machines. You run copy machines. >> That's equipment, correct?
>> U well uh yeah, but in in in the general fund that's considered uh operating you you uh >> I'm I'm reading two operating lines. That's I'm just trying to get clarification. It's kind of like why I was asking why the other day why we're not basically charging the building
department for lease on space. Our building department takes in permit dollars that can't be can only be used for certain things for the building department. It can't be used for the general fund. David can't allocate permit dollars into the general
fund. >> Revenue generated. >> Right. Exactly. So, you know, so we we currently have what two permit tax. >> Yes. >> Right. They take up x amount of square footage. >> We can am I am I not am I off base? >> He is. That's a revenue. you know, we
can charge the building department for for, you know, for paper, for pens, etc. >> I think that was talked about before and >> it was talked about when they brought it up. >> No, no, but I mean, just at the last meeting and you mentioned that nothing was being charged for that, but it's a is it a break even? Because we were we
were talking about in my one-on-one budget, are these programs net net gains, net losses, or is net zero? Well, building departments are break they can be break even but generally sometimes they start to run a surplus because
there's again you cannot use that money anywhere else right so if the building department needs new vehicles they are leasing their vehicles from the entity that they belong to right or multiple entities as it goes down the line
depending on how they get you know if we got all our vehicles if we leased our vehicles from Palm Beach County right and and inspect we had our own inspector and they needed a vehicle. The building department will lease the vehicle from us who was in turn leasing it from the building department. You see, so it
would be yes, it would be a wash on one end, but you would you wouldn't see all this, you know, I mean, >> the operating costs go technically down. >> Correct. Correct. It's being covered. >> You know, it's another source of revenue that you can allocate for for this equipment, etc. So I think it's it's you
know that's you know we we talk about a lot of things moving forward and stuff and these these are the kind of things when we talk about digging in I don't think we're talking about digging in and looking for you know we bought a pallet extra copy paper this year when we shouldn't have you know it's you know where where can we make the biggest
impact and what can we do and I agree I think that you know we don't do we need a project coordinator we might find out in six months we need a project coordinator >> make that decision >> and then we'll make that decision when it comes around I think but starting out I think that's where we're But can I make a suggestion? >> Sure. >> In all the places that I've worked and
it's been quite a long time. Um, you know, the line item doesn't really get you where you want to go. I'm not saying you can't have it. I'm not saying you shouldn't look at 18 pages. >> What I'm suggesting is is that if there is a target reduction in spending that
you kind of give us a target. You want to cut 10%, you want to cut 15%. that we go and we look and we see where it can be cut and we put it in contingency. And once we put it in contingency, it can only be spent out of
contingency by a vote of council. But that way it doesn't leave anybody short in case we do need a project coordinator or another vehicle or something like that midyear in case we don't get redesated as um a rural community and we
have to do matching. Oh, I'm begging. I'm not trying to put the the the jinx on us, but my point is if that's a goal, like go cut 15 or 20%. Send us down that way because um Councilman Coleman is
100% right. We could probably take 25% of this building's operating costs and we could apply it to the building function. And when we apply to the building function and we have our five-year-old fees that we copied from Palm Beach County five years ago, we'll
have to go ahead and increase our fees, which by the way on September 17th, we're bringing forward a fee study that I think has been preliminarily reviewed by Councilman Coleman. Um, so all these things are absolutely on point. So
that's my suggestion to you. Not saying we're not going to give you the detail. I think the idea of having the one-on- ons was to be able to go through all that detail, which again, we can go through another round of all those details, but if there's a target of what
we're looking for, like did we cut that position? Yes, we did. So, that's kind of where I'm kind of getting to because I think what Councilman Coleman is saying is right. We have to be able to um hold our ground and we don't necessarily know what that's going to
take. Particularly with the fact that there's a tax commission being put together at Tallahassee. The last time that there was a group that looked at adalorum taxes, it kind of crippled everybody for quite a long time, like maybe a decade. Um, so we don't want to
end up in a situation that, you know, we're stuck with whatever we decide right this minute without a crystal ball for the future. So, thank you for the indulgence. Just thought I'd share that. >> I believe Lisa's Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, one more little thing. And and
just to, you know, to to France's point, what she was just saying about the commission, the tax commission, etc., you know, I I having a conversation with David, right? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Sorry. I don't know. I I have a hard time with your L. I don't know why, but um you know, and I again, not to
bring up past too much, but whatever. We spent $4.2 million on some black stuff, right? That's out in the town now that we now have to maintain, right? Cuz um who hasn't said it once you once you build it, you have to maintain it, right? So, we we've done this and we
spent $4.2 million doing that. And a lot of that $4.2 million came out of our reserves. And Mr. Delena, did I say it right? Mr. Delena. Okay. Mr. Delena like to point out that, you know, I think we're hovering at about 25% reserve right now. >> Yeah. In the general fund.
>> In the general fund currently. >> I mean, we're a little bit stronger than that and we are waiting for funds to come in. >> The point I made in our conversation and you know we you don't want to if 25% is what's required by the state, we don't want to maintain 25%. We need to build
that reserve >> and to next year. Correct. >> Even have property taxes. >> Correct. To the point of the commission. So, you know, and looking at all that we we do need to be make sure making sure that we're putting back into there. You know, I listen, I don't want to pay more taxes either. I mean, I'm I'm I'm all about if
we can save money, save money. You know, um we haven't increased taxes or the previous councils hadn't increased taxes in what, eight years. Um we've grown I was looking it up this afternoon. We have grown since 2006 when we incorporated. We were at like about 3,100
populace per the census, right? So that's not everybody in the town. 3,100, you know, of the census. Now we're we're over what about 37? >> 37. Yeah, I think the chat GPT or whoever. >> Yeah, spit out something else. But yeah,
the last census was, you know, 34. So we every couple years we're growing more. So with more folks we have to, you know, provide more service and there's more maintenance, there's more traffic, there's more, you know, so you know, again,
somebody said to me before I before I was elected that this was going to be a fun year because there's a might have been you because this is going to be this this right here is going to be really tight and it's going to be really challenging. So but I think we can get there.
