Deerfield Beach 10% Public Utility Tax to be decided on Tuesday Sept 20, 2011

The commission will render a final decision on the budget for the upcoming year on Tuesday, September 20 th  at 7 p.m. at the commission meeting. Whether the residents will have to pay a 10% utility tax starting on October 1st will be decided then. Plan to attend the meeting, but before that call your representative Commissioner Preston at 954-480-4220 and tell him to vote NO on the public service tax. Tell him what the tax will mean to you.


Also, he will be hosting a Community Meet & Greet at Mayo Howard Park on Saturday Sept. 17, 2011 at 12pm-5pm.  Please come out and bring the family and meet the District 2 City Commissioner, Ben Preston.  


There will be free food for all and a water bounce house for the kids (so make sure to bring a bathing suit and a towel).


If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Commissioner Ben Preston at 954-480-4220.

Community Action Team Meeting Sept 19, 2011 at 6pm

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Come and find out about what'$ going on in Deerfield Beach and bring a friend.

Don't forget on September 20. 2011 at 7pm @ City Hall the Deerfield Beach City Commission Meeting.

Come and voice your opinions on City matters.

"Special" City of Deerfield Beach Commission Meeting Sept. 13, 2011t

Tomorrow, Sept 13, 2011, the City of Deerfield Beach has called a "Special" City Commission Meeting at 9:30am to discuss the Fire Assessment Fee.  The City has listed that no new fee increase has been proposed, but I suggest everyone who can attend, do so.  It is fishy though, since a Budget Hearing  is already scheduled for Sept 20 @ 7pm, why call a "Special" City Commission Meeting a week before the regularly scheduled Budget Hearing???

Special City Commission Meeting - Fire Assessment Fee
Date:	September 13, 2011
Start Time:	9:30 AM
End Time:	10:00 AM
Description:	This is a regularly scheduled budget meeting being held to discuss the annual Fire Rescue Assessment Fee. No increase is proposed.
Address:	City Hall Commission Chamber 150 NE 2nd Ave. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
Hours:	9:30 AM

"Burnin" Through My Perspective of Deerfield Beach

I  recently received a comment from a reader, where I was advised that they perceived that this blog "waste most of its post" going back and forth in a "little kids argument", abusing Chaz Stevens.  Which is true, I did waste of lot of post ( 27 of 209 post) going back and forth with him in a little kids argument, but the last point about me abusing Chaz, PLEASE!!!.  This individual went further and advised me that if I continued in that manner I would be just like Chaz and be more of a hindrance to the community than a help and I would not have energized anyone and thereby failed to meet my outlined goal(s), of this blog, to energize my community.  


Well I was going to post a final comment to said individual, but when I finished it I realized if one person felt that way, maybe others did too.  Plus, it was to long for a comment.  So this post is for all those individuals out there that feel the way that individual feels and had a "burnin" desire to let me know.

Well, my intent is not to seem like him and I know no matter what I do there will be a segment of readers that will portray me as whatever to those that haven't read this blog. I do think the words speak for themselves, though. It's up to individuals to stop allowing themselves to be spoon fed and get the information for themselves, as I did and do. But, you are right and the last thing that I want is to seem like. However I understand that sometimes you have to fight fire with fire and in the case of Chaz Stevens that is exactly what I did. Operative words there "what I did" (And will continue to do, when necessary). I do want to point out however that there are only about 27 post about Chaz out of 209, so he is not the primary focus of this blog. How you came to that conclusion I have no idea, but hey it's your perception. Why would I, of all people, knock you for it.

