HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Special Meeting_Tab 8_09/20/2018_VM 3�alrre �each �ail��lews$F��
August 5, 2018
'3re�k�9��rras raise c�laesti�rss about�ae�v �lagled��d•it��e
:;�s�a��lagler��i�a�norial�ridge
The chronic malfunctions of the new Flagler Memorial Bridge--mo�e than 20 uvithin its fi�st 11�nontns -
-raise a funclamental question�or increduious curnrn��ey�su����S�r`=����:':
"How is it possible that something brand new doesn't work?" she asked.
That is the precise mystery that has baffled the bridge's builders and designers for nearly a year.
While the maizunciions testeci the tempers oi cornmuters caught in repeatec�delays from�ugust 2J�.7
to 1une, behind the scenes they fueled consternation and friction among desperate engineers
scrambling afiter each breakdown to get the new$131.8 million drawbridge going again.
They recalibrated the settings on the rriotor an� machinery.�hey replaced blouvn circuit breaker-s arad
swapped out s�nritches that direct power.They added more lubrication to the gears and pinions that
move the 900-ton spans.
But each time they thought they fiinally found a fix, it seemed like the bridge built to last 75 years bPoke
dowra again days or weeks later.
Ev2n as they�Nere internally stymied, project officiais gave�he pu►�iic a�optimistoc mu't iess-thare-
complete picture of the problems,oifering empty reassurances that they were close to iinding a'fi::, a
Palrn Beach Post investigation found.
�n Iate�pril,all but admitting defeat,they reluctan'tiy sougi�t outsid�help. But after a $15,000
consultant issued a two-page me�no'that found no rnajQr mechanical problems,the bridge broke dow�
three more times.
As tempers among residents neared '°the boiling poont," a top state transportation officsal reached out
to the bridge contractor's f�lorth American preside�t,whosz internal inquiry resulted en finger-poi�ating
by a project+�ana�er,emails obtained by The Post show.
�he rscords ais�sf�o�v zngir��prs�aszsto°�2�tt���1�a�vb�6d'e's desibn and sr�ecusated that ti�eir
�,.;.��L�,��{;�ay±�o�ri��►r,alfunctions may have co�tributed to other breakdowns months later.
Although the bridae has worked fine since June 7--the longest malfiunctior�-free streak since ali eour
ianes opened luly 31,2017 --spott��records kept by�he cont�actor may have hindered efforts to�fi�c9�
solution much earlier, documents reveal.
And other emails show that many of the delays endured by the public were e;cacerbated because of the
failure of the primary contractor, PCL Civil C�ntractors,to quickly notify the town about malfunctions
and tests.
For commuters who tolerated five years of problem-plagued construction before the bridge fully
opened, it all played out like a cruel encore.
'°It's a pretty pathetic situation,'° groused Henry P. "Rip'° Mclntosh IV,a resident who described scenes of
angry motorists trapped behind the cross gates until police could unclog the mess by directing each car
to back out of the lanes one by one. "You°re talking about a hundred-rniilion-dollar bridge that breaks in
its first month in use and repea�ediy t'�erca�f'�c�.T�at's�esg:a��f:a'•"
Meanw�ile, PCL will not have to pay any fines or damages if there are no more maifunctions before the
company°s contract expires�Vlonday. In fact,the company appears to be in line for a favorable state
review,scoring 94 out of 104 points on a grading system.
And while The Post's review found 25 maifunctions since rhe oridg�o�ene�,oniy two prom,�ie�:� t��e
Florida Department of Transportation to reprimand PCL.
Compan�/officials declined to be interviewed,but issued this state�nent: "PCL is working closely with the
Florida Department of Transportation on rnechanicai issues that rnay have arisen on the Flagler
Memoriai Bric�ge,and we a�re cornmitted to delivering a quality bridge to the communit��."
Meanwhile,state and touvn offscials are crossing their fingers that t�e probiems have ended.
Unanswered questions
6Vo one cfisput�s the beau-ey of the raew bridge--a�s �/ledi�e�ra�nean-style t�s�d�r's��a��h, o�rnarn�n�a�
handrails and wide lanes offering postcard vievus of the Intracoastal Waterway. But i�hasn't uvon the
unanimous confidence of the people who re9y on it. Known as the north bridge, i�'s une�f��r22
connections between the town and West Palm.About 16,000 vehicle cross it ever��day.
i o get a better understa�ding of the bridge's operations and why it was breaking down, a reporter made
several requests over the spring and summe�for interviews with bridge bui�ders and a tour of the
bridge's internal mechanismse State o�ficials rejected the tou�,sayirtg the contracgor coratrolled the site.
The contractor, PCL,declined to provide access.
Instead, FDOT requested questions in writing,a fairly comrr�on tactic that allows officials to limi�t t�heir
answers,often with incornplet2 inforrnation.Answers were provided�y a project team -- corr�posed of
„ „
o�fi�cials wi�h the s�ate, co�tracto�s ar�c� engi�eers. S�rr�e��a�stio�s��v�r�n�v�e aa�s+�vee•e�,a��c�'s�
� +.. ° �r�i, `n<ra� P ��q GF� L••II.....,_ .�n� o tinn
SUY(�IGiilii�.S iv`Jo:�vv,....�.5 ..o...•f_5��!__G iG �ui�v,ry uw w•1..5......5.
For example,when asked why the n�w multimillion-dollar bridge was breaking down so often,the
project tearn referred a reg�orter to a malfunction log kept by bridge tenders working for a PCL
subcont�actor. But the log didn°t ofifer a clear answer to that question,an opinion echoed by FDO�
consultants who reviewed the log in late April and found it lacked key information.The iog also didn't
cite three malfunctions reported by town officials.
After months of back and forth over unanswered technical issues, FDOT allowed consulting engineer
6eoffrey Parker,the town of Palm Beach's liaison on the project,to speak to The Post. He maintained
that the string of malfunctions was an "unfortunate"series of issues that surfaced i�the bridge's fiirst 11
months.
"There was no one clear, defining reason,°' he said, adding that the drawbridge is made of'°thousands of
parts"that work in sync to raise the 900-ton spans. "There are things that do slip up.
,�
Parker also worked on the Royal Park Bridge, known by locals as the micldle bridge,which uses the sarne
°'rolling bascule"design as the Flagler bridge. Replaced in 2005 by Holland-based contractor Ballast
i�Jedham,the Royal Park Bridge had issues when it first opened, he said.
There might have been '°a handful of issues" in the Royal Park Bridge's first year,said�orr+�Bra�if���,
Palm Beach's town manager trom �015 until February.
"But not to the Qxtent of what they had on the Flagles�Memorial Bridge.bVhat�Nas experienced on the
Flagler Memorial Bridge was an aberration. It's outside the norm."
'A hallelujah day'
Henry Flagler,ti�e bridge's namesake, built an overseas railroad on 42 bridges across 128 rniles of water
in seven years from 19Q5 io 1912, according to the Flagler iVluseum.
Ic has taken nearly six year�s#or teams of subcontractors to rebuild the�9agler Merno�ial Bridge, wh�ch is
a little more than half a mile iong.
Work sta�ted in Sep�e�nber 2012 aft2r a d�bate ov��the dessor�; iov�n���icia9s vua�t�d�o�nalce sure the
�ridge,�hen priced at$94.2 milli��, reflected Palm Beach stanclar�s.
Plar�s called for replacing the u�eteriorating two-span drawbridge b�ilt in 1938 fo�$725,D00. It was
supposed to be a three-o/ear project.
But the town insisted on keeping the bridge open�nrhile the new one was buiit�e;ct to it.Vibrations fro�n
the construction led to problems on the existing bridge--from cracks in the aging foundation�o
set�tternent issues with support beams.That led to delays and partial shutdowns, sparking loud outcry
from residents. I�learly$10 rnillion was sperr�to repair thz bridge that was beina re�laced.
Finally,two fanes o�t�e nevv brid��opened in December 2016e Eight rno�ths ia�er,a19�ou��ianes
oper�ed, an event�rn�r�ced ny c�,rr�rr�u���s e��2��`.�i�i"�c�<<�+��r?.�::v naaryarna5�»i f�� iU��Jiuii��iV2
�/22f5.
"It is certainly a celebration of the srnooth movement of traffic once again, �Vlayor Gaii Coniglia sairJ at a
�o
ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 31. "It is a hallelujah day."The celebration didn't fast iong.
Like°a Swiss watch'
Bascule--a French word for"rocking"or"seesaw"--is the basis for a drawbridge design that has been
used for centuries.The Flagler iVlemorial Bridge is what's known as a rolling bascule bridge,an enhanced
design dating to the 189�s,that both pivots and �olls the base of each span lik2 a rocking horse.
The Flagler bridge has four spans,also known as leaves.These leaves are made of concrete and stee9.
Each one weighs 900 tons and measures 98 feet long by 44 feet wide.Two connect the eastbound lanes
and tvuo connect the westbound lanes,with each pair coming together roughiy in the�niddle to form�he
surface over which cars drive.
Raising and lowering the massive spans is an intricate engineering feat that's iost on most motoris��s as
they wait for the crossing gates to rise.They don't see the action beneath the bridge tender's boot'�,
where a vast network of machinery performs a delicate but complex dance.
"I liken it to a Swiss watch," Parker said. "It's a series of engineered moving parts,electrical, hydraulic
and mechanical,all integrated to move�ogether."
It ail starts when the traffic light turns red. Once the crossing gates drop,the bridge tender pushes a
button that releases pins from the front and back of each leaf--pins that lock down the spans while cars
and trucks are crossing.Also known as locks, each pin is a couple o�feet long,square-shaped--�oughly
the thickness of a loaf of bread --ancl fits into an interlocicing receiver on the end of the adjacent span.
V�Ihen the pins are released,a smail device called a limit switch"signals a green light on a control board
' the brid e tender's booth.The green light tells the bridge tender to press the next button,which
in g
triggers a 25-horsepower motor that sets the mammoth spans in slow motion.
At the center of this tech�ological marvel, beneath the tender°s booth, in a cavePn�us c�oom that no�+ses
the rn�chin�ry,are two circuiar wheels,one on each side of the span.The key'to the wheels are toothec�
edges called pinions,which roll along horizontal tracks that are spiked with matching teeth.The pir�iuP�s
cannect with and, in turn, roll a large half-moon shaped section on the underbase of'the span.
As the pinions roll,the bridge spans gently rise.
VVhen a bridge'walks°
To ctose the drawbridge,the entire process goes in reverse:The spans lower back down,the pins are
lock�d into p9ace and the crossing gates go up.
�.�3i��ie i�'s�e�it9�al fc��a'; a�th,�rnachi,nery to�Nork in precision,it's not unusual for there to oe
°�n{ir,itesimai ho�izontal rnovem�nt o�€the 5pan,s, t'�e ;�rojec�tea�n s�aoc�. °°i his is�xpect2ca anr� �Oricl�es�a
this typ�aut�rnaticaBii�recenrer �ilemselves•��cs is a tfirne-tesrec+desag�re•"
gu-��oo �na.ach rnovement--from the drawbridge's motor or outside saurces such as wi�d and hea�or
frorn a desigra flaw--can cause jams in the locks, preventing the leaves from opening or closing.
That's why the teeth on the gears and tracks must be designed with appropriate shape and tolerances
tight enough to control the side to side movement,called transverse movement,at the end of the leaf.
And the t4rque--the amount of rotational force exerted by the electric motor-- must be set properiy so
the pinions roll in precise alignment with one another. If not,one pinion on one of the tracks can slide
forvvard and the other can slide backward, an unintended �esult referred zo 4�y engineers as"�nralking."
If the bridge v+ralks, it can iead to all sorts of problems:The ends might not match �+p when the spans try
to o�pen or close and the locking pins might not engage.
���;,�r±rT�,F��r�� sens���s jnriq! r�c���+iz�uv�era the alignment is incorrect and in turr ref�se to procee�to
the next step of the bridge operation until the issue is acknowledged and rectified.
The refusal of the system to continue is an intended failsafe known as the safety interlock and e;cists in
the fundamental programming in the logic of the bridge.
This refusal to continu�wri#h th�opening is oftentimes termed as a �r�iiioe tYlalifJftr_tiC��3.
°'There a�e sorne issues that do tend to present themselves," Parker said.
But he also agreed that it isn't normai for a new multimillion-dollar drawba-idge to rnalfunction 25 times
within its first 11 months.
'These malfunctions are concerning'
"Yesterday,the new bridge rnalfunctioned again," Bradford,the town rnanager at the time, v+�rote A�ag.
24 in an ernail to FDOT, one of the first public records that mention a ;oroblem.
�u��9etails ab��st�nrhat happen2d ar2n°t clear--the purpose�f Bradford's err�aiB was to�oin�o�ag tha�
the�iri�,e te�der t�ad failed to alert the °olice Department, "per ap�roved protocal,"�n+�en the hr±�Je
opePatioras were restoreci.
The bridge bToke dovvr�again on the mo�r�ings o�Sep�. 6 and Sept. 15, accod dirag to °'�raffic aler�s"
;�osted ora the town°s website and on s�cial media.
None of�those first three br�akdowns is mentioned on PCL's�nal�urectioaa iog.
The first breakdown in the company's l�og vuas at 2:33 p.m. Sept. 21.The cause was 9isted o�ly as"8imit
switch."Operatians were�estoPed jus't a�i ter 3 p.�.
�nat�>>�as ooi���n�ci1 ��,��nalo�ncio���s o,a tr�e�rn�rnora;s af S�p�. 26 arac3 S���r. 27. Sa��a't4m�s a "tail lo�c�<" 3s�
one of�he sauthern spans Tailed to drive, preventing ihe spans from fufly closing.The bridge was shu�
down for an hou�each day.
The Sept. 27 malf�nction occurred on the same day bridge builders were holding their weekly meeting
to discuss the project's progress as they prepared to hand the bridge o�rer to FDOT.
Nlinutes from that meeting include a section called "Bridge tail lock issues& repeated malfunctions"--
one of the earliest public records mentioning FDOT concerns about accepting the bridge, "considering
the issues it is having,"from the contractor.