>> Are you done now? I misinterrupted you. I believe Lisa was first. Todd, go ahead. >> You were first. >> Okay. Uh, so going back to the grants in our May 6th agenda, we had a quarterly report um on the grant updates and uh we
didn't get one in this last quarterly. So, Francine, do you have any updates on We've got EPA, Resilient Florida, Rural Infrastructure Fund, Recreational Trails Program, FEMA, FEMA, FEMA, Florida League of
Cities, FDEM, uh, Community Tree Grant, we were awarded $7,500. Florida League of Cities safety grant 2000 and change. Um, pending notifications says we were awarded $120,000,
but I only see that we were awarded $7,500 in 2002. So, the only update that I have for you is that we are putting in all of our reimbursement requests because they're reimbursement driven grants. We should
be getting about a million dollars from FEMA and we should be getting um another $350,000 from the state. We also have a reimbursement request prepared for I believe $1.4 million to the state with
the absence of the person who did that reporting. We tried to do the reporting as a single report so we could get all of the money reimbursed in one shot. They asked us to go back like any good bureaucrat would and have us put it into
quarterly um submissions. So, we're going back now and putting them in quarterly submissions. We currently have a $200,000 grant that's on there for the watershed grant that we're waiting to hear back from. We confirmed just today
that um we're still in the running for that. depending on FEMA making their announcement of the awards. It's a mitigation um grant and all of our mitigation grants and our rural infrastructure funding grants, those are all due the
first and second week of September. So, we are pretty busy right now um getting everything submitted that wasn't submitted um and um submitting new applications for the current year funding.
>> So, we applied for FEMA disaster relief money I believe after the 2017 storm. >> We apply every single time we have a storm. >> And how much money have we gotten to date >> of the 2017 storm? I can't give you the exact number of what it was. It was
several hundred,000. I think we're still waiting for 15,000. U Mr. Galant and I have been going back and forth with the state. In fact, just this week on that, we put in >> eight years later, we're still fighting.
>> Eight years later, however, um on the other storms, we've gotten the money far quicker because we put in money. We put in requests after Ian, Nicole, and Milton and um you know
they're actually approving us for doing mitigation work which is beyond just the you know storm debris cleanup and so on and so >> but Nicole was attributed to the culvert bridge that I asked about at the last meeting. We've gotten zero dollars for that.
>> It takes them time to get through their >> Well, you just said things were coming back faster. So >> they're coming back faster. As you mentioned, the 2017 took a long time, but they are coming back faster. But you know, I can I can let the expert tell you as opposed to me.
>> What's the status on the TPA grant? >> The status on the TPA grant is that we continue to work with them. We don't have any update on it >> because the estimated award date is June 30th on on this. I don't believe that there was any award on June 30th, but
you know, >> so that's still open-ended. >> Yes, it is. >> Uh, so how much unauthorized spending in have we had for the year to date? Because we know we hired uh a community director, we hired an
additional lobbyist, we hired we have two investigation, a SWAT analysis and an investigation. Um, that's just spending I know about um >> the SWAT analysis and the others that wasn't unauthorized. We authorized that spending. >> Well, it was I'm sorry, unbudgeted.
Okay. My my bad. So, >> I just want to make sure we're clear between unauthorized and unbudgeted. >> Well, some of it was unauthorized, but um some of the unbudgeted stuff and I think that's another place where council could do a better job o overseeing some
of the stuff. And I know in our in your little slideshow, the one that's in the agenda, um they talk about $4 million for Tangerine Citrus. Um reinvisioning the Southern Boulevard
corridor. Um some of these grants that have been applied for recently, should they fall into the rural, what is it they call it? The rural area of opportunity. that's all about driving job growth, commercial growth, and
industrial growth along with uh high density. So, I think some of the grant monies that we're chasing are throwing good money at bad, but uh yeah, so I think we could do a better job if we're going to chase grant money of defining grants that really align better with
with what it is we're looking for. But um my question was we have 20 plus year old structures on Okachobee. We all know the water runs from north to south. Why are we looking at fixing a problem at the south end of town that if we fix the
structures further north might alleviate some of the additional cost of fixing the problems at the south end of town because the water's being restrained, shall we say. It's not Niagara Falls, but you can keep the water at the north end the way it was originally set up.
So, that was just I think as we look at priorities, we can't look at things in a vacuum because well, an engineer said it. Bravo. Um but when we look at the the overall functioning of a system,
taking into account where the pressures of that system can be maybe mitigated better than trying to work from the south and north, maybe we stop something and then we see how it behaves during the rainy season and maybe some of that spending is not so critical. So
>> are you done? >> Yes. >> Okay, Todd. So >> you touched on it and I don't want to forget about it. The the structures that you're talking about under Okchobee Boulevard, I bet a $100 that the county is responsible for that because it was probably put in when they did Oko
Boulevard. It's a county road, >> but our supervisor pulled it out, sir. So they're going to they're going to tell you it. I'm just tell you destroyed their property, >> but that's all hearsay, right? So So the thing is >> and most likely those things are failing right now, right? because they're galvanized steel and we've had so many
of them failing. >> They're dysfunctional and failing. >> Right. So, my point is that's left. >> I think I think we ought to spend I think I think that's right. >> I think we ought to spend the time and go back and find out what the agreement is when that was put in. >> And the expense might be going back to the county to repair those or replace all of that. >> Well, South Florida Water Management may
have some money to help us with, but that goes back to finding Yes. But that goes back to finding money that more aligns with our needs and doesn't tie us to other changes that are not so interesting to us. But my point is I think we should direct staff to put the to invest the time into looking at that.
And I'll give you an example. Over on Folsam from Collecting Canal all the way to Southern Boulevard is a covert under underground and that was put in by the county when they realigned uh Crestwood. Right. Guarantee the county's responsible for all that for all that covert. No different than Okacho
Boulevard. And I think staff ought to look at that and find out what the agreement was and find out we don't need to spend any money on that. We just need to make them take care of it and fix it. And you can keep that part to yourself without you think might have happened. Okay, >> just for the record,
>> I agree with you. I'm I'm just saying I'm I don't mean to be the Debbie Downer over here, but you know, I I'm just saying that Yeah, it's it should be their culvert. It's their road, right? I mean, they want they want to own the road. They want to say they could do this with the road, >> you know, just careful what you ask for.