This blog says what people are thinking and are to afraid to say and ask the questions that people are to scared to ask. I don't sugar coat anything and I understand that many people can't handle that kind of "rawness". This is not my problem it is theirs and it is not my desire or goal to appease these people. My goal is to energize those who will be energized, inform those who will be informed, and educate those that will be educated. For anyone else they can continue to read the Sun-Sentinel, the Observer, and most other media outlets owned by big business and not get the whole truth or for the most part any truth at all when it comes to the CODB government or government in general, which is the literary equivalent of "drinking the kool-aid". I want people to get the information and think for themselves, an equivalent of taking the "red pill", which is why I also post links to the information, so people can come to their own conclusions. I don't try and force anything on people. I give you the info and/or my perceived questions and let them do what they will. From the emails and response that I get in the streets (outside of your comments) I think I am doing a decent job for a beginner. I do take the critique and will try and improve that which I deem necessary to improve.  I want to take this time to thank all those individuals who have taken the red pill and followed me down the rabbit hole.  (Matrix reference, not Lewis Carroll)

BTW, 

Honestly, my community and youth that read my blog have become aware of what is going on in this City and if you haven't noticed there has been a change at City Hall and Commission Meetings. I am not taking credit for it, but I would like to think that this blog has at least a little something to do with it as people are becoming more aware and actually speaking out. The residents are getting fed up and so they are speaking out in a manner that has never happened before in the CODB. I will let you in on a secret (well mantra/motto/creed/whatever) that has motivated me since the beginning of this journey. 

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

- Thomas Jefferson

Words to live by and aspire to in Deerfield Beach and the thing that strikes fear in every government/ruling class/and religious deity since the beginning of time is an educated and informed citizenry. 

That is my goal, for CODB to have an educated and informed citizenry!!!

I do appreciate your feedback and thank you for making me aware of your perception of me and providing me with the heads up.

Should Part-Time Worker in Deerfield Beach Get Benefits and a Pension???

Should part-time workers of the City of Deerfield Beach (CODB) receive benefits and a pension?


This question was asked during contract negotiations a while ago between the CODB Non-employee union and the CODB negotiation team.  The question was answered when the Union and the City agreed to not provide benefits to part-time employees.  The City Commission and Mayor agreed that this was the best course of action for the City and yet they have not decided to do what is best for the City when it comes to their own part-time benefits and pension.  Below is an email I received detailing the amounts the Commissioners currently take home, in addition to their benefits and pension.  That's right I said pension.  If you are like me then you are asking yourself why would they be receiving a pension and all of these benefits, especially since they are part-time City employees.  Should our elected officials not lead by example?  Is it not the height of hypocrisy to deny benefits and a pension to other part-time employees when you have generously taken the tax payers money to grant yourselves these benefits.  Did these so-called elected officials not run for office to help the residents and the City or did they run to help themselves to the City coffers at the expense of the residents and the City.  It's time we had some answers, don't you think.


I have even heard a rumor that one of the commissioners only ran so that they could have health insurance. If that is true, I say to that commissioner (and they know who they are), you should have gotten a job at Wal-Mart as a greeter, rather than saddle this City with your self-serving tenure as a commissioner.  Thank God for term limits!

To the Residents of Deerfield,

Here are some facts for  all of you to sit an digest. Remember that we have a city manager and that the Mayor and Commissioners to not run the Day to Day operations.

This was a document request and this is how it was answered:

1.) How much is the mayor, the commissioners, assistant city manager, and city manager paid ?    a.) Salary               Mayor: $33,524               Commissioner $27,979               City Manager $166,500               Assistant City Manager $120,000    b.) Medical insurance Cost - 100% ($306.83/mo) paid by City (Elected Official) 40% paid by City for dependent coverage of Elected Official's family (depending on # of dependents and health plan chosen)    c.) Pension - Florida Retirement System - City contributes 18.64%, Elected Official 0%    d.) other- Term Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance - One (1) x salary.  Expense Account $22,000/yr.  Dental Plan - BC/BS 100% paid by City (Elected Official), dependent coverage depending on plan and # of dependents. (*Please note that these benefit amounts only reflect the package for the elected officials and not the City Manager and the Assistant City Manager, which are probably a lot more lucrative.)
Please note that I have asked for further information from the City's Accounting Department as I wanted to know how much was the Pension in dollar terms, but thy have not gotten back to me with the total break down of who gets what. From the best I can tell is that they contribute nearly $4,000 a month to the Commissioners and Mayors Pension and if you were to break that down even ly cross the board that is almost $200 a week.
Many have asked them to do away with this. Bill Gantz's reply was that would be grandstanding - get this - he told me it would be grandstanding. and the others basically have not said anything. This is a part time position, and they ran for this position to do what? Help themselves or serve us. I think we all are finally realizing what the answer is.
Folks think about what is going on here. These numbers above are from our city through a document request.  Things need to be addressed and now. As something is just not right!!