Santiago Zuleta, PCL's project manager, "agreed that these malfunctions are concerning,'° the minutes
show.
'Confident the issue wiil be rectified'
On Oct.4, Coniglio was on the phone voicing her concerns to Parke�,a senior engineer with FDOT
C��r�Sulkant 9�IeUv l��ille�+niUCn �n�ineeCi�g.
"Concerning the reliability of the bridge,you are absolutely correct:Tlaere is no reason why a brand new
bridge should be plagued with any issues regarding operation,'° Parker said the next day in an email to
Coniglio.
"We have determined uvhat the 'repeat offenders'are and the contra�tor has schQdulPd a number oi
field meetings to properly sort and correct these issues with finality.The department will not accept a
bridge that exhibits such behaviors."
A skeptical Coniglio shared the ernail with town officials,one of whom �forwarded it to the town
�ngineer with a request: "Can you find out what the reliability issues really are?"
While no maifunctions wer-e repo�-ted in October or Nove�nber,a commuter on Nov. 27 tweeted "New
Fiagler bridge stuck West bound"above a photo of the two west spans in the upright position.
Trip�ed circudt breake�-s p�eve��ed the southeast leaf from full��c9osi�g,once in December and twice ira
January,according to the lob, inclasdir�g a 90-minute delay during the afternoon rush Jan. 3.
"i"he issue has occurred a�pruxirna�eiy three iirnes�i�hi�the fas��no�+th and a ha9e," an �D�T
spokesperson iold ihe Daily 4�°ews or�Jan. 9. "As this is an �nter�niiten't issue, it is challengirag to pir�poin�.
We are confident the issue will be identified and �-ec�ti�fied soon."
Deputy chief's'grave displeasure'
On Feb. 20,the bridge was out more than 21/2 hours during the afternoon rush. But that wasn't
because of a malfunction, according to the log, "just extended closures while new settings were tested."
Those"new settings"woufd be suspected of factoring into future malfunctio�s.
�he n�xt dav,then-�e�uty Poiice Cnier;�n�-Marie�ayior ernaioerl�r�z corat�ra�c�ors a�U rDi3��o °°�::p�2ss
. . • � • • �-.--.
m��ar���?�i5�iiaagi_irA' an(�tiT hn�ni +_r+���5'ts�1Q i0�'Ce(3 �'Yi0'CUriS�i���i0 Sii iii ii`�iiiC, LB�I�ittil.L�J9c1f IIV IVY afi
extended �eriod of time.°°
"b1/hy would calibration (rnair�tenance} be scheduled during rush hovr trafric?Why wouldn't you noti�y
the police department in advance or at least ask for input?Why didn't the bridge tender notify us this
1""_"' I.._-1 i_ 4,.__L.._.� a.4.. L.I:..at......... -. ..l..I..�.... �-+L.�. L...'.J....'1�� ..L...
4VC1�UI.l.U11�11C. IdlilCl 4VC IIaW lU IICOI II V111 lllC �.JUUIII.111GIC: VVd.�u EJIVU11.111 [1�U1�. vilU,Sc.: .,�1�
asked."'HOA�128�1Z8�On Feb. 22, Scott Ryder of American Engineering Group, a PCL subcontractor,
emailed an apology. "Our intent was to have the testing completed long before rush hour began," he
said.
The next day, the bridge broke down again for 20 minutes.The culprit?A bridge tender's error,the PCL
iog said. FDOT sent an email to the contractor,demanding they use"only experienced bridge tenders."
By the end of February,the bridge had broken down 12 times in seven months, public records show. Sut
some of the most frustrating delays were yet to come.
"ti�I�AAA,w�T??"Coni�fio�vrate to Parlcer on March 25 after what the FD�JT callAd "an electrical issue"
prevented the southeast leaf from properly closing twice in the same day, causing delays of nearly faur
- hou�s.
°'Gentlemen. Please. it is now a serious long-standing problem built at a cost of 125 million dollars and
completed less than 9 months ago,"she �vrote after the second malfunction.
The bridge had malfuncfiioned seven times in two weeks in March prompting�nore ar�gry emails from
the mayor, including this one on Nlarch 27:
"Noiy Smoke.....AGAIfV???!!!
„Tvuice??at i i
"What are we going to do?"
Faulty switch?
Par�Cer rzplie�with ar�other apology and said, "O�ar saving grace is that the actual design engineer vuas
her�checici�g out tha ma{functions of yesterday."A�tached�o the email vvas a g�ainy photograph of the
L�ridge's 9nner machinery: "For now,though,the position of this guy"--a limit switch--"seems to be a
great interest.'°
But the design engineer's presence that day app�rently didn't soive the�roblems. On the night of IVlarch
30, the bridge broke down twice again--at 8:30 for 90 minutes and at 11:22 for a little more than an
hour--because of more issues with the span locfcs.
"Oh my heavens! It lust Doesn't Stop," Coniglio wrote in an erriail to Courtney Drurnmond,the FDOi's
chief engineer.
�es�Oera�e�or answe�s,engin���s w���3��-�d w�,�-��ar s�rne c�a`��he @a��es��r��d�rns rnight h�ve been
rai�gari in na�'i'Ca�/� i<`fUili!iiPfl'ii 5�'ViiCil ii ai'v"J2S t;52u uu7'i�i� �`.�E 2Gj�S��^^�^±`�"Y'Zu�e��"�a�. Z�.
�--
"�+le believe that the ... lirnit switch may not ha��e been triggering consistently while we were fane-tsani�g
the systern on F2bruary�0, rnasking the effects of our adjustments," according to minutes from a d�sign
rneeting.
Engineers adjusted the torque and the timing of the machinery back to the original settings and
swapped out the limit switch--changes that seemed to work for a while.
But just after the start of the afternoon rush o�April 11,the northeast spa�failed to close p�ope�-ly,
shutting down the bridge for nearly 90 minutes.
°'According to reports from the site,the northeast leaf is misa�igned transversely to the norzh,"
potentially the result of th2 adjustments made on Feb. 20, according to an email from Mike Sileno, a
principal engineer for Hardesty& Hanover,which designed the bridge.
'�l`i�?1r�r�1�r iS 9ar�(Iy'1¢�Y�iPP"FfSP�
t' t' ' o '-
That malfunction, the 20th in the eight months since the bridge's four lanes opened, instiiled a�ew
sense of urgency in project officials.
"I think we a!I need to come together as a group and find a permanent solution to what is taking place
{bridge�aifun�tiansj. `�Ve all s ode th2 limit svritch reason as a possibii+ty for a����ile onl��to ha�e
nothing come of it," Parker�n+rote in an email April 12 to FDOT officials.
"If what I arn hearing is correct and the inherent'walking' of the bridge is the issue,then we�eed to find
ou-r why this bridge has an intolerance to such movement ancl how we deal with it for the next 50-75
years,"he uvrote.
"While I'm not typically an advoca�te of my next suggestion, I thinlc scrutiny from an outside engineer ancl
certainl��central office expertise rnay be of benefit here."
The emaii also pointed out that PCL's contract with FDOT was ending May 8, "so w�have to act quickly.'°
Sardinas agreed that"DOT proper is lacking expertise to help you an this matter." Parker reached o�t to
Thomas P,ndres, FUOT's assistant state structures desi�n engineer,about a plan ta gathe��xp�rts"to
come up with a best course of action and to discuss�he clesign."
°'For obvious s�easons,'° Parker added, °'I think experts outside of those who have already 9�o!<ed at ar�d
�ouched this bridge would �e best to take an imparfial iook at all of the�acds.°'
FDOT tap�?ed the engineering firm V�lSP,formerlv Parsons Brincl<erhoff.
On April 20,fo�sr days before WSP's site visit,the bridge broke down for 73 minutes because of�hz same
essu2 with the leaf.That prornpted another filurry of complaints from angry commuters, inc9udirag�h9s
or�e:
� �. � �, i_t�_ n__ �.,.. + �
���,.:.. a�-sr�i��1 �.i�s�ut�r�NRo ;t�i;���,�1 no�nrn�uir�a na�rQr'r_i�i, .r�2!�r��;�5 i��ea�Sr��ii�u uC a �C�fiCaia iauJ v�ra
oi�.s ca u�.rzrav e �,a_. o r� i -
�ighway structures," reside�t Jim Reidy wrote to the to�m.
'E�odi�g public trust'
Reidy's email was forwarded to David Sadler, director of FDOT's office of construction in Tallahassee.
Sadler passed the complaint on to Shaun Yancey, head of PCL Construction Enterprise's iVorth American
division.
"I'm writing to ask you if you are aware ofi the mechanica! malfunctions that have been plaguing the
Flagler iVlemorial replacement bridge and if so what can be done to�-emedy the matter?These
malfunctions are significantly impacting public users of the bridge(as indicated in the attached)and
eroding public trust in the bridge,"Sadier said in the April 23 email to Yancey.
Yancey replied two hours later, "This is the�irst I have heard of this issue" and promised to look into it.
His query produced a dialogue with top state officials and a response from Zuleta, PCL's project
rnanager, who seemed to place blame on an unnamed state engineering consultant:
"These malfunctions started to occur after the (bridge's engineer of record, Hardesty& hanover) and
the system's subcontractor(Electro Hydraulic�l/lachinery)adjusted the control settings to comply with a
request/preference from the owner's engi�eer. �rior�o these recent co�tro! setting adjustments�e�id
not have a malfunction ofi the bridge for over'two months."
However, PCL's own log lists a malfunction on 1an. 31,just three weeks before those settings were
adjusted on Feb. 20.
Zuleta added that the "team is working diligently to resolve"the problems and had "sig�ificantly
reduced the frequency of these events.°'
Vancey forwarded Zuleta's email to Sadler and apologized for the inconvenience this issue is causing
e e�ublic af Palm Beach,You have our commitrnent�o continue to work this problem until it is
th ,
resoB>>ed."
'Probiem may be with operators'
With three 4115P engineers watching�rom the control room in the briclge tender's booth, the brid;e
worked#ine during the firm's April 24 site visit.Although the eraginee�s reported no major probler�s,
they noted that an "alarm rnonitoring system reflected a host of errors ra�ging from oii tem�era-tu�-es co
lock malfunctions,°'V'USP supervising engineer Todd Mitchell wrote in a two-page memo.
"During the visit,a PCL fiorernan informed WSP that it a�peared certain operational issues occurred
when the bridge tender attempted to proceed to the next step withou�t waiting for the completion of
the previous actioro," iVlitchell wrote. But such actions, he said, "should e�o't aff�ct th2 perfor�rnance ot
�he �r�doe or cause mal�a�rec�iocas.i s1er2 snoa��c��e a se�92s Qf s�f�t�f Ar,t�r9��!<s t��at;�re�len�the og�era�or
��
-.l�i��.�'o:lL:u(''.v L'i !iiL�9�C�rii�Si��..�.
a`i vi i� c�+� o
The�eport also criticizec! PCL's reco�d i<eeping,noting that the c�onta actor°s iog didn't detail specific
causes of each "malfunction oe what bridge operation or alarm preceded the rnalfunction.The list was
also iacking details on how the bridge operation was resume������=?�� maffunction."WSP also didn't
knovv"if all malfunctions are being reported."
After the WSP site visit,the bridge malfunctioned at leas� four�nore times si�r�ing A�ril 27,when it
went down at 4:01 p.m.for more than an hour because of whd� ��i� log des�.r����as a "weather event."
l�lthough strong thunderstorms did hit the area that clay,the notes from a iV1ay 2 bridge desi�n meeting,
under a section called'°Malfunction on 04/27/18," offer a different explanation:
"Department has a concern with all the adjustments to numerous overrides uvhen rnalfuractioras have
��d�,����.,���-,�t�,�����;r�;�,�-ggg��! ��;i�as�c Ionger aa�licabae,"��'1Q'iY13�U�2S s3?/� oPaint bei��: Br�dg�
tenders are ove�-riding logic controls to seat the bridge that should not be able'to b�overridclen. ...The
pro6lem may be a problem with operators.'°
If operator error was a significant factor in the bridge's many breakdowns,the project team rlownpiayed
that notion.
bUhen asked by The Post,they blamed the operator just once--a 21-minute delay on Feb. 23.They afsa
said that none of the malfunctions listed in the iog were exacerba��ec�by ir�expe�ience�bridge t�nders.
PCL picked the company, ISS Facility Services,that employs the Flagler bridge tencfers.
When the state takes ownership of the bridge, !SS uvill continue providing bridge tend�rs, �3��
spokeswoman Barbara Kelleher said.
'iVot a pleasant situation'
�� Ulay�,after th2 ma;�or said fr�stcations arnor�g�to��vn r�esi�9en�s h�d reac�e�9 a "�oili��?�oir�t➢" �ar�cer
appeared beforz the Town Councit to explain the chronec breakdowns.
He intro�'a�Led himself as °'the engineer with a very humbled and she2pmsh i��oa<Q� ;�as`race.'°
"It is som�+�hat em6arrassing�f�at we've given yoc�a landmark bridge arac�i��t�esn"t operate a�nore �hara
� �couple weeks at a time thus Tar wi�thout sornething taking piace,°'he said,addir��that he understood
the public°s frustration: "I've seen the faces of people making turnarounds on the bridge and it's not a
pieasant situation at all,"
�-!e said inspectors �ourad n�misalignment problems or issues with the bridge's machis�ery. P,nd !�e
defen�Jed the bascuie bridge as ha�ring a "dependable design.°'
,,:�r��ar,�re���e�s�s ago,°° he said,„i�was a Lridoz tender riogging a ��am of Pnuies�a�o an�a�ara� �u9!
u' o �'�..rh�-�nnor��'�ros rh�yi;'�r�i.0 n
i�. '�Raeo�..� . ..i.._ .�,o....
"Do we possibly need that?"Coniglio quipped.
Parker,a native of London,used a British idiom as he continued his explanation: "Now we have motors
and sensors and generators.Although it's the same kettle of fish, it's a different kettle of fish and we just
need to get that kettle of fish boiling correctl�."