>> So, and the next thing that was brought up was the fees for the building department. When we adopted those fees way back when I was on the council last time, we put in there an escalation clause for like 3% every year. Are you telling me we haven't been increasing that those fees every year? >> We have not because the fees that you
put in in 2017 were for planning and zoning. They were not for building. >> Okay. >> So, we are bringing back the building planning and zoning with a 5-year update. >> Yeah. The building the building permit fees came in after that. >> Right. Right. Well, it did not three
years ago what everybody said, >> right? It's been four like business permits that are not >> and that's why when we adopted those original fees, I said, let's put in a 3% escalation clause every year because I know how this works. Government adopts something and then they look back 10
years later and they're like, we're charging $20 for something that's costing us $52 today. Correct. That's why it was important every time we adopt something like that to put in something an escalation clause 3% or whatever it is so it doesn't get forgotten for 5 years. >> By the way, and for the record, we have
put in multiple grants with FEMA and the rural infrastructure fund for the we along Okchobee and additionally for the pump station repairs and the more important infrastructure that has been disregarded for 50 years, but nobody has
um taken the bait for that yet. because it's back to spending the money we have. >> I I think what he's suggesting is that maybe we don't have to. So, it's worth looking into. >> We should see. >> I I think that Oh, I'm sorry. Did you I thought you were done. >> Yeah. So, are is there anything in the
budget that says we're relying on FEMA money coming in potentially coming in or is that going to be like found money if a check comes in? >> Yeah, that'll be found money like if a check comes in. Okay. But you know one one one thing you know we we added you you're other than the salaries and and
related and and I think that uh staff provided you a position fund proposed for 2026. >> Uh it should be in the back of your >> Yeah, I see it. >> Uh so so other than that we tried to
index most of our expenditures. Uh the big >> I think what we're looking for is like let's say and I know you can't necessarily put in a dollar amount because I know there's a range for these but maybe you could put >> take just take this sheet
>> okay that you have and put a range on there for us so we can know >> absolutely >> a range on them and so we can know whether any of the things that we're individually thinking would actually make a difference or not. No, absolutely. And that's what we're looking for. >> But I would tell you the biggest one
that that moved up was tech and communication because we added uh $90,000 to the budget there. You can see it went up by $94,000, right? And the and the general fund tech communication that line item that that
that went up $94,000. $90,000 of that is just one thing that the clerk's office indicated that that they needed for not only the software >> records. Yes. >> Yeah. For for records. Other than that,
>> you know, it it increased and tech increases, but but what I'm saying is it, you know, it increased $4,975. most of these other type of uh of expenditures we uh you know we we tried
to use a ballpark figure as far as rate of inflation what it's been like for the trailing 12 months what is it like previously >> the confus the confusing part to me is before we get too far yeah >> is like you say tech went up 90 right
>> so one of these positions went up 90 >> no tech no the the line item >> because you were talking about positions and you went over >> back to the dump. Oh, no. Another >> That's what we're looking for. So, if each tech cost us $45,000. >> No, no, not tech, not not not >> not a person.
>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We're lumping >> the software and with >> positions are filled currently >> and that too. >> Uh I I I don't know the answer to that. Uh let me see. I'll ask to know too. So, >> well, I mean, right now we have proposed
positions are 13 full-time, three part-time uh in the general fund and >> so that that makes up the general fund number for salaries, insurance, and >> yes, salaries uh >> 1.847
million 325 >> and retirement, right? If you want, you can take that >> for 13 positions >> uh and three uh part-time positions. Yeah. You would you like an answer to how many are currently unfilled of these? >> Well, I mean I I don't know that we need to run through them. We can run through
them now, but I'm thinking this should be on our next. >> Yeah. No, we we don't need to run through >> like a table that has salary ranges. How many are open? >> I don't want to know anybody's name or salary. I just want a salary range and which ones are filled and which ones are
not filled. I don't think we need to run through that now. Yeah, I think that that's something that's important for us for next time. >> Does everybody ask all the questions they want? Because I think we have a lot of information to chew on before our next meeting. We have another another meeting scheduled um on the 3rd of September.
>> Can we also get these broken down by department? Like I would think the town clerk, the clerk's office is a department. Um >> so the code enforcement is kind of a department. Uh I think understanding where that funding is going absolutely >> for that functionality would be important also. >> That would be good. and just like a
matrix like you guys have done before for us because that really is helpful. And the the but because the only thing I was saying is like in the general fund right in the general fund right you know uh and I said other than salaries and and related the operating expenses right
it you know it it went up but the majority of that increase was computer related in a software that and so yeah >> and there's not much you can do about that >> and that's a one time expenditure >> sort of expenditure >> yeah uh I I believe it's the software uh
probably the madam board clerk would know more but I think it's the software and then it's the >> conversion of historical data >> uh and uh you know with software >> retrievability >> right right with software >> increases it retrievability
>> is that accurate >> that is accurate um you know at some point we will have kind of like a maintenance fee that you know obviously to host all of our documents on laserfish cloud um but it's definitely Not the 90,000. >> Okay. >> Right. >> You have something else you want to add
before we adjourn. >> Yeah. I you know, going back to Lisa was talking about $10,000 light item. If we were able to cut that out, we'd have to do that 67 times to get to where I the contract I want to cut 60. >> Todd, I I'm I as my ex used to say, I
smell what you're stepping in. So, um I I do think that those numbers while eating an elephant takes one bite at a time may seem small. I think once we understand where unbudgeted spending kind of goes, whether it's a baby elephant, I don't think there's any baby
elephants in Laxah Hatche grows. Um but yes, I I don't think we're off on that. And and back to your point, um I think an attempt to renegotiate the cost as we know, which is apparently a sliding scale in Palm Beach County for
an officer, right? Hokei doesn't pay what Belglade pays, what Delray pays. And I make up I don't even know if all those communities use those same things. But to me, if you got one, it should cost X. If you have
two, if they're driving a truck, if they got a four-wheeler, if they got X, you should there should be a >> tag associated with purchasing that every single time, >> right? >> Other community, but I will tell you from the negotiations last year, which I did not negotiate because I wasn't authorized to, but I was there with the
town manager and the town attorney, the former town attorney, and he did the negotiating. And um the deal we got of the 1% increase was the best that he was able to get, and we could not get it pinned. And there are actually towns that don't pay anything. So there seems
to be no rhyme or reason about the thing that he's >> there's incorruped municipalities that pay nothing but their Avalorum. >> Yeah. >> No. No. >> They have no contract. >> They have no contract. >> Seriously? >> Yes. Seriously. >> You see my problem?
