Tuesday's Commission Mtg.

There are five items on the agenda for Tuesday’s Commission meeting that are of interest to LWPD.

Three items are on the Consent agenda, which means they are approved as a block unless one of the Commissioners pulls an item for a separate vote. The public is not allowed to speak on Consent items.

Consent Item I, to authorize a mutual aid agreement with 27 Palm Beach County law enforcement agencies.

Consent Item R, to confirm the election of Sgt. Mendelsberg as Police representative on the Civil Service Board.

Consent Item S, confirm the re-election of Lt. Moss as trustee on the Police Pension Board.

Under Public Hearings is the second reading (final approval) of a new ordinance amending the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages. Public Comment is allowed.

Finally, under Unfinished Business, is a report on the status of PBSO merger negotiations. The back up on this item is extensive (32 pages) and includes updates budget and personnel costs, current roster of police personnel and payroll information and a copy of the revised actuarial study. PBSO will analyze this same data and return a proposal to city. If the Commission concurs, negotiations will begin. This is not necessarily an action item (to be voted on) unless a Commissioner makes a motion. Then public comment will be allowed.

If you’re not familiar with how to find the back-up material for these items, go to the city’s website, www.lakeworth.org Move your mouse over Commission in the left side banner on the home page. When the menu opens up, click on Commission Agendas, then 2008, then May 6. To see the back-up material for an item on the agenda, just click on the item and the material will open up in a new window.

Hope to see many of you at City Hall on Tuesday at 6pm.
All the best,
M.

There are five items on the agenda for Tuesday’s Commission meeting that are of interest to LWPD.

Three items are on the Consent agenda, which means they are approved as a block unless one of the Commissioners pulls an item for a separate vote. The public is not allowed to speak on Consent items.

Consent Item I, to authorize a mutual aid agreement with 27 Palm Beach County law enforcement agencies.

Consent Item R, to confirm the election of Sgt. Mendelsberg as Police representative on the Civil Service Board.

Consent Item S, confirm the re-election of Lt. Moss as trustee on the Police Pension Board.

Under Public Hearings is the second reading (final approval) of a new ordinance amending the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages. Public Comment is allowed.

Finally, under Unfinished Business, is a report on the status of PBSO merger negotiations. The back up on this item is extensive (32 pages) and includes updates budget and personnel costs, current roster of police personnel and payroll information and a copy of the revised actuarial study. PBSO will analyze this same data and return a proposal to city. If the Commission concurs, negotiations will begin. This is not necessarily an action item (to be voted on) unless a Commissioner makes a motion. Then public comment will be allowed.

If you’re not familiar with how to find the back-up material for these items, go to the city’s website, www.lakeworth.org Move your mouse over Commission in the left side banner on the home page. When the menu opens up, click on Commission Agendas, then 2008, then May 6. To see the back-up material for an item on the agenda, just click on the item and the material will open up in a new window.

Hope to see many of you at City Hall on Tuesday at 6pm.
All the best,
M.

This is wild. A very concerned citizen gives us more information on the PD then the city does. Thank you Mary for being so concerned for all of us at LWDP. God Bless.

Thank you Mary also. The information you posted are very informative. I hope one day you're elected into office. You really take the time to educate yourself on the issues and think about possible solutions. Once again. Thanks!

Hopefully they will do the right thing and allow PBSO to come in. Thanks Mary for the info.

Thanks Mary!

I just came from a meeting with the Mayor and residents near Golfview Drive. The purpose of this meeting was to learn from the Mayor about plans for boat ramp parking and a boardwalk around Snook Island. After those questions were answered, the subject of the PBSO merger and Tuesday's agenda item came up.

The Mayor was very positive and outlined a few different possible scenarios for negotiating the $12 million "shortfall" in future pension benefits. That's the issue that seems to be the biggest hurdle. There were maybe 25-30 people from that neighborhood in attendance and most were in favor of the merger when they learned that merging with PBSO does not mean we will lose our current officers.

One neighbor pointed out that we are residents AND TAXPAYERS of the County as well as the City and therefore we are not losing control of anything by being a part of a county wide agency.

All in all, a very optimistic meeting.
M.

Wow....$12 million is a lot of money. This may take a little longer than I expected.

$12 million IS a lot of money - almost equal to the total ad valorum taxes collected in one year for the whole city. But, it is an estimate. The final number for how much it will cost to close the Lake Worth plan will depend on who chooses FRS, how much time they have in etc. etc. etc.

Lake Worth does not come to this negotiation empty handed. We have the building, the vehicles and other assets and most importantly, the merger is not just good for Lake Worth. It's also good for the County as well. Believe it, if this wasn't in the best interest of the Sheriff's office too, the deal would have died long ago. All those factors and more will come into play when everyone sits down and does the give and take thing.

Hope springs eternal!
M.

Mary,

Thank you for the information. Please keep us updated on all future negotiations.

Commission aproved consent item to move ahead with negotiations with PBSO. Baldwin is set to meet with Major Veccia next week>>>

Maybe their's hope?