Parker told the Town Council that engineers were focusing on "the controls and the operations,which is
as simple as the softvuare that runs the bridge and...the people who run that softrn�are."
He said PCL and the DOT would make sure"through repeated training, if necessary,that the bridge
tenders know ho�nr to operate the bridge properly."
yps ansuv��s didn't�ff�r much so}ace to the Totivn Coun�il.
"1t is a bit daunting not to !<now when likely this thing is going to be fixed, since al9 of this seems to be
within your power to correct by basic training measures or replacement of softwa�e or v�rhat have you,"
Councilrnan Lew Crampton said.
Park�r re�iia�J, "! .�von't r�st�ntil th�t�s�id,e arts and fub�ctions as it sh�ul�.There is no reason wh�a
brand-new bridge should be exhibiting these types of symptoms."
The bridge malfunctioned three more times since that meeting,the last on June 7 when a faulty r�lay
switch prevented the southeast leaf from lifting at 7:25 p.m.,causing a near9y t�vo-hour delay.
Ever since,the bridge has opened and closed without delay.
Perfect score on traffic maintenance
On �Vlonday, PCL is expected to hand the bridge off to the state, officially ending its involvemen�with
�h�so;:-�,��a�p�ojeci.?�nd�he�om;pa�a�,�is in lan�to score 94 ou�of 104 possoble poi�ts on th� �DOT°s
Contract�or's Past Performance Rating,a nine-category system that factors into a company°s chances or
winning state c�niracts.
PCL scored a zero o�at of four�oossible�oi�ts in a eategory about the use of subcontractors ov�rned by
minori�ty��d women,
It scored four out of 10 possible�aints on a category about coordinating and cooperating with
"construction engineering personnel, �roperty owners arad�atility companies."
The com�any got perfect scores on al! other categories,includirag 12 out of 12 0� "Proper IVlaintenance
of T�affic� Minimize Impacts to the Tra��eling Public."
An FDOT s�o�ceswornan did not resbond ro requ�s�s o�r corn��n�t a��a�t w�at��h�siat�bav����hsgh
, c �_ c_....,,.,... �.,.:� �+b,a��hrCy��vll��m��fi';�rrt;�norl n},rar its fir�t 11
t�^�:"::S :r,� :t��.N tt�ffi���ii�i�A�r��tn���n�ii.2 uii a v�� � ��� ..��
months.
�4ow, ins��ead of pointing them at the state and the c�ntractor,��own officials are crossing their firogLrs
that the bridge will vvork fine for the next 75 years.
"There was some frustration expressed, but I think we have moved past that, knock on wood,"Taylor,
now the town's acting police chief,said in an interview.
"It's a fantastic bridge,"she added, "when it's fully operational."
Still,for some commuters,the damage from its dismal debut has been dane.
"It's always in the back of your mind as you are about to cross the bridge--am I going to make it over or
not?"Zenko said. "It interferes with your life in that way."
--jcapozzi@ pbpost.com
$�.08.6 million--Construction contract with PCL Civsl Contractors, up from $94.2 million
$13.6 million -- Engineering and inspection contract uvith New Millennium Engineering
$9.4 million--Repairs by Archer VVestern in 2013 on old bridge settle�nent issues
$227,826--Services by Parsons Brinckerhoff
$15,296-- Inspection and report of bridge malfunctions by U/SP(formerly Parsons Brinckerhoff}
$�.31.8 million--Total cost
Palrra �eazh �aily syesys�F�.j
March 24, 2018
Edition: Final
Seetion:A Section
Page:4A
;���s�s�9�iCs o�c���r ao�mer�nar�age�
Author: V�1iNiam Ke/1y Daily News Staff Writer
Article Text:
The Town Council unanimousl��approved on Tuesday a severance agreement granting pay and benefits
worth$63,046 to former Town Manager�'om�rad#ord.
In exchange, �radford vvill sign confidentiality, nondisc�osur�a�d �a�ndis�araaemer�t agreements wat�
the town.
The agreement provides 15 weeks of base pa�/and benefits,as well as continued health insurance untii
Bradford is eligible for Medicare in April 2019.
The agreemeni is in addition to the 20 vyeeks'severance pay and benefits,worgh$86,5b0, to which
Bradford already is entitled under his 2(314 employment agrzement with the town,That agreement did
s�ot�equire 8�adfor+�to sign confidentiality,�ondisclosure and nondisparagement agreements to
s-eceive severance pay.
Ba�adford left the job 1�st�nor�th afte�22 years with the towra, the last three as town manager. He was
succee�ed �,y Kirk �loa�in,
Br�df�rd's de�arture came after the council in December decided not to rereew his contract, citing
diffierences over ieadership ofi the town. Sradford's salary v++as$202,878.
Palm Beach 7aily iV�v+rs���.)
March 20, 2018
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
����lf�r� �*.�y g��tas�9s�as� b�r�e��s
Author: VVilliam Kelly Daily illews Staff f�irite�
Article Text:
The To�rn Council may grant severance pay and benefits to former Town iVlanager�orr4
�o•adfor�d loeyond what it already has approved under his 2014 ernployment agr2ement.
i he council,at today°s meeting, is expectecl to decide whether to approve a package giving Bradfo�d 15
weelcs of base pay and benefits,worth $63,04&,and co�tis�u�d health i�surance uniii he is 65 years old
and eligible zor Medicare in Aprii 2019.
That would be beyond the 2�weeks'base pay anc��ene�fi�s,worth $86,56�, to which 8raclford a�ready ss
e�titlecl under his em�loyment contract.
The additional severance is being offered ir� exchange for Bradford's willingness to sign non
dis�arabpm���, nor�disc�osvr2��r�c�nfi��en�i�l's�+j agresrnpn,�s�,Nith�he���!ur�,acc�rdino�o Town
Attorney John itandolph.
Bradford left the job last month afte�22 years with the town,the last three as town manager.T9�e
council decide�in Decernae�not ta renevu his contract,citi�g ieadership differenc�s. His salary was
$�02,878.
!n an intervievv, Bradford said some council members had wanted him to sign a general release of any
legal claims,a confidentiality agreement an�a non disparagement agreemen't against any�own
ei-nployees and elected officials.Although such agreem�nts are standard for a departing executive,they
were not require�for hirn to receive severa�ce pay under his emp9oyment agreeme�t.
°'f felt it was too m�sch to ask me,so I said I will abide by the ex'ssting contract,'° Bradford said.
� .. � �. � �_..,._ � ,�_ • �
1 no rn�in�i� i'ill9 7�CQ�nIP11 Tf�j F�_.fa!'1Y(ilff7 11Y1 rail, i�i i�'SP rr.-�� ii3rif n����i�[�ieJf��C%f�r:ii�.].
Ti1e next c1ay, B��a�lforrl said, he learned that some council members wzre will�ng to offer more pay and
benefits if he would sign the agreements. Ne agreed.
"Some persons on the council had offered to sweeten the pot,so to speak," Bradford said. "This offer is
such that it's kind of hard to refuse it."
The confidentiality pertains to past events,he said. "There are certain strategies and things that are not
public record that we may have developed as a team."
�"he genePal release presents no problem because,"I have never had any potenLial claims I wouid ha�ie
to follow �p against the town,so that is something I am perfectly willing to do, in regard to the past," he
said.
The a,r2�ment�vas ne�otiated b�r To�vn Att�rnev Margar�t C��per uvith assistance frorr coun�i!
President Richard Kleid, Kleid said. "The town felt it was an important thing,'° Kleid said.
Asked why the non disparagement,confidentiaiity and general release matters weren't required under
severance terms of the 2014 employment agreement, Kleid said, "I don't think they got that far."
Su�he indicated that co�nci! a�prov�i of t�e additional sey�rarace is riut�:ertair��. "i'rn co�ifiilznt there
will foe lots of conversation," he said.
Bradford said he may atterad today's meeting,which begins at 9:30 a.m. in councii chambers at Town
Hall.
�alm 8�ach Daily News�r�.j
February 26, 2018
Edition: Fina�
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
Coat�ting costs still big priority
An initiat�v�to;,��t c�st; rFinains�r�the tablP; b+�t the touvn staFF is retool+ng its�r�Yr,roach under new
Town Vlanager Kirk Blouin.
A Town Council meeting that was scheduled for Friday on the Comprehensive Review of Town
Operations was canceled.A March 5 meeting on the operations review is still scheduled for 1 p.m. at
Town Hall.
Former Town Manager�'vm �radford and his leadership team reieased the review Jan. 31.The
document➢which was requested by the council,contains recommendations for$4.8 million in
"sustainable" budget savings, mostly through spending cuts but also with new service fees and fee
increases.
Blouin,who became town manager on Feb. 13, said =riday he's been meeting claily with Deputy Town
i�✓lanager Jay Boodheshwar,department heads and other staff inembers in the past two weeks.
"We went into fine detail about what this means to the community, not just reduction of cost but the
cQmmuns�j's expectations," Blo�ain said. "There are things in there that, in m�,/opinion,the communit�,�
would never go For."
Workforce reductions will be explored as part of a management restructuring plan 6louin said h�will
�le`�elop in the months ahead. For now, he has requested a freeze on all new hires, except in special
circumstances.
"Layoffs is not my goal," Blouin said. "Our;oal is to be a leaner,more efficient government and at the
same time protect our employees. Sometienes those (goals)don't rnatch up, but I think we can do it."
The suggestions in the review document are being divided into three categories: items recommended by
staff; items that require a poiicy decision by the councii --such as fee or rate increases or converting all
timed parking spots to paid par!<ing;and items the staff recommends not be impiemented.
At the same fiime, ideas arQ taeing�dde�9� �louin saicl.
dVlore discussions are planned and information needs to be gathered, he said. "This is really an ongoing
�rocess--�laily, manthiy and�,�early.Some of the items on there were not ful1��cleveloped."
�ale-n 8each Daily�l�ws(��.)
January 22,2018
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
Ex�emplo_vee takes s�snension to agpeals cour�
Author:Matt Morgan Daily News Staff Ul/riter
Arti cl e Text:
A former Palm Beach employee is going to an appellate court to fight a decision by the Town Council to
uphold his three-day suspension late last year.
Aiien Powery, a former right of way inspector who worked for the town for 17 years,was suspended and
later fired after his bosses said he was neglecting his duties.
West Palm Beach attorney Sid Garcia,who represents Pawery, is asking the court to overturn the
councii's decision,saying there wasn't sufficient evidence that Powery�Nasn't doing his job and because
Garcia was barred from speaking in front of the cour�cil at a hearing.The petition+Nas filed Jan. 10 in the
4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach.
an additio�t�asking that the sus�ension be�e��erse�i, PowePy is sezing�ac�c pa��a��d attor�e��'s fe�s to
be paid by the town.
Public 1�lorks Director Paul Brazil said at the �!ovember hearing that Powery ignored his supervisor
Patricia Strayer's commands, incfuding directly r2fusing in front of other employees.
"Fie°s go't an attitude toward [Strayer] anrl cloesr�'t carnrnunicate very well," Brazi9 said of Powery. "...
He's been given warning after warning. He's been give�written directives.°'
But the complaint says Powery never received an order specifically to patro9 the town and to take over
rhe inspection of the right of way. Strayer only requested that he do so,the complaint says.
The court filing asks a judbz onl�,�to overturn the council's �^uling to u�hold th�saaspension -- �ot�o g�t
Po+�very his joo�ack.
�owcry also pBaras tc�appeal his rermination, (out thai is a separaie issue and wiBl �e heard ai a la�e��daie,
Garcia said.Town i+�lanager?'�Qr� �r��ia�+•�declir�ed cc►mmsnt o�the matter.
�alm Beach �aily iV�vvs�F�.)
February 4, 2018
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
�9��+wa�s�� �:a�ss��ar+�e;��sfi
Author: William Kelly Daily News Staff Writer
Article Te;ct:
The stage has�een set for Public Safety Director Kirk Blo�ain to become town manager as of the Feb. 13
Town Council rneeting.
Touvn officials said Blouin is expected to succeed Totr� 8rad€ard as town manager on Feb. 13, when
8louin's new management contract and Bradford's severance agreement would both be on the agenda
for council approval.
3ut council President Richard Kleid,who has been negotiating the agreements with Siouin and Bradford
on behalf af the council, said Saturday that the contracts still needed to L�e signed by 8radforri and
Blouin before being brought before the council.
°':4ssurnAn;both of these are a�proved,there�A�ill ne a changing of the guard �-i;ht then," K9eid sai�,
referring to the meeting.
Bradford is expected to attend the meeting,and Mayor Gail Coniglio said she will present him with a
pla�ue recognizing his service to the tawn.
The council apoointed Biouira in January after deciding a rnonth earlier not t� �-e�aev� 3racl�o�d's�on'tract,
citing leadership differenceso
Blouin joined the town in 1989 as a patroB officer and climbed the ranks to become police chief i� 2(309
and �ublic safez��director in 2011.
BracJfoPd has been tovxn rnanager since lanuary 2015, when he succeeded Peter El��veii. Berose tha��e
was de�u�t�j tow�rna�ager for�eariy 1�years a�d assisrant �own rnanag�r�or oiv�y�a�s.
--wkeil���.� pbdailynews.com
Blouin joined the town in 1989 as a patrol afficer and clirnbed the �anlcs�o becorne poiice ch��f�n 2�Q9
and public safety director in 2011.
�aBm �each Daily�l�yvs(FL9
lanuary 10, 2018
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
�I��,�iti�raamed town manager o,�3-2 u�t�
Blouii� �amed town�raanager
Author: Wil/iam Ketly Daily IVews Staff Writer
Article Text:
A divided Town Council on Tuesday named Public Safety Director Kirk Blouin to succeed 3sarra
�radr��ci as town manager.
Members Julie Araskog, Bobbie Lindsay and Ulargaret Zeidman said Blouin has demonstrated strong
leadership abilities. Blouin rose through the ranks, being promoted from sergeant to major and public
safety director during his 29 years with the town.