>> Wait one more time. There are towns that don't Wow. >> They rely on the county provided services ordinance that was passed last year states. So, can we at least have the town attorney look at that contract and see what her options are? And like
like Anita was going to say, which I I think she got cut off. >> There is no negotiating on that contract. >> There is no >> that or it's nothing. >> We did it. I understand. There is no there's nothing. >> There is no we'll pay double what what Glaz No, that's not an option. It's
either nothing like some municipalities have or it's that. So, I would like the town attorney, Jeff Curts, >> to look at that and see what our options. >> Okay, one more. I'm looking for a mot to adjour, but what are you looking to say?
>> We beat this dog dead. We need this more information. >> So, hold on. So, um >> Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. >> At the last meeting, I asked my fellow council members, have you sat with the town manager on the contract? Has anybody done that in the subsequent two weeks?
>> I've not had a chance. No. Okay. Uh, her contract is over in about 6 weeks. Over. So, if I don't I don't see a real appetite apparently to negotiate the contract. I had grave concerns with the
contract. The manager came back with some suggested changes which I thought were positive. But um if we don't get some cost cutting measures and some performance standards put into that and it's not related to this strategic plan
thing that doesn't make any sense that I say that we go out for a new manager. So that is my stand. Okay. Major stands. Okay. Do we have public comments? >> Yes, mayor. U Miss Standish. No, he's got the first public comment.
>> Well, >> if you want him to go first. This is public comment. >> We already got the report from the fact minutia's comments are his personal comments. So, there'll be a public comment. Okay. Virginia Standish one.
I I don't understand why a simplifi how you can even make a decision with the simplifi simplified summary budget that you were presented. two of you have sat on the finance committee as well as I have. I can bring you a book from 2012 that I pulled up that had more detail
than what you have. I don't know how you can make a comprehensive decision with a simplified report. That is unacceptable to the public. I'm just making comment that budget that has been presented is unacceptable for public information.
um in your documentation that's presented. I just have some questions. You still have 400,000 under physical year 2026. It says PB. Does that mean you're you know
to me to the public looks like you're still budgeting 400,000 for legal even though we have an attorney that's supposed to be under salaries? You talked about $10,000 involving education. Attorneys can get
free continuing legal education credits. I hope the attorney will pursue that. You talk about where can we cut on services. I don't see why a town attorney is president at a finance committee meeting. You were so concerned about a town attorney doing legal
business. I suggest you stick to what you were concerned about. You know, you want to know where we can cut on services. Let's stop wasting employees time public works cutting people's personal e uh property that's not the
towns 40 years I've been waiting for you guys to come and do what you say you're supposed to do and I see everyone else has done and I've left stuff out there for 40 years cuz I'm still waiting for this town through various administrations and public works to do
what they say they're going to do. This town is inconsistent in service. You want to know where you can cut in service? Go back to the basics. People picking up cans on the side of the road. They don't even have a stick to public works to pick up things. It's go back to
the basics. You're overspending, over prioritizing, but when someone tells you a road is collapsing, that's not a priority. Um, you need to re-evaluate the costs
such as when you send someone out for tree mitigation or an a landscape architect, the cost you're charging the land owners or whatever the town's bearing, I'm sure you can get better costs. How many surveys has this town had? How much money, as an example, has
Keshavar made off of us in the past 15 years? How many surveys has this town had? Um, one interesting thing to me again on your budget under preliminary fiscal year 2026. Just let me finish
this. There was um a 300 a 261 dollar, let's call it credit that was transferred to capital improvement. How is an overage in your legal that you were trying to reduce now considered a
surplus to be thrown over to capital improvement? I suggest you get more detail on your budget and really scrutinize it closely. Thank you, >> Mr. Sud. >> Good evening, council. Um, I couldn't
agree more with Miss Standish. Um, you know what surprised me? You're tiptoeing around. Oh, don't give us the name of the employees. Don't give us their salary range. Are you kidding? You should be putting people's salaries and overtime overtime that we pay them on
the website. It's amazing to me you're hiding this whole negotiation with the town manager as if it's a big trade secret. You know that you're not allowed to even the negotiations are sun under sunshine law. You're supposed to publish that data in 30 days. But anyway, I I
come to the budget. I want you now I I'm told this is not as a chair of fact. It doesn't matter. You know, this is a workshop. We have vice chair here. We have all the work we put in. And it's surprising to me that you want to hear an indirect thing. You don't want to
hear from us. But that's okay. Let me tell you three things. Clarity, conviction, and courage. If you don't have those three things, you are going to destroy our town. Clarity. We need clarity. We meaning town, this town manager here, controlling our
spending is the only way to control our future. Please understand this. Our tax revenues are going up. 210,000 in general fund and 710,000 in road and drainage. That's a lot of money. Our expenses are far exceeding this
increase. We don't need to commercialize or reimagine southern boloulevard to save our town. We don't need to hire expensive lobbyists to reszone our RV park thing. We don't need to pay grant writer to chase the very grants that strip away our home rule.