          Thanks

John Grassi

Stewards of Our Money: An Email from a Concerned Citizen to a City of Deerfield Beach City Commissioner

This is an email entitled "Stewards of our Money"  from a concerned citizen, John Grassi, to District 1 City Commissioner Joe Miller.  I am hoping that more people will become concerned and begin asking questions.  For far to long has pur City been allowed to operate in darkness and now that things are coming to light and having the light shone on them from regular citizens like me, John, Jean, Steve, and even Chaz...the City is starting to play hardball by even looking into the possibility of negating the will of the citizens by taking legal action to protect their wrong decisions.  All paid for by the same citizens they are trying to negate and leave out of the political arena of Deerfield Beach. 


I hope we see more letters to all of the Commissioners and City's Staff asking for answers on these very important issues.

Stewards of our Money

Hello Joe,

1.) It is plain outright outrageous to learn that the city after cutting salaries, has the nerve to play any games with the pay scale for upper management in order to give them a raise. A matter of fact not only are they still being paid to much, but if the Fire Department is out, then realistically they should all have less work from an administrative point of view and this should be depicted in their salaries.

2.) We have learned from many that the base of the Cove parking lot has not been done to code, further that you all know about this and have since the bidding. If that is the case you are putting the whole city at risk, where because of the delays and problems that could further arise ,  due to possible outright ignorance and gross negligence, small business's could possibly come after our city for a loss of business. This also holds true with the Hilsboro Blvd. I would like to know whats going on here?

3.) Keven Klopp spending nearly $10,000 for redecorating an office - what a croc!. $2,000 for a decorator as well as $3300 for painting his office. GREAT JOB again with our money!!

4.) The tree's along Hillsboro Blvd - $11,000 for a tree?

5.) Last year if you look back when they raised the millage - Joe you clearly advised that if we could move it lower you would do this. Well they indicated in the last couple of meetings that  with the Utilities tax they would be taking in $500,000 less - in that case if the Utility tax is rescinded does that mean we can also lower the millage to compensate for that 500k that you have indicated to be to much? Or will that be hidden with all the ham that already has been?

6.) A while back you learned  that I had an apartment in a complex and frankly spoke with me about it and then asked me not to say anything about this to the city. My question is - were you using your position in government - why would you ask me not to bring this up? I do know since you have been in office that if we were to look into it that your trucks are much more visible then before. Further if we looked into it I believe we would see that many companies in our area have moved their business to you, not before being in this position but after. I have been told that you have gone to many of these business's or has clearly indicated that when you are  meeting these business's as a commissioner or vise versa that you definitely use your position. Can you clearly advise if this is the case?

* How do you expect us to have faith in what is going on within our city when we hear of all these issues and nothing being done about it while crying that we do not have money for the kids soccer or baseball and so on.

I would like to know what is truly going on here in Deerfield Beach?????

John Grassi 

It's time the residents/tax and City Employee salary payers take back our City and demand that the elected officials and City staff hear and consider our concerns.  They are always talking about what is fair and working together, but at every turn they treat us unfairly and then leave us out of the decision making process.  We have to hold these hypocrites accountable, fore if not we face the same financial future as the residents of Lauderdale Lakes.  Don't think it can't happen here, because it can and if you go back and look at the past events of that City you will see shocking comparisons (so you have homework).

City of Deerfield Beach City Manager, Burgess Hanson, the Anti-Robin Hood...

"These are extremely challenging economic times, and this was not an easy decision to recommend," interim City Manager Burgess Hanson said in a prepared statement. "Unfortunately, financial constraints resulting from the loss of property values and the continued decline in the Florida and U.S. economies required changes in our operations of city departments." City of Deerfield Beach City Manager, Burgess Hanson (July 31, 2010)

This is a quote from Deerfield Beach City Manager, Burgess Hanson, last year on July 30, 2010 when he suddenly and unexpectedly laid-off 106+ non-uniformed employees and then promptly became unavailable to be reached by phone and left City Hall.  At this time the City was stating that we were in a financial hole and this was the way to try and plug it.  Which would have been fine, but the City promptly begin recruiting and hiring management and upper management personnel (this includes some assistants to assistants) with starting salaries between $80,000- $105,000.