�ouncil President Richard Kleid and Councilwoman Danielie iVloore dissented in the 3-2 vote,caliing ora
the council to publicly vet Blouin and two other candidates, Public Warks Director Paul Brazil and
�ep�at��Tot!vn iVl�anager Jay�oo��eshvvar,at a f�ture �neeting before raarning the town's ne;;t chie�
executive.They said their objection wasn°t aimed at Biouon.
Sut the m�jority�nernbers said the��yvere prepared to make a decision Tuesda�/and th�t it+lvas
irnportant to move swiftly,given the rr7any challen�es facing the tovvn. °°We have a iot of pots boiling an
the stove,"Zeidman said.
A national search would be complicated,time-consuming and cost money without necessarilv yieldirag
the best result, Lindsay said.
The best app�'oach, she said, is to iook internally at candidates who k�eow the communiLy,especialiy
"when��o�+'ve got someone highly qualified and vuho has raised their hand. .,, I speak of Ki�-!c Blouin. ...
He has d�monstrated strong leadership. He's�right. He°s capabie.°'
�ir,tiyf�'��iG;iiJiiii.i ii2i ii yvii� tl i3<<c������e±erntil �{tP�t�►e caur�ci9 reaches�e�rns and a datz for Sradford°S
d�pa�ture from the job.
Last month the cauncil decic�ed to launch a national sea�ch for a successor to 3radford afiter a majori�y
said it wanted a new direction in leadership.
But it would take until around August to complete a nationa! search and have a new manager under
contract, Bradford said.
Zeidman, Lindsay and Araskog said they had all spoken with Blouin and Boodheshwar about their
interest in the position, but not with Brazil because they were unawar�until Monday evening or
Tuesday morning that he was int�rested.The towa� �naa�ager's�ositioea has ra�ot been postecl,so no
applications had been received, according to the Human Resources Department.The council members'
knowledge of the interested employees was through word of mouth.
Mayor distressed
Mayor Gail Coniglio said the council wasn't being fully transparent.
"I have concerns this is done publicly with public involvement, public discussion, and not simply
{through) behind-closed doors conversations,"Coniglio said.The council should be"reviewing resumes,
assessing qualifications... what has happened today is�rery distressful to me."
Moore said Brazil, Blouin and Boodheshwar should all be vetted--as weil as any other internal
candidate who might emerge.
"A decision rnade today would be one made in haste and one without a full, open iransparent
discussion," Moore said.
'tNe need to move forward'
At the beginning of the discussion, Moore said, "multiple people have told me they heard that multiple
cou�csl peo�ie had al�eady�nade a decision,ared�old me r�o€�o bother to speak today,"
But l.indsay said it's the council's responsibility to select ihe town �naraager,not the public°s. °°I dora°t
have a prQbiem vvi�th pubii�veiting,"s�e sai�. "i just don't kr�ow�ha�it is ��cL�sary.°`
Li�dsay said there was no public vetting of candidates three years ago when the coun�cil name�l Bratlford
ts�succee�J Peter Elwell. "There was simply a vote... (and)there(had°oeen)a lot of private meetin�s."
Lindsay also said she was leaving tawn in the ne;ct few days for a iong-planned ove�seas trip ar�d tha#she
would not be willing to cancel if a special council meeting was scheduled.
Zeidman and As-askog both said they,too, did not want to see candidates foP town manager publicly
ds�terviewed b��the council.
°'�his sounds like it's going to get 2xtrernei��poaitica�,"sairl��askog,vuho en�at�2�'rae rr►�ii�ora io 0o a��ad
v�� r�?r(iA n;f�iiij'i i�]%i'��i}�J��_�
"I am concerned it does become a circus," Zeidman said of public vetting, "I do think it does bec�me a
whirlwind of activity and opinior, ... ir is our responsibility to step up�o the piate. .., I think we need to
move forward."
� Transition plan
The council also told Blouin and Town Attorney John Randolph to meet with Bradford to work out a
transition plan that will address whether Bradford might remain on as a consultant,oe-in some other
role,to help deal with big projects such as the tovvn wide burial of overhead utilities or the
comprehensive review of town operations.
Kleid,with Randolph attending the meeting as scribner,also is negotiating terrris of B�-adford's
departure. Bradford's contract, previously approved by the council, calls for 20 weeks of severance pay.
A?I �f the neg�t9at�d a,reements cflme ba�k to the cour�ci! for its ap�roval.
Bradford is among a large group of candidates who have applied for the post of director of the Planning,
Zoning and 8uilding Department, according to the Human Resources Department.
Director lahn Page is retiring and his last day is Friday.
Palrxi 8each �aily I�ews(�L)
f�lovember 7, 2017
Edition: Final
Section:A Sectian
Page: ].A
;v_aer,����+Q���?��8n�1��5 Sd15ia��"t5Ad3�'3
Author: W�ltiam Kelly Daily News Staff Writer
Article Te;ct:
Public cnm�laints�ver cc�nstruction�rphirles clogging resider�ti�l streets reached surh a �sitch this��ear
that the Town Council told Town Manager��o��r ��adrob•�:that fir�ding a solution would be one of his top
five goals for 2017-18.
Issuing and enforcing permits design2d to keep the public ri�hts of vvay open and safe is chiefly th2
responsibility of the Pubiic Works Department, its director, Paul Brazil,tolcl a Town Council committee
Monday.
That the problem landed on 8radford°s desk was an incJication�ha�,in this i�stance,t9�e Public Works
Department wasn't getting its job done, Brazi!said. "It was embarrassing. (Town Engineerj Patrici�
(Strayer}and 8 brainstormed a(�oaar�nrhatever we could cJo to solve the pe-obieen.'°
The problem boil2d down rnostly to a lack of field inspection and enfiorcerr�ent, Brazil said.The righ�tiy
staffed deparcment is�eeiing up rignt-or-way permitting and enforcement by cor�veriing a vacar�t par't-
time posf to full time.
But Brazil �old the co�ncil's Administrative and Persoa�nel Committee ihat a big pa�t o�the problem was
Allen Power�/--a former full-time right-of-�nray ansp�ctor�nrhom E�azil said severely r�eg9ected his du�ties.
Last summer, Brazil suspended Powery for three days v+rithout�ay for his alleged failure to do his job
properly and fo��ei�g insubordinate to Strayer-- charges Povuery denies. Powen�returned to work but
was later fired after 17 years as a town employee.
Powery aopealed#he suspension --but not the termination--to the pzrsonnel committee, made up o�
Chairrna� Richard i<lei�9 a�nd rnern�e�J�li�A�askoo,i ne panel can r��onlrnencl that t?��cou�cil uA'raoid,
reverse or re�e�ce the c�is�iplonary action.
Powery co�sistently tailed to inspect the streets to rnonitor job-sate ar�d tra�Ffic conditions,enfar�e
permit rules and vurite citations when necessary, Brazil said. Ne s��eglected processing right-of-�nray
applications that one lay dormant for nearly six months before Brazil found out about it and got the
permit issued in 24 hours, said attorney Ulargaret Cooper,who is representing the town against Powery.
Powery's lawye�,Sid Garcia,of West Palrn Beach, said that, unti! the suspensiora, Pouvery was never
disciplined in roughly 17 years as a town employee.After Strayer became his supervisor in 2015,she
assigned�vorlc previously pe�-forrred b�r others above his rank, and which went beyorad his job
description,Garcia said.
t owery has one year of college education, Garcia said. "He had a new engineer delegating tasks that
should have been handled b��her or someone else with greater administrative skills and ma�,�be a be�t�a-
educa�ior�a� t�a��gro�a�ici."
N�added that"the town has a problem with the amount of construction and the(related}traffic."
Por,very's additional tasks amounted to paperwork that took up 30 to 40 percent of his time,Garcia
contended.
Powery was never insubordinate, Garcia said. "He is a total gentleman. Fie is not in any vuay iouca ur
belligerent."
Strayer told Powery over a long period of time that he needecl to get out and inspect the isiand daily�ut
"he's got an attitude toward her and doesn't communicate very well," Brazil said. '° ... He's been giver
warning after warning. He's been given written directives." Brazil said Powery told him he could do the
inspections by driving the'tw�o nor�th-south roads in the iVorth End and fooking down the east-wes�
streets to make sure they were clear of obstructions.
°'There°s just so much wrong vuith that, it's unbelievable," Brazil said. "If you don't drive the roads, on a
�aia�/�as�s,���ou c�n°t t�la if you have a,�ro�l2a-n.Y�ou h+ave t�get out an�wa�!<aroaarad th�site��d�agure
out w�o is where,look at dashboards (for street parkir��placards)and co�ant heac�s.°'
Brazil tolcl Strayer to docua�nent Powery's job performance. Strayer investigatec! Powery b��usir+g GPS to
track the rnovernents of the town-�wnecl vehi�le that hz�lrove during the U��or!<day,
i�e C�PS s�owed Powery making frequent stops at Publix ora the is8and an�1 at CityPlace, and at two
other stores, Brazil said. "That's not what he shou�d be doing in a town vehicle.°°
i�one instance, the GPS tracker shovued Powery°s work vehicle at Publix around 4 p.m. Brazil s�id he
observed Powery leaving the Public�Norks offices on Okeechobee Boulevard at the en�1 of the wo�kday
sn�ith shopping bags in his hands.
"� Sc3iC�� ��tll�rs you�roc�ry sr�o�pi�g�"," �2 S31C,��i�eS��i�i�ifl 8�i30�'c��i��di+zPl ��t��a 'y/2S�'�it��8 c`l. '�80>' �a�f
*y.;a *;:;�a�;c^_�;,5 9•,.'1���.
��
The touvn calied 3razil and S��rayer to testify Monday. Stra��er��vill resume under cross-exarrr�r�ati�n a�
8:;0 a.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at Tow� Hall.The tovun has four rno�-e witnesses to ca61,
a�cl6arcia said �e�vili call �ap to five witnesses on Powery's behalf.
Palm Beach�aily News(��)
October 6, 2017
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
y��,5�1V� �,t�d�e��aa�ses bti+�ane uote
Author: �/illiam Ke11y�aily News Staff Writer
Article Text:
The fate of an$80.5 million tow�n budget came down to a single vote.
After a tense, at-times contentious public hearing that lasted more than tha-ee hours,the Town Council
v4ted 3-2 Wednesday to adopt a spending plan for the year that begins Oct. 1. It°s$3.7 rnillion higher
than last year's.
CQuncil members Julie Araskog ar�d Bobbie Lindsay dissentecl,calling for spe�ding cuts and saying they
couid not support the budget in its current form.
"We have to change the culture here," Lindsay said. "People just simply don't�nderstand the pickle we
are in."
The piclde is a$5.�million ar�nual pa�rment the�ouncil has committec�to rnake,startie�� in z017-18,ta
pay down a long-term, multi-million dollar shortfall in the town's pension pVan.Although ti�e money 9s
covered ira the new budget,the couracil and staff m�st figure out where it will came from in future years,
tlirou�h 2032,when it`s�opetl the pension plan uvill be fully funded.
The budget includes a 3.3 percent increase in pr�perty ta;ces,which uvas�ppro�ed on�se�arate 3-2
vote.again,Lindsay and Araskoj dissentec3,saying they could not support a tax increase without cutti�g
spencJing.
Araskog called for a temporary freeze on emplo��ee raises,uvhich average 5.5 percent. She suggested
limiting future raises,doi�g a rnarket study on cornpetitive pay and reviewing capital impr�va_m�nt
plans.
��I �nr��olr� likatn cpa��c a�t�In�n��y jn t�a�1irt an�aPt t�i5 I�i�t�uat ii�c�er C4�t�#P�i," Jat'�Sk4L S�it�.
C�uncil rnembers Maroas-et Zeidman ancl Danielle Moore said they,too,want�udget cuts, a�r1�ounci�
President Rici�ard Kleid also favored �eviewing employee pay and other expenses. 8ut the three said tha
town neec9s z�operating budget in the meantime.
"I think there is a Chicken Little approach here," Kleid said. "I don't think everything is dire. ... I don't
think we should be savaging accounts."
Councilwoman Danielle Moore said it's been three weeks since the council thanked employees for
working tirelessly to get the town back on its feet after Hurricane Irma. She asked Araskog if she wanted
to deny the employees raises that might amount to as little as$15 a paycheck.
'°I do�'t find freezing[their] pay to be fair, kind or honorable," Moore said.
Lindsay countered, "We recognize that our employees are exceptional, and we pay well."
Town Manager T�rn�ras��or�l said there is a "serious misunderstanding"on the council about
government accounting and budgeting. "You don't understand the�.nray it is done," he said.
Bradford made it clear he does not support freezing or trimming employee raises. "I'm not going to
allow employee pay and benefits to be political football the way it was in the last recession," he saicl. "If
y�u uvant m�t�dr,that,,. [you'll a�eed]three votes... I'm not o�iing io unilaterallt,�+:at tf�eir�a�,�vr their
benefits.°'
iVlayor Gail Coniglio and Kleid both said if the council wants to make the$5.4 million pension payment
each year, it's going to have to raise taxes.The longer it waits,the larger the tax hike. "Sooner o�late�,
�Ne a�-e going to have to pay the piper," Kleid said.
Before the votes,�aniglio told the councol it has a duty to adopt a ta;:rate and budget.
'°V1/hat is wrong with us?" she asked. "At the (Palm Beach County� League of Cities,they are laughing at
us.At some point,we have to be bio boys and big girls so our taxpa��ers kno��r we are responsible and we
a�-e doing our jon."
��.�lunicipa! �udgzt�an�tax s-atzs arz r�orrnaiiy approved at tuvo public hearings in Sept2r��er.This year,
Paim Beach's second hearing uvas,�escheduled '€o Oct.4 because of F�ur�icane Irma.
L�galBy, th2 cour�cil did not have��o adopt a budget and�ax ra#e Wednesc3a�f. lJ�scler�he Floroda
�epartrne�t of Revenue guidelines,the cauncil coulcl have recessed and readvertised the hea�ing and
helcJ �t within two to five days of the advertisement,Town Attorne��J�hn Randolph said.