What we need is clarity to live within our means. So please understand that control expenses, control future. Second, conviction. Conviction means matching our budget to the priorities. I was told that you are all supposed to give priorities to the town manager. I gave mine. I don't see yours but
interesting. That means choosing right priorities on what to do. Okay. Set priorities for the town manager. So, for example, we have $200,000 set aside for lobbyists and grant writers and travel to Tallahassee. I understand the logic,
you know, schmoo people. We can use that 200 to fix potholes on North Road that are that is much needed. We can't do both. Understand that conviction is choosing to do what's essential for the residents first. Roads, drainage, pump
station, core services over consultants and distraction. And finally, courage. And that's the most important one. It takes courage to face the truth. Our financial distress isn't caused by Washington or Tallahassee. I'm sorry. It's caused right here by overspending
and misplaced priorities. is takes courage to stop chasing quick fixes and instead hold ourselves accountable. You know, I couldn't agree more. This is the first time and I've been on the committee last year. You know, we have been told just pay don't pay attention to the line items. You know, what is the
breakdown of the salary that's 50% of the general fund and don't look at that 33% number that's all added up with capital budgets and fund outflows. Just look at what percent of salary of general fund and road and drainages. That's 50%. too heavy. So you are not
even able to see what who's pay getting paid what and what's the increase. This is the first time I'm seeing this courage to stop chasing these type of things. Accountability restructure where it's needed. So in closing and after losing
the sales tax option just so you know we are only losing 250,000. We are gaining about a million losing we still are a solid debt-free town. So stop this fear-mongering that if we don't do this and that we are going to fall apart. No, we have given you analysis reports. I've
given you 20 page report, 20,000 page analysis doesn't matter. But let me be clear. If you do not make right decisions, you will be equally to blame. I think people are watching here. You will equally to be blamed as the town manager after this day. if you don't set
the right clarity, right clarity on priorities and and right funding decision. Thank you so much. >> Anybody else? >> Miss Dailyy. >> Hi. Okay, so you all know I'm the newbie
here, but um just listening. >> Your name for the >> Oh, sure. It's Ally Daily. Hi. Um just listening I just have a couple of questions. Um with regard to the infrastructure and these some of these are rhetorical questions but with regard to the infrastructure projects is there
an analysis that's being done with like needs versus wants. And I think if we're in like a budget crunch obviously that needs to be assessed and then obviously I heard that an engineer has assessed these things and given a report to these things. Um I agree with Lisa that we should deal with the north end of the
town first. Um, and then my question is in what what I do professionally, um, when I'm trying to get something done, I have multiple bids given and even if I want to go with guy number A, I have guy number B, C, and D price out the same
thing. And then I go back to guy number A and say, "Guy number C gave me this price. Can you do it for this price?" So, I understand that several years ago, prior to me living here, um a lot of our uh services were outsourced to companies. So, if we're in this huge
budget crunch, is that not something that maybe we could reexplore is outsourcing some of these services to companies, let them bid for the project, bid for the job, and whoever's going to come back to us and give us the best job, best price. Maybe that's who we go with. Maybe we can save money that way
by not having it in-house. The other thing that I'm saying which is kind of surprising to me is that five people who work for the town are making up $850,000 of our expenditure in their salaries which I think is a bit much. Um
1.96 overall salary expenditures have gone up 1.96 million in just 5 years. That's a lot of money in five years. And I know that we've added people to to payroll, but if you look at the national
average for a town our size, we are overstaffed. So, I know that's rough, but it is what it is. And I'll tell you, in the corporate world, when you've been at a job for 20, 30 years, your salary is going to be up here. But maybe we need
to consider a younger person that's got more fight and more energy and more vim and vigor that wants to come in and is happy to kick butt at a lower salary. I don't know. I'm just saying if the machine is broken, we need to fix it.
And if this huge expenditure is going to salaries, maybe we need to look at that. Just my two cent. Anybody else? Bo. Yeah, ma'am. I have a comment. >> Sure. >> If you all would like to um meet with me
about my contract, I did send out my previous contract the day after it was asked for in March. Um and um as council member El Remy said, she did meet with me. I did make some changes. In fact,
subsequent to those, I've made a few more. Council member Herszog met with me and she had very few changes. I did address her changes as well. She was concerned about um certain definitions
and who was who in the contract. Obviously, you all voted to have the mayor negotiate and the mayor and I have met on multiple occasions to discuss it. I have not had conversations
um in any substance with Council Member Coleman or um Council Member McClendon. However, if there is no appetite to negotiate with me, I think we should save everybody some time and make the
decision that you want to make. I was willing to renew my contract. Um, these have been a difficult six months. Um, I think when I listen to the discussions of how terrible we're doing and so on
and so forth, it's really deflating for the staff. And it really also isn't what the town looks like. Um, and it doesn't look like the work that we've done. And it doesn't look like the $4 million that we got with no matching. and it doesn't
seem to be um in accordance to where we are. Um everyone was given an opportunity to do a one-on-one. I think there was only one person who asked for line item. I don't know why the line item hasn't been distributed since that
was requested. But everybody can have everything they want and everybody can talk to me anytime they want. I hear very rarely from anybody and when I hear from them I call them right back and give them the information or text them right back with the information that
they ask for. I'm not really sure how I and our team have not lived up to these high standards yet. You know, I would still like to hear what those those reasons are. And I would also love to
tell you one other thing. The town has over a hundred million dollars of deferred maintenance. A hundred years of deferred maintenance. In fact, the last time the canals were dredged was something along the lines of 20 years ago. The celverts that you're talking
about underneath Okchobee, the only thing holding them up is the sludge that's in them. So, we have to thank God for not dredging and not, you know, clearing the sludge because that's what's keeping the system together. The canals have no slope, zero slope. Our
standard is a 2:1 slope. The canals have had no slope for God knows how long, but the roads are getting smaller and smaller, and they will end up having to get smaller yet because once the canals continue to erode, the road isn't going
to be able to be stable. And so any cracking we talk about because we don't have drainage, well, we won't really be able to have drainage if we don't have the canal bank to help us with that. Additionally, we've just finished a vulnerability assessment and that's
scheduled to be a presentation on your September 3rd agenda. We finally finally after I don't know how many years um but let me call it a hundred that the district was in place and the 20 that the town has been in place we finally
have an inventory of all the coverts and all of the control structures in town. I don't know what the town was doing for the years before I got here and I do know what we have been doing since then and that is we've been trying to write the wrongs and do the things that
haven't been done. There are 20 years of organizational development that have not occurred here that have all had to occur in the last three years. Turnover is a strategy. The manager that was brought in before me was brought in and told to
get rid of everybody. That's not the style that I have. Anybody who's met with me knows that I let people select themselves. People select themselves and they get to have a graceful departure because people have lives and people
have careers. I don't really feel what's been going on these last 6 months is graceful in any way. And I also don't think it's reflective of any of the work that my staff and I have done. And if you don't wish to renew the contract with me, I understand. But I will still
be very proud of all the work that has been done here since I came to work here and worked seven days a week when no one else did. I will be very proud of the fact that we finally got some things done that anybody just sat back and
forth and argued about. And I will be very proud that I was fully transparent and offered you anything you wanted anytime you wanted it. and I will be very proud that you have some really great people here to work with after I'm
gone. But when you go to replace me, you will not find a different set of problems or a better set of solutions. Because until the town and the council embrace the issues that have been long
been disregarded, the town will not be moving any further forward than it has in the past. It was a really bright moment here these last couple years when we did a lot of things and I really hope that that can continue. But without a
strategic plan and without a set of priorities and without understanding the stuff that has been presented and discussed and requested and so on ad nauseium we can't move forward unless we
move forward together. So, if you choose to renew my contract, I continue to be willing to talk to you. If you choose not to, no harm, no fail. You know, I feel like I've met my Athenian oath. I've left it better than I found it. And
I know that when you um work with the staff that are here, you'll find them to be just as good as I think they are. So, anyway, I leave you with that. No need to waste any time with me. If your goal is to move forward with someone else and I will help you.