Then almost one year later, the City again came to the table stating it was in a financial hole due to the loss of property values and a struggling economy and it proposed and then imposed a 10% Utility Tax on the residents and businesses of the City, even though residents, major businesses (i.e. Publix), and some smaller businesses protested and complained about this.  Asking that they put this decision to a vote by the people, and not make it as a "management decision" as Burgess Hanson and Bill Ganz requested.  Especially since over 8,500 residents and registered voters of District 2 were without representation in the discussion to impose the tax. (Please note: Thanks to U.S. Senator, Bill Nelson, the U.S. Department of Justice is still reviewing this case to determine if the Constitutional rights of the District 2 residents were violated by the City of Deerfield Beach.)  Well, the City insisted that they know what this City and it`s residents need better than the residents, that is why they were elected.  So they ignored the residents and imposed the utility tax, which will go into affect October 1, 2011.


Now while all this was going on the City was asking for concessions from it`s non-uniformed employee union that see those affected employees taking a 5% pay cut, paying back 5% merit raises that they received in 2010, as well as increasing their insurance contributions by 10%, stating that this sacrifice would prevent further layoffs.  I don`t think it needs to be said that many of the non-uniformed employees are the lowest paid and have the worse benefits, if any, at the City of Deerfield Beach. Even the City Commissioners and Mayor make more and have better benefits than many of the part-time non-uniformed employees. The part-time employees who service our parks and maintain our City may not have a pension plan or health benefits, but at least the 5 part-time individuals that "vote" on City matters do, but I digress.  So, after several strong-armed negotiations and after repeatedly telling the employees if this deal wasn't signed, sealed, and delivered there would be layoffs, the City, received the concessions from the non-employee union that it wanted.  (Please note:  The City received concessions from other employees, but because many of the non-uniformed employees are the least paid these concessions affect them more adversely.)


The City of Deerfield Beach is asking its residents, its businesses, and its non-uniformed employees to make a great financial sacrifice in this time when our economy is set for a double-dip recession, so the City can basically build parks in District 3 and 4, while spending all the grant money intended for use by low/moderate income individuals and families on road repair in District 2.  (It should be mentioned that the 2010 Census shows that Deerfield Beach District 2 has the highest concentration of low/moderate income individuals and families.)


That brings me to the point of this post.


I recently heard a rumor that the City just issued promotions, complete with pay raises, to certain management personnel.   


Am I the only one that thinks this is:


1. Disrespectful to the residents, businesses, and employees that the City is forcing to make sacrifices for the shared benefit of the City?  


2. Why is the City's management and upper management having it's pockets padded, while the rest of us are asked to suffer!


3. Where is the financial restraint on behalf of the City?  Where is the sacrifice from the City of Deerfield Beach Mayor, Commissioners, Upper Management, and Management?  


If Burgess Hanson and the City Commission truly believe that our City is operating under financial constraints, why is that not reflected in its recruiting, hiring, and departmental practices for management and upper management, as well as its capital project expenditures.  Why should the residents, businesses, and employees be the only one made to suffer.  If "we" have to survive with less, why is the City trying to thrive with more.  


That more is more spending and more taking...

Why is it that the Mayor, Commissioners, and Management are not "Paying their Fair Share"?

After summarizing just a couple of events in recent CODB history, I think it would be safe to say that the City of Deerfield Beach's City Manager is the Anti-Robin Hood, robbing from the City's lower and middle classes while giving to the Management Class.  So, I guess that would make the Mayor and Commissioners his Merry Band of Thieves.


BTW,



Have you noticed a change in the level of services you receive from the City?  They have fired the employees that service the residents and businesses and are overworking the ones that survived, all the while hiring paying more the employees that devise the plans to screw the residents, businesses, and employees.  


Now, that ain't fair!!!