But that would have created a headache for Tax Collector,�nne Gannon, who saicl ir�an is�terview
Wednesday tha�,without a certified tax rate�rom Palm Beach,ta::bills fQr the entire county�rould n�t
�e in the mai9 ur�til Nov. 27--four weeks after�he usuaf IVov. 1 mailin��ate. "Iz's al1 or none,°'Gannon
s��d,���cs9�'s�ag s#�t�T�al�s tha�pr�v�rat�e�fs��m �ertsfyinJ par��f�h�t�,: r�9Es.Th�t�Urr's ra�vJ ta:c ra��
is$3.20 per$1,OQ0 of iaxaAle value, 9owe�tha� iast y�ar's rate of$3.27 per$�.,OG�, �ut decaus�
property values have ir�cs-ease�, pra�nr��o.^r�ers�^r�th a h�mest�au� �x�mpti���a�,! �ay$�rn�re�2r$�
million of value.Those without the exemption,which is 65 percent of all properties in town,will pa;�an
average of$138 more per$1 million.
�alrn 3each�aily�lev�rs�FLj
April 23, 2017
Edition: Finai
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
�ias�a��r r2c�iyes to-t10 list, �evievy
Author: UYiUiam Kelly Daily 1Vews Staff Writer
Article Text:
Town Manager Tom Bradford has been given his marching orders for the year ahead.
Each year,staff suggests goals, and Mayor Gail Coniglio and each Town Council �rnember can i�dividually
add suggestions.The input is scored by council members into a top five and adopted by a majority vote.
Bradford has been town manager since January 2015. Last year he received strong marks from the
council and ma�ior for his performance during his first year as the town's top aclministraior, and he
received high ratings again for 2016. He was awarded a 2 percent raise in December, bringir�g his saiary
to$202,878.
O�n April 13,the council approved this year's list of five top priorities:
D�velop a 2017-18 general f�nd budget that does not re�uce ser�rice le�iels and is less than the l�ng-
term tinancial pian assumptions for the vear.
Develop a financing plan and initial assessment method for the town-wide underground utilities
�onversion,and hire an underground ufilities coordinator once the council authorizes construction.
Improv�err�orcement of r�l�s percaining to construction-r2lated parking and job-site traffic im�ac�ts.
Develap a master plan for the Town Docks, which are due for replacement in the next few years.
Develop a rnaster plan for a new recreation center.
B�-acJforcJ said the goafs are priorities, but"just because we have this top five cloesn't mean that's zhe
o�,Jy thing �Ne do throuoh�he ypar."
!o�perfarmance r�tir�gs
In December,Conlglio and each council member evaluated Bradf�rd's job perf4rrmance for 2016.At thai
time, Michael Pucillo held the seat n4w occupied by Julie Araskog,who was elzcted in the Fe6ruary
town election after Pucillo decidecl not to seek another term. Each elected official ranked Bradford on a
scale from 1 {poor)to 5 {excellent)across 10 categories, including professional skills, relations uvith
elected officials,fiscal rnanagement and supervision. Each category contained five subcategories.
Bradford also was ranked on his performance implementing last year's five top goals.Those were
initiating the utility undergrounding program;finding ways to develop and retain future leaders in the
public safety departments; maintaining coastal protection;completing the comprehensive plan update
with an eye towa�d West Palrn Beach growth impacts to the tovvn;and facilitating community
engagement in a new recreation center.
Ali of the officials consistently rated Bradford "above average"or"excellent"in multiple categories
across the board.
Coun�ilwoman Bobbie Lindsay vvas his tflughest critic, ratinm him a 3 for"average" in the fisca!
management category,and on his performance toward the undergrounding and comprehensive plan
goafs.
Lindsay gave Bradford the only 2,or"belo�nr average;" rating that he received on the goal of faciliiating
communi�y engagerrier�t on the recreation center. There should have I�een rnore transparency and
openness in the process,she wrote.
Council members also contributed v+rrittera comments (Coniglio vurote that her camrnents wer�given
verbally,so there is no wrirten record}. Lindsay called for rnore transparency on the budget and finances
and on the undergrounding initiative.She praised Bradford for his knowiedge o��he town and its issues,
and called him °'approachable,empathetic,a goocJ listener."
Council Pr2sident Richard Kleid lauded Bradford for his work zthic. °'`lou're a hard worker,judging from
your aFter-hours telephone calls and �ate nights,and weekend r�plies �o emails,'° Kieid uvrote.
Councilwt�man Danielle ivloore praised Bradford for his professional approach but cailed for"continuecl
improvement in pu�iic e�ducation." �Puciiio wrote that Bradfiord °'deals wirn citizens weli"s�ut could
improve at reoorting impor-�ant or developing issues to the council. Councilwoman iVlargare�t Zeidrnan
call�d fior improvement in Bradford's communications to the council a�out the budget and€ir�ances. "I
vvould!i!<2 to be iniorrned ofi areas�f fir�anc'sal ��v2�k�ess ea�-1y on,"she wrote.
Brac��ord's strengths�re°°hes facilit�f with vast a�nourtts of inf�rmateor and his cal�n and steady ma��aer,"
Zeidman�.nrrote.
Zeidman added: "I am concerned�he town manager's res�onsibilities are so exhaustive that adciin.g
responsibilit�es�night pro�ie t4 be u��m?naoeable.'°
• �alrn Beach �aily jJews(FL�
December 19, 2016
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
Co�,sncil eyei�i�excra rnoney
Author: W►11iam Kelty Daily lVews Staff Writzr
article Text:
T�wn officials are weighir�g their options before deciding how to spend an estimated$500,000 a year--
the town°s share of the 1-cent i�crease in the county sales tax.
A 10-year plan to bury all utility lines in Palm Beach and the repla�ement of the aging town docks we�e
hoth suggested as possible uses for the tax revenue during Tuesda�/'s Town Cauncil meeting.
"V�te�re unde�-no pressure to make a hard and fast+�ecision at this point,°' i�ayor Gail Coniglio sai�.
The council designated the town's Investment Advisory Comrriittee as the citizens° oversight commi�ttee
for the sales tax revenue.The oversight committee is required before the town can spend the mone;r,
�vhich�n�ill start rolling in during Februar},�or iYlarch,Town Manager�'�+t:a�rad��r�said.
!�'��ers in a Nov. 8 referendurn agreec3 to r��sP the sales�tax�ate�0 7 cents ner d�llar�from 6 cents.T�at
�nf�ll�enerate$2.7 bil[ion for infrastructure repais�s an� improvernents.The taice�ike takes eFfect 1an. 1
an�ends in 1�D years a�nless the $2.7 bellion is ge�aerated first,
Pairn 3each Count;�schoois get half the money,the county 3�percent, and its municipalities share 2�
pe�e�nt based on their res�ective populations.
�radfor�f n�ecomm2nded the money be devoted to the unde�g�ou�d utility conversion,slai�d io beoin
raext year and cost up to $90 million over 10 years. Property owners will be assessed to repay bonds to
fer�ance the project over 30 years. Bradfnrd said that applying the sales tax revenue would reduce a�ns�ai
assessrnents by about 10 perc�nt.
Co��cilrnan r ichard e:I2ii�581� UT1Cf2d'oi'i�iJ�3f�l�ia vv�u9d b2 t�is f6rs�c'raoac�.
�ui Ca�ni;oio ancl����rciltivor�ian ea�t�ie �ir�r3say su,ges�e�;�o�e r�����y co€;I�o�o �����;�f� P�''�3419,t�I�1J i�3�
tc�vun docks, Lindsay said the dQcks project is ur�derf�snded.
The docks�Nill have to be replaced in the next six to nine years at a cost of about$10 million,the town
has said.As of Sept.30, $3.1 million was set aside in a dock replacement fund. In 2017,the fund is
expected to accrue an additional $364,000.
Once the council decides how the tax money is to be spent,it can change its mind and redirect the funds
at any point, Bradford said.
��irn Beach�aily i�9eyvs���-j
October 11, 2016
Edition:Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
���izia9s�hank to�nrn employrees
Author: V�/itliam Kelly Draily News Staff Writer
Article Text: lo ees for the
Mayor Gail Coniglio and Town Council members on Monday heaped praise on town emp Y
aital role they played ir protecting residents and property from Hurricane Matthew.
lauded town emp�oYees aiter Conigtio1extended her thanks to�veryone from
Audience members app employees who
the senior leadership team down to the"boots on thlce rO�he streets and�stormedrains clear of debr+s.
safeguarded properties and public works crews who p
"Every emploYee in here--stand up and take a bow,
" Coniglio said during the council meeting,which
d the same day construction crews returned to their job sites in ToWn Saublic fa�li iesWeopened
occurre Beaches and p
Residents and emploYees began rolling back into town on FridaY• Uickl returned to normal.
on Saturclay and police checkpoints ended over the weekend as things q Y
FpL ha�
r�stored power to virtuaiiy ev�rY�cust°m�►"�n�OWn bv Sur�day evening,�o�n �a�ager T^�!''•
�sa�d��rd said. reci�ti��e,,,
"The level of orbanization anc3 work--it was�2ally wonde��ful for the town and we're ver�/app
�auncil przsident iVlichae9 Pucillo said. �p�.m.the
"I ¢ot a!ot of calls from peo�le who couldln't beiieve how be sa�w trucks r�ol�nIg n f omYFPL...the trees
morning after, Councilwoman Bo b bie L i n d s a y s a i d. P e o P
, almost before daybreak.
„
were picked vp
ected the CategorV 4 s�orm to skirt the Pa1m
s ow� o�ficials had braced for the worst as forecasters e�P a The storrn rernained far enough of�shore
Seach Couni�/coast on Thursday evening and Friday morninb.
that winc�s
a� pa�m gaach�e�naor�e�!�laser to tropical storrn force--still s�tro�g enough to knock do�nr�
�.�,-r,o r ees ar�d t�ke�o�t power to tt��Qntire iVor�n End north of�llells�oar1,a��an isfl�ated�ac�c2ts
�.,.,._ -�
eYsewhere.
Caur�
cilwornan Danielle f�loore said residents don't see all the work that goes on behind the scenes.
Moore also remarked on how the storm effort brought the community together. "1 want ta thank
(Human Resources Director) Danielle Ofson and (Councilwoman) �Vlaggie Zeidman for making
sandwiches for the public works and public safety employees, making sure those people on the streets
vvere fed and cared for."
p�lrr��eac�'�aily i�ews(��-�
lune 30,2016
Edition:Final
Section:A Section
page:3A
�own�udg�.�s,spected to increase nsx�y�a'
p,uthor:Aleese�Copf�aiiy+V2vti�5t�a;��'N�iter
p,i-ticle Text: residents wil�have to wait until next week to find
The town budget for 2016-17 w���be Di ector gane Struder.
out how m
uch,according to Finan et documents for
finalizing nurnbers and ihe to"�;��2 miliion1ease bu g
embers are iilion.
She said staff m �h�s budget vear's general fund is about �
2016-17 on 1u�Y 5. et will be about$181.5 m
ca itai projects,internal service,pension and
�8ra��Qr'�sa��last week that the�entire�t�'^���°U �
Town Manager TQ debt sery
That includes funds for general operation,
�� 'told m��be�s°f the Greater South Cou�tV�Oad
trust and recreation,
„ �etty big budget for a town of this size, he
That°s a P at i he 8reakers. �ar.
�ssociation at a rneeting FridaY
neneral furad�udget,`^rhich sets the tax rate far t e V
The��w��ou�1�il meets Juiy
12��discesss the,, �� S�ad gradford,
•aht tax decrease due to the increased va�ues in the���'� �
we're runnir�5 a slob eara
„As of today, �-o eo-ty values this y rew g•g
sneaking of Palm Beach's climb in p P
• r�s O{fice 2stimates the taxable va�l�u��2 own S abte o lo`N�r
Property ApPrajSe �ated luly 1 re�o
according to the up ��, $3.�8�e�$1,t�00 of�axable
The Palm Beach Counfi/ ear's tax rate is roug /
�e�cent to $15.9 billi�on firom��15-16, -�his y
the rate because o{capt�res more tax revenue.
value•
Palr�a Beach �aily i�ews��L)
January 15,Z016
Edition: Finai
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
�e�Uvea rnaa�ager ge�:s s�rong�apor�car�;
Author: Vliilliam Kelly Daily Mews Staff i�/riter
Article Text:
Torn�n Manager 3'ocn�rad�orc�earned strong evaluation marlcs from Mayor Gail �oniglio and the Town
Council for his performance d�rino his first year ora the job.
Bradford requested and was unanimously granted a 2 percent raise,vunich brought his salary to
$198,900.
Coniglio and the five council members each numerically rated Sradford in 10 categories.The �esufts
were tabulated into an av�rage for each category,and ar�overall perfarmance scare,which was 4.39 o�t
of 5.0.
°`To�n has a broad level of experience and a perspective,vvith his long history with t�e town,�that
er��bled hern to hit the gro�arad runnsn�,'° Cor�i;lio said Friday, '°He also has an open vvAllingness to hear
sug;estions and comments that all�uvs him to continue ro gs-o�,�.°'
B,�t category, Bradford's average ranged from 4.17 for professional sksils to 4.57 for relatio�s with
citizens,and 4.57 for relations with elect�d offi�ials.
in�ividually, �radford's scores ranged frorn 3.66 frorn Councilwoman t�anielle PJloo�e to a near-peri�ect
�+,98 from outgoing Councilwoman Penny Townsend.
Bradford became town manager in lanuary,when he replaced Peter Elwell,who left to become
manager of Brattleboro,Vt. Before that, Bradford was deputy town manager in Palm Beach for about 10
years,assistant tovvn manager for five years and village manage�-of Tequesta before joining the iown in
LU�t7.
�s the town's chief administrator, Sradford aresides over a$72 rniilior�bucl�et and some 3�5
employees.
The initiative to bury all utilities towra wide,coastal manaoement,and t�e budoet dominated his first
year, ne said.
"At first, it was like a tsunami wave," Bradford said. "The demands on your time are kind of eye-opening.
Then I got acclimated and started to realize what I needed to do and houv to do it."
Bradford's objectives foe-the coming year are expected to be adopted by the council in March.