>> I believe we took a vote to negotiate your contract. So >> based on the analysis, >> then let's let's continue with that. >> You bring the contract forward and we'll take a vote on it. Okay. >> I will happily say that the SWAT analysis was a required part of my
contract. I look very much forward to having it done by a third party. We already know we have a lot of issues. I am going to be shocked if there's an issue that we don't know about already. Maybe the words might be different, but they're not going to be different problems than we already know that we
have. Clearly, communication is one of them. >> Clearly, that is >> correct. We're supposed to have the results of the analysis back before we take a vote on the contract. >> Hopefully, we get that back. >> Negotiating. We did take a vote on to-do. >> It's all going to be back before
>> we vote on the contract. So, >> I asked for the status on that. >> I hear you and I haven't gotten it. >> Um, I believe that this what I was just told today is that uh he is done with the the independent investigator is done with the first part of his
investigation. Um, and the purchasing authority has been returned to the public works department because it was >> that's different than the SWAT analysis. >> No, he's asking about the investigation as well. two things and that the um purchasing order has been returned to
public works because he found no cause for from the resignation letter that was said and he is proceeding with the second part of his investigation. >> I think I put to you Lisa with responding to that issue. >> So that's that and the SWAT analysis the
SWAT analysis lady is done with her she finished her interviews what like a week or two weeks ago. So I don't know how long she said it was going to take her to write up a report. Yeah, but she said it would take her a couple weeks. So, I don't know anything further on that, but I do know that like today we got the other I'm going to um just go ahead and do council comments if you're okay from
left to right because there's no order on here and I don't remember the order and I know it rotates. So, go ahead, go first if you don't mind. >> Sure. Um just want to touch a couple points before I really make my comment. Um the lobbyists that are hired by the town have nothing to do with the reasonzoning
for for the certain for a certain project. Um there's been discussion for multiple years about defining the southern corridor commercial area because there is a very
u what's the word I'm looking for minimalistic view as to the definition of where the s southern corridor commercial corridor was meant to be back when we incorporated okay back with that original comp plan or whatever so that you know so it has nothing to do with
the RV parks. Just for clarification, our our our lobbyist is not working for the applicant, I guess, is my point. Um, and if they are, then that's a whole different ball of wax, right? A whole different can of worms. I'm just saying
I to my knowledge there. Um, we did ask for detail. I think we looked at Mr. Denell and said, "We want more detail on this." Right. Right. We asked for detail. Um, I have to set the appointment with you. I haven't done that yet. I apologize. Um, and what were
we doing for the last 20 years? Whatever. They were just grading the roads. I I was here. They just graded the roads. And then they bought that big uh thingama digger. >> Well, no, there was one before the thingama digger. It was a big backhoe. No, a big backhoe. Just a big backhoe
track mount. Had to be moved on on by a low boy. That >> Yeah, moved by a little boy. And they dug the canal. And when they got to the other end, about the time they got to the other end, they I think uh Chapman went back and started on a-
road again and started going the other way. Um you know again I'm going to say something I said earlier um I was told before I had this is going to be a very interesting year because it's going to be challenging. Um it is going to be challenging. We we have a there's a
insurmountable task right now because we got to figure out how to squeeze you know not just blood from a stone water. I think we need to squeeze blood from a stone to do what we got to do. Um Todd has a very creative uh answer to that would actually help very much. But the
reality is just to give you an example, the building we're sitting in has three AC units all at about 5 ton a piece. They're all what was this 2025? They're all 15 years old. 10 to 15 years old. Older than that. Uh got a quote. I
I just happened to be here one day when the it was hot in here and the AC tech guy had just showed up at about five o'clock um to to work on it. Uh we got a quote last year at about 7,000 to replace all three. I can tell you from
personal experience and starting each >> No. >> Yeah. >> Sorry. Yes. 20. Sorry. >> 7,000 each. 21. No, I did the math on my head. 21,000 21 Yeah. 20 Well, that's I'm getting
there. So, 21 to 25,000 for all three, right? Let's clarify. 21 25,000 for all three. I can tell you that that is if you break it down each, which is 7,000 on the low end. That was the price I got last year. I have about a 20 plus year
old system that I got last year. Right? For those that don't know, ACs have grown exponentially in cost from last year to this year because some requirements and certifications and types of gas, etc. have changed and you
can't use the old stuff anymore. So, I would venture to say that to replace the AC units that are on their last leg in this building, just to kind of give you some perspective in this building, which are three again, you're probably looking at one and a half to two times what what
the quote was last year, >> right? So, you're looking anywhere from Huh? What? That that Okay. Okay. Let let I I know we're not trying to do a schedule, but let me back up. So we we when we go out for quote, they do get bids. And when we when we do a
project, we do get bids. It's called RFP. It goes out for RFP. If if one person, you know, say say we're going out to grade, we're going to contract out grading the roads and the raffle is bid the job and they're the only ones that bid the job. They're
