Town-Crier Newspaper June 29, 2012

Page 1

ROBERT SNOWBALL WINS LGWCD VOTE SEE STORY, PAGE 3

PBC FIRE-RESCUE FACING FUNDING WOES SEE STORY, PAGE 7

THE

TOWN - CR IER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

Your Community Newspaper

INSIDE

Wellington Hires Attorney To ‘Analyze’ Equestrian Village

Volume 33, Number 26 June 29 - July 5, 2012

WELLINGTON ROTARY CLUB GALA

A decision to hire an independent law firm to analyze issues relating to the Equestrian Village project divided the Wellington Village Council this week. In a 3-2 vote, council members voted to contract with Claudio Riedi of the law firm Tew Cardenas LLP to do an independent analysis of the processes surrounding the approval of Equestrian Village. Page 3

Campers Enjoy Horse Tales Literacy Project

The Horse Tales Literacy Project gave children the opportunity to watch books come to life with a summer camp event held Friday, June 22 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. After reading Walter Farley books Little Black, A Pony or The Black Stallion, campers got a chance to watch demonstrations on horseback. Page 5

Council: Hosting Games An Exciting Prospect, But More Info Needed

Wellington officials Tuesday made efforts to dispel the impression by some that they are not supportive of the community’s bid to host the World Equestrian Games in 2018. Page 7

Hospital Honors Its Graduating Residents

Wellington Regional Medical Center held its residency graduation Wednesday, June 20 at the Breakers West Country Club. Page 12

OPINION Be Safe This Fourth Of July... Leave Fireworks To The Professionals

While the Fourth of July is a time for fun and festivities, it’s also an occasion ripe for accidents. Because of this, we recommend leaving fireworks to the pros. Not only is it physically and legally the safer option, but it’s free. And on the Fourth of July, nothing says freedom like a free party, such as those offered in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS ............................. 3 - 13 OPINION .................................4 CRIME NEWS .........................6 NEWS BRIEFS........................ 8 SCHOOLS ............................ 14 PEOPLE ........................ 16 - 17 COLUMNS .................... 25 - 26 BUSINESS .................... 27 - 29 ENTERTAINMENT .................31 SCHOOLS SHOWCASE . 32 - 33 SPORTS ........................ 37 - 39 CALENDAR ................... 40 - 41 CLASSIFIEDS ................ 44 - 48 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

The Wellington Rotary Club installed its new board of directors at a gala held Friday, June 22 at the Wanderers Club. David Unversaw was installed as president of the club along with the new board. Shown here are Karen Hardin and Dr. Carmine Priore with Randy Pfeiffer, winner of the prestigious Frank T. Gladney Award. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 PHOTO BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Council Drops Idea To Ban People On Medians By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council unanimously rejected an ordinance Tuesday that would have barred anyone from standing in local medians except when crossing the street. Billed as a way to keep streets safer, the measure would have prevented people from walking along the median to advertise goods or solicit cash from motorists. Those violating the ordinance could have been slapped with a $500 fine or 60 days in jail. But about 50 residents came out to oppose the measure, urging council members to create an exception for firefighters, who often collect money for charities such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Councilman John Greene asked what prompted the ordinance, wondering whether it was due to panhandlers. “Is there some spe-

cific incident that prompted this?” he asked. “What is driving this ordinance?” Deputy Village Manager John Bonde explained that though panhandling is a concern, the bigger concern is for public safety. “We’ve also seen children in the intersections,” he said, noting that sometimes the children are associated with local sports teams. Bonde told council members that having pedestrians in the median poses a safety hazard but that the ordinance would not impede free speech. “We believe this strikes a balance between public safety and the public’s right to free speech,” he said. “We believe this will provide us with safety. We’re going to make every attempt to make sure that First Amendment rights are not infringed upon.” Mayor Bob Margolis noted that safety has often been a concern with local fundraisers.

“Time and time again, I’ve noticed kids in the median, or walking in between cars holding up their signs,” he said. “It’s a really dangerous situation. I think this is the crux of the ordinance — taking children out of harm’s way.” Margolis noted that the ordinance would not prohibit fundraising from the sidewalks. “Any of those teams or associations can still do what they have done before,” he said. “They just have to do it on the sidewalk.” Bonde noted that without an ordinance, it is difficult for members of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to enforce anything. But Councilman Matt Willhite was concerned that the penalties were too severe, especially for teenagers. “If a 14- or 15-year-old is out there advertising a carwash, and he steps into the road, a deputy See MEDIANS, page 20

Alternate IG Funding Scheme Raises Eyebrows In Royal Palm By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council agreed last week to consider a request by Palm Beach County that the village agree to give a “voluntary grant” to help finance the county’s Office of the Inspector General. The grant, which has been requested of county municipalities not participating in a lawsuit against the county that challenges the inspector general’s funding method, would be in lieu of the money called for in the county ordinance, according to Village Manager Ray Liggins, who reported on the request at the council’s June 21 meeting. Liggins said the village had received a letter and the proposed agreement from County Commission Chairwoman Shelley Vana asking that Royal Palm Beach send the money in the form of a grant, so it would bypass the office of

Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock. Bock has taken the position that until the multi-party lawsuit is settled, she will escrow all municipal money and not release it to the inspector general. This has caused a serious funding shortfall in the corruption-fighting office. “We have done everything we are obligated to do under the rules and regulations of the ordinance,” Liggins said. “As you know, the clerk is holding the money until the lawsuit is settled, and I think this draft agreement is a way of dealing with those funds. Unless one of the council members wants to place this on the agenda for discussion, it does not require administrative action.” Mayor Matty Mattioli said he had spoken to Bock, who agreed that the village does not have to comply with the request. “My position is that we were

one of the cities that did not sue the county, that this is a double taxation,” Mattioli said. “Insomuch as we supported it, and [I] suggest that we continue to support it, the money part of it, the county will have to straighten it out.” Vice Mayor Fred Pinto said the village is fulfilling its obligation by sending payments to the county to finance the inspector general and that he is not happy that the clerk is holding that money in escrow. “I have a problem with that,” he said. “We’re sending out the check. I want it to go where it’s supposed to go.” However, Pinto said he thought the county’s proposed agreement is unclear about the money being held by the clerk and what would happen when it is released. Liggins said he had read the agreement and talked it over with both the village attorney and the county attorney, and they did not See GRANT, page 20

Serving Palms West Since 1980

Plans For New PBSC Campus Get First OK By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach State College received preliminary approval Tuesday from the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council for a land-use change that will enable the college to build its fifth campus on 75 acres of the 96.7-acre Simon property at the northwest corner of B Road and Southern Blvd. The council also approved an amendment that will allow approximately 100,000 square feet of lowdensity commercial use on the remaining 21.7 acres of the Simon property. Councilman Jim Rockett expressed concern about the lack of control the town has over the college project, which is controlled by state regulations with input and recommendations from local governmental entities. Town Planner Jim Fleischmann said that under the amendment, which was developed with input from the town’s Planning & Zoning Board, the college would develop a master plan and submit it to the town for review before submission to the Florida Department of Education. Fleischmann read from the amendment, which states that the college shall allow the town to participate and have input in preparation in each of the five-year updates to the campus master plan before it’s submitted to the DOE. “It’s staff’s opinion that that language meets the intent of the rec-

ommendations of the Planning & Zoning Board, and gives specific direction to the college on how and when the town will have the opportunity to participate in the master planning process,” Fleischmann said. Rockett said he was uncomfortable with the town only giving input and recommendations. “Words like ‘the opportunity to review’ don’t sound like you’re an equal at the table,” he said. “It sounds more like you are looking and raise a concern, but that’s the end of it if nobody at the table wants to take that further. At what point does the town give up its right to alter what goes on that property?” Attorney Bill Perry, representing the college, said the transmittal of the amendment to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, formerly the Department of Community Affairs, is opening the window for input from other governmental entities and citizens. “It’s not a final action this evening,” Perry said, explaining that the town will be able to comment during the review process. Perry said the purpose of the amendment is to provide enabling language in the town’s comp plan. “There will be at least two other public hearings where you get an opportunity to see the master plan and see what the college would look like,” he said. Palm Beach State College PresiSee CAMPUS, page 20

AMERICAN LEGION

American Legion Chris Reyka Memorial Post 390 installed new officers at its meeting Thursday, June 21 at Palm Beach FireRescue Station 30 in Wellington. Shown here, the new officers are sworn in by 11th District Commander Richard Smith. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 12 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Acreage Meeting Will Discuss New Livestock Rules By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach County planners will attend a joint meeting of the Acreage Landowners’ Association and Indian Trail Improvement District at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 9 at the district office to explain the benefits of a newly drafted livestock ordinance. The ordinance, which will go before the Palm Beach County Commission sometime this summer, received criticism from several Acreage residents, as well as members of the ITID Board of Supervisors, after it went before the Land Development Regulation

Advisory Board earlier this month. That board recommended postponing the ordinance by an 11-3 vote. Palm Beach County Planning Director Rebecca Caldwell said the draft ordinance would provide protection to property owners in the rural and exurban tiers keeping livestock who would otherwise be subject to citations. “Currently there are provisions for livestock only when it’s bona fide agricultural or for horses or hobby breeders now,” Caldwell told the Town-Crier on Wednesday. “Horses can be private staSee LIVESTOCK, page 7

Wenham Signs On With Wellington Preservation Coalition By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report With a history of service dating back long before Wellington’s incorporation, former Mayor Tom Wenham hopes to continue to play a role in shaping the community’s future. After retiring last month from his position with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, Wenham now embarks on a new career as executive director of the Wellington Preservation Coalition, an organization dedicated to preserving Wellington’s way of life. The organization will be making its debut at Wellington’s Fourth of July celebration next week, where residents can learn more. “I’m a firm believer that every-

body has to give something back to the country and the community that they live in,” Wenham told the Town-Crier Wednesday. In 1953, Wenham gave back to his country serving in the U.S. Air Force in the Korean War. He and his wife of almost 60 years, Regis, married before Wenham enlisted. The couple later moved to Wellington, and in 1986 Wenham got involved with what was then the Acme Improvement District, Wellington’s pre-incorporation government. “I was appointed to the Parks & Recreation Committee,” he recalled. “I had the opportunity to give back to my community, so I did.” This began his more than two

decades of service in the community. In 1989, he was appointed as Utility Review Committee chairman, a position he held until 1994, when he was elected to the Acme Improvement District Board of Supervisors. Wenham was part of that board when Wellington incorporated in 1996, and he was elected to the inaugural Wellington Village Council that March. After being re-elected in 1998, he served two years as Wellington’s council-appointed mayor. “I was selected as mayor from 2000 to 2002,” he said. “During that time, we decided to change to an elected mayor.” Wenham ran for mayor in 2003 and won, forever memorializing See WENHAM, page 20

Tom Wenham in his new Wellington Preservation Coalition office. PHOTO BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.