' �alrn 8each �aily m��ws���L)
July 19, Z015
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 3A
,:��a�e�il consitleqs$��i� �uei�e�.�ake
Author: William Kel1y Dai(y Mews Staff Writer
Article Text:
The Tovun Council is considering a �71.3 miflion operating budget for the year that begins Oct. 1--a $4
milliora jump over this year's spending plan.
A big�chunk of the spendino increase is for coastal protection.The budget cal9s for a $7.4 million trans�er
from the operating budget into the Coastal Management Fund.That's an increase of nearly$2.5 milfion
above the long-term coastal protection financing plan adopted in 2013.
Other ia�creases include an additional $800,000 to meet the cost of employee pensions, iargely because
of a di�in returns on market investments is� 2Q14.
The budget calls tor creating 3.5 new ernployee positions,which vuould bring the workforce to 365
�.vor,<ers.
�'he new�os6tions are a human resources analyst to spe2d�p recruitir�g to fill vaca�at positions;a zo�ir�g
techni�iars to help with building plan revieuvs;an engineeri�g specialist to�ssis�w�th�ermitting
requirernents and othee tasks in tk�e Rublic V1lorks Departmeht;ancl converting a Public Works
rnechanic's position from part-time to fuil-tim�.
At Thursday's council meeting focusing on the new budget proposal,council President Michael �ucilio
said he discussed the new positions with the staff and is convinced they a�•e neecled.
Budget cuts over the last seven years sharply reduced town personnel f�om its 2007 peak of 415. But
o�ficials said the levei of government services has not been cu�t, v��hich has crea��ed rnore work for the
current ernployees.
C��St�!funr���hortfal�
M�ch of the a-neeting focuse�d on a $980,Ot�0�udget shor�fall dn coastal f�nds b�caus2 of a rzductio� in
�e�nr coastal assistancz expected from Palrn Beach County.Towra i�lanager��ra��r•a��f.i�a said the t�w�
learn�d of the shortfal!on bVednesday.
The council decided to cover$880,000 of it through property taxes and toid Bradford to cover the
remaining$100,000 through budget cuts.
Councilman Robert Wildrick dissented in the 4-1 decision, saying the council could have found rnore
than $100,000 in savings to make up more of the shortfall.
The county recentl��said it could use tourism developrnent funds to reimburse the town for 20 percent
of the$16.9 million cost of an upcoming sand fill at Reach 7.That amounted to nearly$3.5 million to
help pay for the project, scheduled for next winter along roughiy 2 rniles of coast between Sloan's Curve
and R.G. Kreusler Park.
But Bradford said the county has told the town it�vill oniy reimburse i�for the portion of beach
accessible to the public.That,following state guidelines, is defined as a half-mile in each direction from
the public access points to the beach, Public Works Director Pau! Brazil said.
In the cas2 of Reach 7,that means 78 percent of the beach is eligible for the county assistance, reducing
the amount af county assistance to$2.4 miiiion, Bradford said.
The council discussed covering the$980,000 by clippi�g into generaf fiu�d reser��es o�-froi� s�rplus fu�cls
outside the general fund. But Pucillo said that would be unwise.
Last year, the town dipped into reserves for$b.5 million to cover coastal protection costs, Pucillo noted.
The new budget has about$19 million i�genera!rund reseeves--$3 million above the$16 rnillion
mandated to be set aside for emeroencies.
"Fiscal conservatism is,you've got to have reserves when you are on barrier isiand,°° he said. '°I would
lil<e to s2e us have more than$19 million because of the Atlantic O�cean and hurricanes vve might face.
These are not huge reserves."
Final appro�ral of the budget and prope�ty tax rate is scheduler3 for two public hearings ira ihe council
chambers at 5:01 p.rn. Sept. 10 and 22.
--wkellyC7 pb�lailynews,com
The town's proposed 2015-16 operatin;budget calls for setting the propert��tax rate at$3.34 per
$1,OQQ of taxable value.
That would be a 1.96 percent reduction Trom the current rate of$3.41 of taxable value. But beeause of a
�,7�percant increase in property values in �he town, prope��iy tax revenue vvould increase fr�m $43.4
rr9!9i��tc� $�;��,v�,��1Ss�s�.
�s��:i�r��� ic��nr�U r�i-�,���r�;�e�i����vs����N'szrr � h�rri�sQe��i e;.Ln���;;ci�� dv��au�s ���/s��vt�w�c�.;��a:�s� ���� ��
million of�raperty val�e,town officials said. About 40 percent of propert��owners in the touvn have the
exemptios�.
_ __
Property tax revenues traditionally acco�nt for about two-thirds of all money coming into the operating
budget.
about 18 percent of al! property taxes paid in the fown go to the touun government.The remainder goes
to Palm Beach County,the school district, and other local taxing districts.
town proposes cutting property tax rate
Palm Bea�h Daily�lewrs(�L�
March 27,2015
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
�r��fo�•t9 c���l9r�es�is��ap�d u�r•i�i�s
�e�n��'o�nrn wiar�a��e 3 om �3r�d�€�rd dms��asses�op �Pa�ratias
Author: William Kelly Dally News Staff V�lriter
Article Text:
Burying utilities,rehabilitating groins on town beaches and renovating Town Hal! Square are all at the
top of the tawn°s to-do list, new Town i�lanager':'�m 3�adiorci said V�lednesday.
Bradford spent an hour talking about his priorities as town manager. 6radfiord assurned the reins in
lanuary,+rvhen Peter Elweil left the post to become city rnanager of Sra�tleboro,Vt. 6radford�Nas deputy
town manage�since 2005.
about 25 people attended the informal "coffee and conversation°°at the Palm Beach Civic Association's
conference room in the Paramount building.
Most of the questions were about b�ar��ing power, cable televisior�and �hone lirees,
�'he town +nas estirriat�d tne cos�a�u�to$�5 million over ai�out 10 y�ars.Tne sooner it begins,the less
the�inal construc��ion cos�will be, �radford said.T9�ere is r�o star�date se��.
The council and many residents have said they�var�t utilities buriecl tow�arn�ic�e'to improve safety,
reiia�ility and aesthetics.A fe�v�eighborhooc3s airear]y have convertecl t9�eir�tiiities, or�lara ro do so,
rnrith admis�istrati�re assistance firom the towra.
The'town �lans to do the co�version in phases. It would fi�anc�the project through bonds,ancl
property owners would pay through a line item oro their nropert�,/-tax bills, Bradford said.
Property o�.��ers uvill need to grant front-yard easements for the new systern to be installed, he sa�de
�urrent o+rerd�ead uti�ities use rear-��ard zasernents.
Onc�the underground s��stem is in place,the utili�ies wi�l �e res�o�sible for rriain�tenarace, he said.
The iown is receiving letters from residents interested in serving on an underground utilities task force.
The Town Council has said it would like people with relevant e;cpertise to advise the town in all matters
associated with utility burial except for decisions about the financing,which the council will handle.
Bradford said with such a large and complicated project there are likely to be unanticipated logistical
challenges that will need to be resoived,and the task force will advise on those.The council is expectzd
to appoirtt the panel in April,and it will meet in public on an as-needed basis.
8each groins
Some of Wednesday's discussion focused on the town's plans to rehabilitate dozens of derelict g�oins on
the beach between the Lake Worth Inlet and Sloan's Curve.
The town has set aside$2 million to$5 million to do the project over a period of perhaps 10 years. But
the cost estirnate is$19 million and the council will have to decide how to pay for the difFerence,
Bradford said.
Not all of the groins will be rehabilitated. Some wili be removed, he said.
The groins need to be repaired or replaced because they are hazardous and no longer effective a�t
trapping and holdi�g sande
Town Hall Square
The First phase of the�f4wn Hall Square renovation began in Jara�ary and is scheduled to be corr�plete i�a
1uly. It involves restoring the Addison fvfizner-designed Memorial Fountain.
Phase 2 involves improt✓�ments in the r�st or i�lemorial Park and r�ew s�de�Nalks and shacle traes ai�n�
the storefronts on both sides of South Count}r Road in rhe nnro-�lock area arouncl Town Haff. It coulcl
s��art'sn ��cern�e�r or i�a i�.�lay 2Q1o,�vl�en se�.�iPr res6�fents a�e in to+�r�.
The total �roject cost could top$3 rnilli4n.
T9�e council has said that$1 miilion 6r��rivate mor�ev must b2 ra�sed by July 1 to kee� Phase 2 o�a trac�c.
Resident Bill Sone has agreed to raise the money. So far,th�Garden Club os Palsn Beach has pleclbec�
$I0�,000, and the Civic Assoceation$10,0�0.
�alm Beach �aily�l�e�s(F�)
November 14, Z014
Edition: Final
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
��arl�m+d �le�at�s� t��s�a�ra� rr,aa�ag�r
��d�r�ca8 p�•ar�o�es Br�df�r¢a t� ��;�wr, ��ar��g���
Author: William Kelly Da►1y IVevvs Staff Writer
Article Text:
The Town Council unanimously voted Thursday to name�'�rn�r��fi�r� as successor to Tovun Manager
Peter Elwell when EIwe11 reti�es on Jan. 9.
8radford has been deputy�own rnanager#or nearly 10 years and was assistant town snanager for abou#
five years before that. He was the town's acting town manag�r for a fevv rrionths��a �000 after 8ob
Doney left for health reasons. He was the village man�ager of Tequesta for 14;rears bef�rz joining the
town's senior management�earn i�Z000.
Elwell announced Oct. 24 that he is leaving after 14 years as town manager to become town manager of
Brat�leboro,Vt., his hometown. Council rnembers and iVlayor Gail Coniglio said they prefer-red namin;
El�.�vell°s repla�emerat�ro�n vvithir�, instead o�f conc9uc�ing� �iatio�vvic�e s�arch.
The council and Coniglio said thev want Bradford to name Recreation Director Jay Boodheshwar to fill
the post of d�puty town manager, Bradford said he intends to da so.
Coni;lio calle�l�or Bra�Bford and Boodhesh�n�ar to iead tfae town as a '°dy�aamic tearn ... in t�e interest of
continuity and to benefit from their hands-on knov�rledge of the town."
Council President Robert Vliilclrick said he spoke with rnost members of the to�Nn's senior sta#f about the
leadership change, and all of them asked that BracJford be considered for the post,for continuity and
because he is trusted. "That's a pretty gPeat endorsernent," Wildrick said.
�a-ac�foTv t�lr��h2 coa���if i�+n�iil ��a�a ho�or and ��i�r;�2o���52e o>�aS t�'li2�UW�i�S�S�YYlitli�trat�ve�;�i��.
:`3 °.Nr�.gl't�f(349�35 �u7��(3t3L'f! � `Nc7P�{E�s"�fOU� 3i1C1��f��1.6 �J1�Dfl�...�:'I'12 Sc�IC]. `�� �289�V�If�if2c�LlYlo p�o��e�n�ecn
f�6rness and dignit��. I have always sought to be truthful with all of the people I work with,and I �lan�o
continue to do that."
Bradford praised the town°s senior management staff. "This team was able to survive through the Great
Recession and reduce expenditures without any notable reduction in services."
Councilwoman Penny Townsend noted that Bradford was vetted through a national search for town
manager candidates in 2000.That search boiled down to two finalists-- Bradford,who was then acting
manager,and Elvvell, a Tormer assistant town manager in Palm Beach who had left in 1999 to become
manager ofi Roxbury Township, N.J.
The council chose Elwell by a vote of 3-2,and he started the job in Feb�ruary 2001.The covr�cil gave
�radford a$30,000�onus and a$9,000 raise to encourage him to stay on in the fVo. 2 post.
Oversaw projects
As deputy town manager, Bradford has administered the burial of utilities on a neighborhood basis and
led research and planning for an eventual townwide burial of utilities. He als4 oversaw the restoration o�F
Worth Avenue. His daily management responsibilities have included risk management and information
syste�rns.
Elwell said afker the meeting that he was delighted with the council's decisiora.
"The breadth of his experience both here and in Tequesta has always given rne a great levei of cornfor�
that the town would be in good hands when rny time here was dane,'° Elwell said.
Earfier at Thursday's meeting, Coniglio ho�ored Elwell by pr��claiming Dec. 12 Peter B. �iwell Day.
'Great team'
Boodheshwar joined the to�n�n as recreati�n�lirector in 20�D6. !n 2010, his d�ties were axpanded t�o
in�l�cle c3arector of special proj�cts. He I�d planning for the to+�vn`s centen�iaY ce�ebration in 2(?11, has
s�rve�as eme;gency manageme��d��ector,and strenbthened�o�:v� �rocu�-�rn�nt polic��, sol9�vv;ng th2
Stevea�W�ite corruption scandai. 1�Ihite is a former tow�construc�ion rrianager ser�tenced to 42 months
in prison afte�admitting he'took kickbacks in exchange for hespirag secure wo�!<for tvv� construction
firms.
SoocJheshuvar said later Thursday that he was honored by the trust placed en him brr the co�ra�il, Coniglio
and Bradford. "This is a challenge that i really just accept with open arms,°' he said. "I can°t wait to��vork
wirh Tom. �1Ve'!I make a great team."
Bradford�arned� mast�r's de;r�e i� p€ablic administ�•atior�in 1�8(}and a bache8or°s cfegr�e in�ol's�ica4
science in 1977 from the Univ�rsity of,�labama in TuscafoQs�.
,� • �,._�..,.
i�C'.. �oJ<^'.5 iin Tl�l�yia�:Siu aH�iei �iiS"v'Joi^<'.ii�sa�oii➢� i2a�ii2Le i@i�i.il2o aioia���sJuo�uiiiisoiSua�.vi.
Eiis son Philip recentiy graduated vvith a master's degree in international planning from i�niversity
Colleoz Lor�don and reiurns home next rnonth.
� €�a9�n Beach Dail��3evvs����
August 26, 2012
Edition: DN1
Section:A Section
Page: 1A
�reject a�r�s�c �est4a e°hist�e�iz hea�'�f?air� ����o
Author:David Rogers flaily tVews Staff Vt�riter
Article Text:
The Town Council's recent decision to�rovide$50,�00 in seed moneti�cauld help build momentum for
the Centennial Commissio�'s legacy project--and lead to a �ore vuelcoming,pedestrian friendly�own
Hall Nistoric Distr�ct.
