City Commission Meeting Held 6/14/2021
June 27, 2021
“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.” Dalai Lama XIV
“When Your Talking, You Are Teaching. When You Are Listening You Are Learning.” Author unknown.
Her name is Becky Harris and she traveled from Stuart Florida to WPB in order to address the Mayor and City Commissioners on the blue-green algae problem and was the last resident to speak on non-agenda items All residents are allotted 3 minutes to make their case.
Ms. Harris spoke on the problem and mentioned her dog was violently ill, and was grateful her pet had survived while other loved pets did not.
She quoted information, and included documentation she had received from a study in toxins along with an analysis from the Green Water Lab and left copies of the report with the city.
She began speaking on Plan CC (I have no idea, but was anxious to hear it) and she encouraged the Mayor and Commissioners to look into it and work with the Army Corps who has something to do with Plan CC.
Her magical 3 minutes ended and James said a total of 8 times “your time is up thank you” the last time he said “your time is up” I could hear the anger in his voice. She left the podium.
Public comment is over and it’s time for Commissioner’s comment. Commissioner Peduzzi was absent and James allowed Commissioner Lambert to start.
Lambert started with a joke, and asked James if she could include Commissioner Peduzzi time to speak.
James response “You know there are no time limits on you guy’s, speak all night”
Lambert, who has aspirations for the Mayor’s seat, does have a tendency to speak longer than other Commissioners.
How do you think Becky Harris felt hearing James make that comment to Lambert? Talk about lack of respect.
Whatever she was attempting to bring to the Mayor and City Commissioners attention, possibly give him information he didn’t have was dismissed by James. The press who is doing a great job staying on the story will not be dismissed so easily.
Wayne Washington is the Palm Beach County government reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He is a veteran reporter of 25 years, and has stepped into Tony Doris’s shoes and will cover stories for the City of WPB. Wayne has written stories on the water crisis and his newest story can be read below.
Where is Tony Doris?
Tony Doris is now the Editorial Page Editor. Tony’s writing will consists of editorials, which go without a byline. He’s responsible for all of the opinion page material, from editorials to letters to the editor and columnist selections. I wish him good cheer in his new endeavor.
Below are excerpts from the recent Wayne Washington story on the water situation. and my comments are in Italics.
James: “The letter from the Department of Health is not the final say on this matter, OK? It’s like filing a complaint in court. The defendant gets a chance to make their case, and that’s what we will do when we go meet with the Department of Health armed with the data that we have available.”
The problem I have with his approach is that he is defending his actions while the public is in possible danger. At least he recognizes he’s a defendant.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on this any further until after we have that meeting with the Department of Health. We cannot and will not litigate this matter in the public arena.”
James is handling the water issue as a defense lawyer as opposed to a lifeguard. He loves his press conferences as long as words such as green, blue and water are not up for discussion. He should have a press conference with his pal Lois Frankel. I would like her opinion on how James handled the situation.
“Residents and government officials in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and South Beach have been angered by how the James administration has handled the drinking water problem. Many of them contend the city should have moved more quickly to alert the public to the threat.”
It was reported by city insiders that James was vacationing on the west coast of Fl. the last week of May, and he was fully briefed on the situation by City Staff. Why he continues to deny having knowledge defies logic.
Town of Palm Beach is concerned as told in the PB Post story published 6/26/2021. Below are excerpts from the story and comments from Town Manager Kirk Blouin.
Amid transparency concerns, Palm Beach will seek to conduct own water tests.
West Palm Beach did not notify its water customers for eight days after a dangerous toxin was found in its water supply last month.
The town will ask to conduct its own tests at West Palm Beach’s water treatment plant when officials from the neighboring municipalities meet next week, Town Manager Kirk Blouin said Thursday.
Amid transparency concerns that were heightened Wednesday after the town learned that the city had received a warning letter on Tuesday from the Florida Department of Health over its handling of recent water problems,
“People just want the truth, whatever that is,” Blouin said. “That’s the bare minimum.”
“I think I feel the same way everyone else does,” Blouin said about the possible violations. “I’m disappointed and even more concerned than I was previously.”
The end