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City Meeting Highlights: August 19th
• RV Park approved. Red light cameras on hold. New recycling rules. Transporation cuts threaten Focal Point Senior Center. School Zones start Monday.
Wednesday,
August 19, 2009
Back from summer break, the city commission agenda Wednesday was brief. Worth noting:
Rezoning AZTEC on State Road 7 for a Luxury RV Park passed unanimously on second hearing. Margate resident, Robert Perkis spoke in favor of the project, pointing to the potential for economic benefit. Margate resident, Rich Popovic asked city officials how a developer who doesn’t own the land could petition for rezoning. No one on the dais answered.
The decision to put red-light cameras in the city is on hold for another week. Absent from tonight’s meeting, Commissioner, Pam Donovan, called ahead to table the matter until next week so she could voice her opinion. Commissioner Joe Varsallone agreed, saying that Margate needs to consider problems with litigation other cities are having with red-light camera lawsuits.
A total $126,000 was approved for police training equipment and K-9 facilities. This is paid for via the police trust fund with money taken from the bad guys, said Mayor, Arthur Bross.
Margate isn’t alone in their budgetary problems, says Commissioner Frank Talerico after meeting with the Florida League of Cities and brainstorming ideas on how cities might trim costs and save money – all while maintaining services.
George Mudd, Margate’s first Parks & Rec Director remembered. Commissioners Varsallone and David McLean paid tribute. “We lost a good guy and our thoughts go out to his family,” McLean said. “He loved everything God made. He loved the rivers; he loved the forests,” said Varsallone.
Police and Fire are at an impasse with the City. Cops and Fire Rescue personnel want a raise while General Employees have agreed to a pay freeze. The matter will go before a Magistrate, then to the City Commission by October 1st, said Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella.
Threatened with losing $350,000 in funding for Focal Point Senior Center transportation, City officials are asking Margate Seniors to attend, in numbers, an administrative hearing at the County next Tuesday, August 25 at 2:00 pm. Call 954-973-0300 for more information.
Plans for a regional fire district that serves Margate, Coconut Creek and Parkland are underway. City Manager Porcella received an okay from the City Commission to hire a consultant to conduct a feasibility study.
Glass, paper and plastic can all go in one recycling bin starting on October 1st. City officials are asking residents to make sure they separate garbage from recycling to avoid contamination and comply with revised recycling program guidelines. This means no foodstuffs mixed in with recyclable goods. The next edition of the Margate Messenger will feature recycling do’s and don’ts, said the City Manager.
School Zones take effect Monday. Porcella conveyed the School Board's message to parents to accompany their child to school on the first day.
“We’ve run government well,” said Varsallone. “We’ve served the people well,” he said, while commenting on the difficulties of balancing the city budget while maintaining services and not engaging layoffs within the city.
Margate functions with 51 fewer employees than it did two years ago, said Porcella.
Margate activist, Le Peerman, said that of the 51 vacancies some were from retirement and others vacant positions that remain unfilled. (Statement corrected)
Speaking on the budget, Popovic told the commission that he thought budgetary problems were a result of over-inflated administrative salaries and a lack of financial foresight.
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