The project,coordinated by the private not-for-profit, wouid renovate the Memorial Fountain and
beautify the g�een space just south of it,which fronts Town Hall.
Other organizations, including the Garden Club of Palm Seach an�! Preservation Foundation of Palm
Beach,are aiding the effort to resiore the 1929 Addison i�/lizner-designed fiountain,which features a
�roup of"sea" horses. Former i��layor Lesly Smith has donated$25�,�00 to the Preservation �oundation
for the project. oVlayor Gaii Coniglio worked to get the$50,000 in town fvnds for it.
Ce�ate�nial Carnmassim�coa�sulta�'t El�za'�eth ��,N��le has ins�Oi��d'ts�a2�ornmissg��to+�vid��a t°rae sco;oe o�
�he nroject, in cooperation uvith r�;�viousiy mentioned g�ou¢�s,as wel;as the °lanni�g and Z�ning
Commissi�n and Greater S�uth Couniy Raad Associa�ion,acc�rding to Bi9B 3one,Centen�ia9 Comrnission
chaarrnan.
"+Our goai is not to stick a tree and a paric bench there on the green orass,and it's not just'to Fix the
fountain and preserve it," Sone said. "It's to looic at the whole district and renovate the entire thing and
rejuvenate it so it will be recognized as the�rue historic heart of the town."
AFter deciding the fou��tain restoratio�and oreen space beautification wouid�Oe the cornmissioro's
permanznt oift to the t�o��un, the board gathered ideas from the community in a workshop coord'snatecl
by'the Univ�rsity of i�!liami's Alurnni St�adio in dJrban �esi�ra. Some of those ideas in�cic�de a�cling shacfe
trees,spePd ���m�s as�� �noa-e�as!cino i�the t+No-�9ocic�aist�orsc sq�aa��,3�5� 3'B�'iC�lflo 1�1l3,�S i.0 SI��n!'��'�{�'8C
�n that std�etc`rs of�oasra���R��e3, �ovv�19�sand.
Dowclle,a Garden Club member, Preservation Foundation trustee and forrner�aradmarks Preservation
cornrnissioner,called the fountain the'°cro�vn jewel" o�the square ancJ its restoration a priority for the
foundation.
"We need to find a way to make it more accessible so that people can walk there without risking their
lives,"said Dowdle,a former Landmarks Preservation Commission member. "Mizner designed it to be
visited."
Extending parking on both sides of Tovun Hall and the iVlemorial Park might help, Dowdle said. "The
ia�es a�re too wide there and peo�le speed," she said, referring co the north end of iVlemorial Park.
Deputy Town IVlanager 3orr� �r�a��or�i is the town's liaison for the fountain restoration and g�een-s�ace
project. Bradford said Wednesday the organizers plan to hire a project architect in the r�ext few days.
The touvn`s seed money will help pay for an °'as-built"surve�,r of structu�es in the histaric square district,
a?�.d mr�ra-
°°We vuant to do a �nore detaiied assessment of the four�tain condition, its proposed restoration plan an�
��dafed cost estimate," he said.
Eradford will help coordinate the fountain restoration and green space beautification project with
ir�i��avz�r�z�iYs�Oanned�y proaerty�wners and with iye Plat�ning dnd Zo�ing vornrr�issio�.The ia��er
has been charged with reviewing the condition of the South County Road corridor, Bradford saicl.
�a'r� 3each �aily d�J�vvs{FL)
November 5,2011
Edition: DN1
Sectian:A Sectiora
Page: 1A
a�vv���fi�h�corrgalai�ts�o ��OC
Author: ll/IARGIE KACOHA Daily IVews Staff Writer
Article Text:
The town is facing a discrimination action by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,a
bare-bones memo on !uesday's Town t;ouncii agen�a indicates.
In a recent news release,Stuart attorney Willie Gary said some town �oolice officers had filed complai�ts
with the EEOC. He is representing five officers in discrimination complaints against the rown.
Town staff has recommended in a memo to Town Council members that they hire employment law
specialist Margaret Cooper as the lead attorney to defend Palm Beach against the EEOC notice o�
charges of discrimination.
i he memo doesn't say which employees filed the EEOC complaints but says the town faces aive EEO
charges of discrimination.
The town already has been�au�ht up in a spate ofi s���eral discrimination daims Filed with the
Department of Human Resources. By law,the claims cannot be discusseci pu�iic3y.
Gary represents five Palm Beach pol�ce off'scers vuho he said ha��e ex�erienced discrirninarion and se:t�aa!
har�assment. He identified Jason Vega,Artemis Saridakis, Levente Henter,Gilad Bockrnan and iVlarcus
Farrner as the afficers aileging discrirnination on the basis of"race, nationai origin,gende�and rzligious
preference."Those categories fall ur�der the protectiora af the EEOC.
Public Safety Director Kirk Blouin recently demoted Vega from sergeant to officer foa��nrorking on a
dating website on work tirne and using work equipment. Gar�/maintains Vega °'vuas wro�g�fully de�na�ecl
�rom s�r�eant a�d was the only Hispa�ic/ynin4rity supervisor.'°
Other ailegations cired �y�ary o�c�cad`"s�per�or off��ers makAno aroti-Se�ni�ic reYnar'ks, �-acaal a�uc1 L�hnoc
sfurs ar�d iraappr�pri�ate sexuai gestu�zs �ow���1 o��ic��s.,°
Gary saicl he is poised to sue the town, but welcomes mediatioea.
Cooper is a shareholder in the West Palm Beach law firm of lones, Foster,Johnston and Stubbs,the
same firm as Town Attorney John Randolph.She will charge the town$235 an hour, according to
Randolph.The council will decide whether to use the firm rather than lawyers provided by its insurance
carrier.
"This is because Jo�oes, Foster has personnel specializing in employment law and has successfully
�lefended prior employment iaw claims against the town,'° Deputy Town iVlanager�'�rn Qrad;�rd wrote
in an Oct. 31 memo to the mayor and council.
Cooper represents the town against a lawsuit by former Fire-Rescue Chief Wiiiiam Amador alleging
(-1 �f�,� ±.�..�^�:fi��SOf�:7:iv�'v'iuo.�.� .^. ^�� � T.�. 11 C! !F' rI -,
;:9: c�VLou. SL'Si' f U2 Yrv..2.i:.. a�d1iE� e�d1�'abv�i��t2i���'JWL-�� �iif2�a i�iii�.�a�i. �u iiit'Y�Y.J
aileged involvernent in a union website critical of the town and its plan to cut 2mployee pensions.
BTadfiord could not be reached and Elwell and Human �esources Director Danieile Olson declined
eommeni Friday. Gary's spokesvvomar� did not reply to a request for comment
�O�N OF P,t�B
F�o�`o�'��2
V'l
���o�
a +
*
T��/1/1� �� PALM BEACH
Town Clerk's Office
S UNI1l�1AIZY O T'i'HE ACTIUNS TAKEN AT T1:TL+' REG ULA1t
TO�VN COCNCIL yl�:�,TLNf' �i�=i�_D ON �I'[TE81���'. [+E13RLT:��1' 13, ?O1�
i. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
fT. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. AI�PIt�OVAL OF AGENDA
AC7TIQN: APl'ROVCD, AS PI21N�1'E�
1V. ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS
A. Kirk W. Blouin- Praposed Professiona.l Employment Agreement as Town
Manager.
AC'I'I:ON: API?f.20VF.1� �VI7'kl: ANI.:I+:i`rllll�l:�+N1'S
B. Thomas G. Bradford -Professional Employment Agreement �ated December
9, 2014.
�C'I'I.Ot�t: �3�1 SZOV�.�� �ri'1'If�'Yi1:i'disNl�i+1i.S
�. PRESENTATI�NS
A. Recognition of Thomas G. Bradford, Town Manager, for his service to the
T'own from iVlay 1, 2000 to �February 13, 2018.
B. Presentations by Code Enforcement Board Applicants.
C. Presentation by Palm Beach Island Cats.
�i. C�iv,�v cPJ'I'S OF�VIAYOFc GAIL L. C�NNIGLI�
d .,..,:� r � -• ,
E�.s.r +�aije 1�11i�+.
UL-16-I if i�Hccions i rage�i oT a
VII. COMNIENTS OF TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TOWN NIANAGER
ACT.I.Q\T: A :DISCUSSI:ON A130U�1, BU3+I+ERIi�C I:SSUES I+OR IIONI:ES
BEING :DElV[OLISHCl) AND El0'I�I:C PL�YT PIZOTECTION W�S ADll�D
U�TD:E:R�\�'OTH=ER 1VI:AT7'�RS
VT_II. COIVIMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS
�. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION: THE FOLLO�VIi\TG fTElYIS IYLR� PUL.I:.ED FRQ11�i 't'H-E CONSEN'1
E1.GENDA A.i�TD PLACE:D ITND�R ITE1Vl �III.C.l..
� 1:TEiVl: 1�;.A.1 -:13ESO L UT]ON i�TO. 10-2018
• l:1'EiVt .�.A.2.- RES�.LUT.tON iVa. :I.1.-2018
• I:TEIVI.la.C.S.- BU.DGET Cr�L.LNDA.ft TOR FY19 BUDCET
PROCESS
ACTIQN: THE FO:LLO�VING I:TE1Vl:S �VERE`���T1-IDRALYN��D/OR
U EFER:RED:
• I.T.E1V1. L�CC.1.- bV].THDRAI�V�1
• 1:TEIVI.L�1.C.4 -llEI+L1213E:1) 7'O T:IIE F�BI2UAI2I' 14; 20:1.3'I'O�V�T
COUNCI_L 1V1E.11T1i1rG
A. �fINiJ"TES
l. TOWN COUNCIL v[EETING MINUTES:
Kathleen Doming-asez, Town Clerk
a. January 9, 2018, Town Council IVleeting Minutes
b. January 10, 2018, I�evelopment Review T'own Council iVleeting
Minutes
2. January 12, 2018, Special Town Council Meeting Minutes
3. Approval of major ma�ters considered by the �rchitectural Comrnission
at its meeting of January 24, 2018.
B. FcESOLU'TIONS
1. RESG'LUTION NO. 10-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palrn Beach County, Florida Apprcv;r�g a �ne
�ti�r L�ntra�t ��vitl� �he i pti�i� to 2�nevv for up t� '�'wo �2) �ddiiio�al
Annual Periods with Colliers International South Florida, LLC, for
C'ommercyal �teal Estat� i rokerage S�rvices, an�i t��th�rizing the `y'own
ttilanager to Execute the Contract on Behalf of the Town.
Jcry Boodheshwar, Depzcty Town l�fanager
1'ULLED �'RO1�I CONSEI�T�IND PL�CED U1VT�ER I�'ElYf X �: 1.
u�-�i�-�its i c;Hct�ons 1 Nage 2 of 9 �
2. RESOLUTION NO. 11-2418 A Resolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Authorizing the
Purchase of One 2018 Pierce Custorn Pumper and One 2018 Pierce
Aerial Ladder with NFPA Department Required Equipment, from Pierce
Nlanufacturing, Inc., for the Amount of$1,064,613.00, Which Includes a
One Hundred Percent (lOQ%) Pre-Payment Discount of$5�,998.00, in
Accordance with Florida Sheriffs Association Bid 16-Vefl2.0,
Specification No. 9 And 19, and the Transfer of $19,613 from the
Equipment Replacement Fund Contingency, and Hereby Establishing a
Total Budget of$1,079,613.00.
Kirk W. Bloarin, Director of Pafblic Sczfetv
_I'UZ,�.����nlrr c.nNSE!vT 4N_7��'T_.:�CE� UVD_�� TTF�1�[� t' 7.
3. RESOLUTION NO. 12-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Approving a
Purchase Order for Construction Phase Engineering Services to Mock,
Roos & Associates, Inc., in an Amount of $33,190 for the D-4
Stormwater Pttmp Station Outfall Rehabilitation, and Establishing a
Construction Phase Engineering Budget of$37,000.
H. Paul Brazil, P.E., Director of Public Works
4. Elevator Nlaintenance and Repair Services
• a. RESOLUTION NO. 13-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Rescinding
Resolution No. 174-2017 Awarding the US Communities Contract
Number PC Caenrl-201414653-00, and Cancelling a Purcha.se Order to
KONE Inc., For Elevator Maintenance and Repair Services, in the
Amount of $12,60Q, and Establishing an Overall Project Budget of
$35,000.
b. RESOLUTION NO. 14-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Awarding RFQ
Number 27-2017 to Oracle Elevator Company, and Issuing a Purchase
Order for Elevator IVlaintenance, Inspections, and Repair Services, in the
Amount of $40,460, and Establishing an Overall Project Sudget of
$89,880.
H. Paul Brazil, F.E., DirectorofPublic �Yorks
C. OTHER
l. Request for the Ordinances, Rules and Standards Committee to Review
the�terseeti�n��ne�f Site Policy�f the�'o��✓r_.
�a�lP A_Yn,�lrn,v, T�UJ� ('p�inril/LfvmtjoY
ACTiC�i`�: ��T�'1'ti_i�[FA_��'1`�T
u�-i s-i u o L Kcuons� rage 3 or a
2. Accept Donation of$150,000 from the Palm Beach Police Foundation for
the Purchase of Equipment and/or Services as deemed Appropriate
� Following Established Purchasing Procadures.
Kirk W. Blouin, Director of Public Safety
3. Request to Consider Ordinance No. 04-2018 Prior to 5:00 pm at a
Public Hearing.
Paul Castro, Zoning Administrator
4. Upmarkets Report on Status of Playhouse.
Alexander Patterson, Up�narkets
ACTIOiv: D�:FER.RCD 'I'� TFLE '1'O���N COUNCl:L
M::EE't'f1TG fJiv �EBRUAi2�' 14, 2�15
5. Budget Calendar for FY 19 Budget Process
Ja�ze St�uder, Director of Fi�zance
PUL.LED FRO�YI CONSENT fiND PLACED UNDER ITEIVI x C. 1.