the only ones that bid the job, right? or if four people bid the job, then you have a selection to go through and that there is a bid process. I'm just saying they got a price. I'm just telling you, I know my house was going to be about seven. Now, and that was without a without duct. Now, it's going to
probably be around 11 to to 12 to get an AC for my house. And that that's just one guy. I know that's just one guy. I'm in the construction. I know about bidding job. So, um, I guess my point is is is we have it's not just culverts that are failing or that want to fail
under Okachobee, which are probably Palm Beach County's responsibility, but we have and and the weird locks. I, you know, all of you know, I've been griping about this for years, right? We all have, right? So, because I I live on the south end, right? on the on the low end
of the low side of the canal. So, you know, I tend to bear a lot of the brunt of the heavy rain, you know, but they there, you know, I think some people think that it's an exaggeration when they hear 100 years of of
ill repair that hasn't been touched, but literally hasn't been touched. The the public works building was never maintained properly, the shed or the other building. Oh, that unit's got to go, too. So, that unit's old, too. And it's a package unit. So you're probably looking another 20 grand, 15, 20 grand,
right? So this is just to give you what we're the the meer that we're trudging through right now, you know, and I don't use that word loosely, the meer, the muck that we're trudging through. It's not that we want to none of us want to stand. Listen, I'm the lowest property owner here, right? I got two and a
quarter. Okay? Everybody else is five plus. Nobody up here wants to raise taxes a dollar, let alone 200, 100, whatever. But the reality is is we have stuff that we have to do. We have to put reserves in the bank just in case something happens. Okay? I'm not saying
that's what we're going to do. But, you know, listen, I'd love to hit a roll back. That'd be great, right? Hit a roll back. Stay right where we're at. That'd be awesome if we could. But the reality is there's stuff out there that has to be done and we got to find a way to do it. So,
>> is that the end of your >> Everybody pray for you. >> You rolled everything into one. You got your comments and your what you what point? Okay, Todd, go ahead. >> So, I have a way. But anyway, >> you said, "Let's find a way. I've got a way." >> Yes. >> Okay. >> We know, Todd. >> So, so Jeff, you're a salary employee
and and I joke with you on the on the weekend or 7 o'clock at night that you're on your way home and I'm like, "We're not paying overtime." >> So, when he's here, >> right, >> at a fak meeting, he's not getting paid extra. He's He's doing somebody else's job and now we're now we're giving him a hard time because he's doing somebody
else's job. He's doing more than what the town attorney would do. And it's surprising that he's going to get attacked for doing more than what his job description is. You know, he's not charging us. He's here till 7 8:00 at night or whatever it is. He's here tonight, 8:00, right? He's on salary. So, he's not getting extra money. He's
not taking advantage of us, right? That was kind kind of one of the advantages of going in-house, right? Because if it was an hourly employee like we had those firms at $350 an hour, that's what we'd be paying right now. So, >> makes me rethink everything. >> Yeah.
So, well, so what what leads and what leads to that is we had two firms come and present for town attorney and people said, "Well, there wasn't enough time." It wasn't that there's not enough time. It's the turmoil here. Firms look and see stability, right? When people are getting up and they talking about people
are going away in handcuffs, you know, because they're stealing and there's corruption and you guys are horrible and you're doing everything wrong. These firms are looking at this, these firms, these future town managers are looking at these meetings to see how stable we are. They're not coming here, right? The good ones are like, I don't need all
that. I want to go somewhere it's stable, where everything's good, everybody's happy. Kumbaya. So when you guys get up and we talk about how horrible things are, you are hurting yourself because you're hurting the town, right? We're all here for the best indust indust, you know, for the best thing of the town. Everybody that's
in here wants the best for the town. So when there's all this turmoil, you're hurting yourself because you're hurting the town. So keep that in mind when you get up and you talk about how horrible everything is, how horrible the town manager is. >> Look back how long we've been
incorporated now. Every town manager that's been here for so long ends up being the bad guy. Every single one of them, and that's happened because of decisions by council members and how they've spent money, how they've appropriated, how they've paved somebody's street that they shouldn't have. That's all coming back to the
council has caused that issue. And I'm not saying our town managers have been perfect. And I'm not saying she's perfect. But my point is, every town manager since we've been incorporated has been the bad guy every single time. And that's got to stop. We got to start looking in the mirror and figure out why
is all this turmoil going on here. Is it us sitting up here? Is it the members of the public that don't really know what's going on and and you know they need to talk to us and find out because there's a lot of assumptions from people in town and they don't know. Call us. All of us
are available. Call and talk to us. So, I'm just going to leave it at that. Thank you. Just don't try to talk to us two at a time like somebody just group text Paul and I about something this week and we can't talk to you under those circumstances. Marge.
>> Okay. Um if you want to know what the uh southern uh corridor uh is. All you have to do is go back to uh the documents that were presented with the incorporation. It's it's all in there
that uh it is supposed to not be any further north than Tangerine. That's supposed to be the cut off line. So when when you see anything beyond that, you have to ask yourself, how did that
happen? You know, uh, like there's a a a building, a feed building, uh, on the end of I don't know if that's Tangerine behind there. Um, that How did it get in there? >> East Westy Road. Yeah.