1. BOARD/COiVIlVIISSION ANN-[JAL REPORT
A. Annual Report of the Investment Advisory Committee
Dr. Michael And�ews, Chair
ACT[ON; RE_I'ORT ACCE1?'rE.D
Yi. COMIVIITTEE REPORTS
f1. Report of the January 11, 2018 Public Works Committee Nleeting.
Margaret A. Zeidman, Chair
ACTION: REPORT ACCE:t'1TED
X_±-�_ PITBLI� HEARTNGS
A. RESOLUTION NO. 15-2018 A Resolution of the Town Councii of the Town
Of�'alm Beach, 1'a1m Beach County, Florida, Vacating and Abandoning an
Existing Public Utility Easernent Within the Property Cort�rnoniy Known as �9
tiliddle Road, in the Town of Palrn Beach, Florida.
H. Paul B��nzil, P.E., Director of 1'ublic Works
acT�onT: a�P�ovEn
�, RESOLUTION NO. 16-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town
of Palm Beach, Palrn Beach County, Fiorida, Providing for the i7esignation
and/or the De-I�esignation of the �Iistoric/Specimen 'I'rees at 300 El �rillo,
1255 and 1265 South �cean Boulevard and Bradley Park, Providing an
1EfF�ctiv� �at�.
H Pm�l_Rr��zl, �,F, 1)rr-Prt�r�fPabli� W�Nks
f1CT1.(�llT: A['I?►����I)
Y�1-i. RE�iULAR AGENDA
v�-i r i a i V;�cuons� rage 4 or y
A. Old Business
I. Town-wide Undergrounding Project:
Steven N. Stern, Undergroacnd Utilities P�oject Manager
a. Review of Project& Dashboard, Summary of Project Status.
b. RESOLUTION NO. 17-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council
of the Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Autharizing the
Town 1V[anager to Execute a Maintenance Memorandum Agreement with
the Florida Department of Transportation for the Town-wide Overhead
Utility LTn�'ergro��g Phaa:; 1 Saut1��L�3scapi�7b.
ACTION: APPROVEll
c. RESOLUTION NO. 18-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council
of the Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, approving a
Purchase Order to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., in the Amount of
$422,2?3 for Phases 3, �1 and 5 Easement �'�ssistance of the T�wn-�rVic�e
Undergrounding of Utilities Program
�1CTIOi`T� AP:1'ROVEll
d. Ratification of the Selection Committee's Recommendation for
RFQ No. 2018-04 Consttuction Nlanager at Risk for the Town-Wide
Overhead Utility Under�ounding Phase 2-South.
ACTiON: r-\PPPOVEG
e. Ratification of the Selection Committee's Recommendation for
RFQ No. 2018-03 Construction Manager at Risk for the Town-Wide
Overhead Lltility �.Jndergrounding Phase 2-North.
[�(�ri'1171�T: At'1'K�VEO
f. Selection Committee Recommendation for Utility
Easement Acquisition Services.
AC7'ION: ��PPROVED
2. Town Council Meeting Minutes:
a. Switching frorn Summary/Discussion Format to Verbatirn Nlinutes
AC'1'I:ON: APYROVED KL:I:PINC TTtr CUttR��N'►'lY1.E�Tli�TC
Nl:l\TUTES [+ORIVIAT. STAFF AUTHORIZED '�'O RESEARCN:
��TI:O�S F4R AL�D!i�r TINIC STE1.lY!PS TrJ i�lSCUSSIQi�TS E�I�1l�
il�i0'7'I�NS FOR EACF�I�GENDA iTEl1'i:,
"�. �pprovai ot`the December'�own �ouncil l�ieetin; N(inutes;
i. �December 11, 2017 Special Town Council ivieeting [viinutes
ACT�flN: AF1'I20V�D, �S A11�I::ri�DrD
VC I J-I O i i,r�ciiuris r raye a ui y
ii. December 12, 2017 Town Council Meeting Minutes
ACTI�N: DIITI�RRLD '1'O TH E NIARCN 20,2018 T�Wi\T
COUITCIL IVI..�N.1[��'G
iii. December 13, 2017 Local Planning Agency Meeting Minutes
ACTI�N: �1'PROVELI,AS A14�l:�NDED
iv. December 13, 2017 Development Review T'own Council Meeting
Minutes
Kathleen Domi�ia ez, Town Cler k
ACTI�N: r-lPl'120VE:D,AS A11�IENDE7�
�,_..
B. �vcw Bus►r�es�
1. Windsor Court Right-of-Way Condition Assessment.
H. Paul Br^azil, P.E., Director ofPzcblic Works
AC7':I.ON: STAFI�AUT11�.R1:ZED TO FROCEED W:TTtJ:S'1'UDY
UNn ER THE COi�TD[T1 QN THAT T}3E RESI D ENTS�V1 LL
PAS'rOR TH:E STLTDI'
2. Discussion on Provision of Alternate Members to the Underground
Utilities Task Force.
Gail L. Conrglio, Mayor
ACTTO\T: NO AI�'�'E R��Tr�TE l�iEtl�B rRS
3. Appointment to the Code Enforcement Board.
Kirk W. Blouin, Directar of Picblic Safetv
ACTIQN: APPROVED TI:1E RA7'[r1CA'C[01T Ol�'i,liL
�POli\TI'Vl.Ei�'T OF L.li\r.DA�VART0IV AS �LTLI:iVA'i'L
iv(El�i8E12'i�0 THN. CODr ri�TrOR�ri�-r��T �Q�-t_�2p
4. RESOLUTION NO. 19-2018 A Itesolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palrn Beach County, Florida, Awarding Bid No.
2018-14 for the D-14 Stormwater Purnp Station Rehabilitatian - Phase 2
and Approving a Construction Contract to Murra.y Logan Construction,
Inc., in the Amaunt of$4,024,680 and Establishing a Construction Phase
Sudget of$4,250,00�.
H. Pc�zcl B�^azil, P.E., Director of Public Works
ACT101T: A1��'ROVED
5. Coastal Update:
a. Shoreline Condition Update.
l� AL'C'(I� TT'7'rnATATn '7n nlo n��,.l.,�:,... c..t_� rr�__ n__.__•�
. +.,_..i._.�.�viivt: i�Iv. i.v-2'vxt7 �i a�v.��iu�iiVu 'Ui Giiv i�'vJ.il 'i_,4Ji.�i.ii:11
of the Town Of Palm Beach, Palm �each i ounty, Florida, Approving a
Purchase Order for Frofessional Coastal Engineering Services to Gahagan
VG-1 J-I U I L lU.LIUI W/ r ql�C U UI .'7
&Bryant Associates, Inc., in an Amount of$26,240 for the Sand Transfer
Plant Feasibility Study, and Establishing a Task Budget of$30,000.
ACTTON: DEN1-ED
c. RESOLUTION NO. 21-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council
of the Town Of Palm Beach, Palrn Beach County, Florida, Approving a
Contract Extension to D. B. Ecological Services, Inc., for Permit
Required Sea Turtle Nesting Monitoring, in the Amount of$177,780, and
Establishing a Project Budget of�200,000.
ACTIOi�i: APPROVED
d. RESOLUTION NO. 22-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council
of the Town Of Pa1m Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Approving a
Purchase �rrier increase ror �.onstruction Phase Coasral Engineering
Support for Lake Worth Lagoon Waterway Access Dredging Project to
Applied Technology& Management, Inc., in an Amount of$26,240 from
$74,668 to $104,048, and Establishing a New Task Budget af�115,000.
H. Paul Brazil, P.E., Director of Public Works
ACTION: APPROVED
C. i�iatters Pulled From Consent Agenda.: If needed
1. RESOLUTION NO. 10-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Pa1m Beach, Palm Beach �ounty, Florida Approving a One Year
Contract with the Option to Renew for up to Two (2) Additional Annual
Periods with Colliers Interna.tional South Florida, LLC, for Commercial
Real Estate Brokerage Services, and Authorizing the Town Manager to
Execute the Contract on Behalf of the Town.
Jay Boodheshivar, Deputy Town Manager
AC7'I:ON: D E�1IED, S7'AFF TO 1'UT OUT I'O R f1NQ'I�ELER RFP
�+QRBIZOK.�RACf� S.N1.RV1.CiJS �'0�2A tJOivG ��'�JRLYi. G.KOlJ1Ti3
L.L�S.L 'I'1=1�T 1S SPCC1_�IC TC3 Ti=I� O.KL.LC�LO��.���2aP.E1.'�'�'1.'
2. RESOLUTION NO. 11-2018 A Resolution of the Town Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Authorizing the
Purchase of One 2018 Pierce Custom Pumper and One 2018 Pierce
Aerial Ladder with NFP1� I�epartment �Zequir�d Equipanent, from Pierce
Manufacturing, Inc., f�r the Amount of�1,064,613.00, Which Includes a
One Hundred Percent (100%) Pre-Payment Discount of$55,998.00, in
Accordance with Florida Sheriffs Association Bid 16-Vefl2.0,
Specification No. 9 And 19, and the Transfer of $19,613 from the
Equipment Replacement Fund Contingency, and Hereby Establishing a
Total Budget of$1,079,613.00.
Kir^k W. Blouin, Director of Piiblic Safetv
A�'1'f.0it: r-��'a'P.O,T'�n
3. Sudget Calendar for FY19 �udget Process
Jane Stnacler, Director of�Finance
�1CT101r: A1'PROVEI�, ELS�11�✓�L���I�
„� �„ �� �.,�,..�,,,���;��y� ,-„�;.
�V. ORDI�'�AIVCES
A. Second Reading
1. ORDINANCE NO. 01-2018 An �rdinance of the Town Council of The
Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Amending The Town
Charter At Section 3.01, Town Council: Composition. i�lodifying the
Dates of the Election of the President And President Pro Tem; Providing
For Codification; Providing For Severability; Providing For Effective
Date.
Thomas G. Bradf'or�l, Town Manager
ACT.IO�': AllOi'TE:D
2. ORDINANCE NO. 03-2018 An Ordinance of The Town Council of The
Town Of Palrn Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Amending The Town
Code of Ordinances At Chapter 42, Environment, Article V, Noise;
Amending Section 42-198, Relating To T'he Operation of Certain
iVIachinery; �xpanding The Period Of lhe Year Uuring W�►ich `I'here Is A
Prohibition On The Operation Of Said Machinery; Providing For
Additional Prohibitions; Amending Section 42-199, Haurs For
Construction Work, At Subsection (B) So As To Expand The Limitations
On The Months, Dates And Times During Which Construction Work
May Be Undertaken; Amending Section 42-230, Lawn �Taintenance
Equipment Noise, So As To Provide That Lawn Maintenance Sha.11 Be
Limited To The Hours Outlined For Construction Wark Set Forth In
Section 42-199; Providing Exceptions For The Operation Of Lawn
Maintenance Equipment By Residents, And For Golf C�urse Maintena.nce
Ec�uipment; Providin,� Regulations Relating To The Ooer�tion Of T�af
S1ow�rs, And Prohibiting The Commencement of Large Scale Landscape
Installation At Any Time on Saturdays; Providing For Repeal C�f
Ordinances In Conflict; Providing For Codification; Providing An
EfFective I�ate.
Jay Boodheshwar, Deputy 7'ow�a hlanager
r3�TIQiY: ADOi''i't�.D
�. First Freadimg
1. ORDINAIVCE NO. 02-20�8 An Ordinance of t�e T�wn Council of the
Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Amending The Town
�'ode af Ordinances At Section 2�636. — Shore Protection Boaru �reated;
4ppointments; 'Te�a�ns; (�ua�ificatio�s; Advi;,ory �unc�ra�r�; Requirz«�e��s;
�fficzrs; Procedure; (A) venzrally Elinlinating The Jption For �ne o;
i�v i����bers 10 �e � 1`loa�resi�.ent of�he �own i-�a�ia�� A �pecial SPci��
As It Relates To Shore Protection.
John C. Raiadolph, Town Attorney
VL-1 J-1 V��,n�uvi ia i rayC o ui �
ACTION: AI'PROVEll
1'V. ANY OTHER MATTERS
1. Burns vs. TOPB
ACT1:0\T: APPROVE:D, TOtiVi1' ��1,7'OItN1�S' l�VAS D1:12LC'I'CD TO
SUBIYI:IT TN:E SE'1'TiJ�IYIENT PRO�'OSAI. 1N 12ESPOivSE TO
T.3-I_E COM:1'.L�IN'l'
2. Board/Commission Applications
ACT10�T: STAFF IS NO LONGER REQITIREQ 'CO KEI�P A COP�'
OF A BOARD Al'PLICANT'S DRIVER'S LTCENSL aR VOTER'S
REGISTRATi01T C�1I2D O�T FILE tiVIT13 TH-E APPL:IC.ATION.
APP.L.I:CAi\TTS A.R.E STI:.I�l� REQU[RTD TD S.L-IOL�' f'ROO.f+ TO
TI1E 'I'O`VN CLE12K.
3. Thomas G. Bradford's Severance and Contract
ACTION: TO`l'N ATTORNE�T `VAS DIRECTED TO �VORK
tiV[TN: PRESTD F�tT KL E 1=D A�'�'D TOtiVN l�[Ai\TAC E R B LO UI1T TO
ItE\rEGOTIATE T41�'I: B:Rf�DFORD'S SLVI�R.s-iI�TCL PACKAG:L+'
Ell1rU CQivSUZTAiYT SFRVI:CES AG.RL+':Lil:il:ivl
3. Buffering Issues with Homes Under Demolishment
ACTiON: STAFF TO ADDI2ESS TFTE 1SSUE �F C.EAVCNC
El'OTIC PLANT bfATEF�fAL TNAT �ERVES AS A BUFI+ER Tt7
lYIEIG 1::1.-B O.1ZS l�T !?LACE D tTRI1TC DElYIO.LI'�I:+D1T A1�l-D
�OiYS'I.'RUCTI0IT OF NN:W 130NI:I�S �I�TTL-1:ARCOiYI:
YVI.. AI�JQURNMENT
�c-i a-i�"i�Hctions i rage y or y