>> Yeah. West I know where Yeah. So you know we have to um we have to be careful make sure that uh we know what is at stake when projects start coming forward
and where you know the cut off line is. So that's all I have to say. >> Okay Lisa. >> Yeah I'm with you Marge. Um, and that feed store that was turned in at the time that it was built and that goes back to Todd stepping on and saying we
got to be more forceful with the code enforcement. I think when we have people step up and talk about uh basics, that's one of the basics that I think we have failed to grasp once becoming a town in the hybrid model of going out for
contract for these things. That's been done. Um, it's not been poorly. it's not been well managed in the past, whether that's the companies that we end up with. Um, as far as attacking the manager, I think I've been quite clear
that it is council's job and that as council, we we have a a duty here to to hold things accountable. Um, and I, you know, the in-house model of the attorney is is yet to be determined. Um, I'd like to see again a little more reporting and
and I would say um maybe some more uh deference paid to council uh with this attorney model because I think again that has always been filtered through the previous managers and the current manager that council gets more
information. Um and you know the turmoil as it appears there's lots of reasons for it. Um, I think that there are many, many perceptions in the town. Some have more legitimacy than others. I've been
personally getting a lot of uh outreach this week being concerned about how are we paying the town attorney. I said he's in-house. They didn't understand that that model was still on the table. They thought that when I'm like, it's a lot of moving parts. You go, I got to pay attention, right? That was one of the
options and that was the option that was chosen. So uh that comes down to communication being clear on on what is happening. Um I think we had an unfortunate uh miscommunication on the the meeting this week. Um we had
different publications with different dates and time well not different dates different times different understandings. So hopefully we don't see that again. Um, and Sunshine Law does prevent some of that communication from being clear behind the scenes and that causes sometimes some of the
problems. So, thank you. >> Okay, I think we all have our work cut out for us and um, I just want to say I appreciate all the people that have called me. I've gotten a lot of phone calls in the last uh, week or two weeks, especially with the meeting that was
canceled coming up. But, um, I appreciate everybody's input. positive, negative. Um I appreciate everybody's input and um and do take it into consideration when making decisions. So I want everybody to know that um I do have a concern um about a communication
that I had this week from someone who um is scared to speak their mind. They um actually wanted to send a letter in, but they were scared to because they were afraid they would be attacked. I got to say I know how she feels. Um, so I think I want to maybe piggyback on what Todd
said and just, you know, remember that we're all neighbors and that we're all one of the things I ran on is is trying to unify. You know, we were we're so split, but really we're all here for the same reason. Whether we're a nurseryman or an equestrian or just somebody who
likes to have trees in their backyard, we're all here because we love rural lifestyle and we and we want to preserve this community. And if people could just remember that when they're talking to each other or about each other, um that would really go a long way, I think, um in in trying to ease some of the tension
and and help us to move forward. So, >> can I have a motion to adjourn? >> If we could just uh >> Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to let the attorney make a report. I'm so sorry, clerk. >> Not much of a >> It's not written down here, so you know, without my script. I'm so sorry. Go ahead. >> Not much of a report. Um, uh, first of
all, uh, prior to me becoming the town attorney, I had scheduled a vacation for next week. I'm going to be out of town. Um, I think I mentioned it during the the interviews. Um, you will be getting a note from me to that effect to comply with my contract, but I wanted uh you
all to understand that um, I will be out of town next week. I will be working remotely on Tuesday. Um, you all have my phone number. Uh, that's always the best way to to get hold of me. Um, I will while I'm on vacation, uh, take a look
occasionally at the the emails, but if you need anything, give me a call. Um, I try to respond to to the phone calls. Um, secondly, on September 2nd, I want to remind everybody that we have a shade
session scheduled. The agreed upon time was at 5:30 for for that meeting. That will be with Chris Sterns coming up. Um I just want to make sure that everybody remembers that. That is the Tuesday after Labor Day 5:30 here. We will
initially meet here and then we will adjourn um and have a private meeting that'll be um all the comments will taken be be taken down by a court reporter. uh those comments will not be
available to the public until the litigation is over. Just so you understand that that process. Um so uh and then we would reconvene after uh we've had the discussion um with the
uh uh League of Cities attorneys who are representing us in that matter and come back and close the the meeting. But that is Tuesday, September 2nd, uh 5:30. Um and lastly, just real quickly, um
with respect to ongoing investigations, especially if there's a personnel matter involved, um I will reach out to you and be happy to discuss the matter to
the extent that I can. Um, it is not my practice and I do not intend for it to be my practice to respond in writing other than uh if somebody said what's going on with this, my response in writing would be please give me a call.
Okay? And that's got to do with ongoing investigations, especially in the personnel area. I do not want to create extraneous public records um about a pending matter especially a pending matter that is not complete.
Okay. >> I have one comment about personnel >> and that is that personnel information is not something that we broadcast. So you may meet somebody that's an employee of ours and find them to be simply delightful. yet they may be an employee
of ours that is not necessarily the kind of person you want to include in the budget. Um so you don't necessarily know because you do not have direct experience with whom you're speaking with and so they may say the price
of um the air conditioner wasn't proper and we didn't bid it. Yet they might not know the full facts on that situation. And in fact, we did bid it. And in fact, what they shared with you was absolutely
incorrect. But rather than looking to see if there was some other information, we go right into an investigation. That's how we waste money. And in normal organizations, and I do use the word normal because this is not normal what
we do here. What we do here is we immediately jump on it as if it's true. And that's the problem. It's not always true. And that's not just with the personnel matters. It's with everything. And so when we're talking about spending
unbudgeted money, please recall that responding to inaccurate or disinformation or, you know, crying wolf or whatever you want to call it. It costs us money and we spend a lot of
it chasing down those um dead ends. I also do not like to put anything about personnel in writing, but I will be putting something about personnel in writing because some of the information that was provided is not accurate and I
do not feel any compunction about providing accurate information in email. I differ from Mr. Curts on that matter. So anyway, thank you very much for letting me say this. I do not believe it's a good practice for council and
staff to engage with one another without both sides having full facts. >> And that's what our charter requires. >> Madame clerk, >> no report. >> Okay, >> we already have a motion to second. >> We have a motion in a second. All in favor? I
>> Okay, meeting. >> Thank you everyone. >> Thanks Dave. >> Not bad. It's not 9:00 >> and we all had a lot to say. >> Yeah. >> And I think we all got to say all the
all all the lots that we wanted to say.