I have been hesitant about how to recap this past council meeting, ONLY because there were numerous moments that are super important for the public to hear and take notice of. I will document the timestamps along with the youtube link for your ease to find what I am discussing. I will try to add as many clips as possible.
Not to be boastful but here is my public comment below which highlights some main points of the evening.
Here are some more highlights for you:
-Forced Budget Introduction
I do get that timelines are necessary. It is just about May and we have yet to even introduce our budget. Being that last year, we only had an adopted budget in the 7th month of the year, there is still hope. LOL.
Here's the deal. Councilman Gubitosi asked about the budget very early in the year. I want to say he stated it publicly in February. The Mayor said he finally gave detail to the council on April 17th, but Councilman Gubitosi doesn't get answers to questions about this budget and also says the data is flawed information. Our interim Business Administrator was insistent on trying to get this council to pass this budget introduction. Thankfully, Gubitosi, DeNoble, and Weber once again come to the rescue of the residents and did not pass a budget without detailed information about why our taxes are going up. Council President DeMarco publicly stated that she asked 30 questions and got answers, HOWEVER, as council president she didn't share that with the council. She also voted along with the Mayor (to no surprise) to pass the introduction of this budget. She seemed very concerned about $5-$10k being put on taxpayers for the investigation resolution. (next topic) But she and the Mayor seem to care less about our taxes when it comes to the budget.
Timestamp in video 1:40:00
-Mobi Mats, what's that
These are the blue mats that create a solid walkway onto the beach. The Mayor previously asked for 325 mats in addition to what we already have at a cost of $80k. We didn't see any detail of where he wanted to place all of those blue mats. At this meeting, he came up with a request for 156 mats at a total cost of $38k, and the schematic presented was still not so clear. DeNoble and Gubitosi spoke very much against this amount of mats. Councilman Weber mentioned getting to an agreement at the meeting at the 50 mats that Councilman Gubistosi had previously suggested to start with. The compromise came to the purchase of 75 mats at a price of $19k. Some comments made were that even if not all are used, we can replace some of the damaged ones. I personally wasn't happy with this vote and would've liked to have seen a better presentation of how these are planned to be displayed on the beach. I would have also appreciated a trial run at maybe two to three beaches with ramps this summer. I have already been opposed to the idea that the handicapped lockers only ask for a doctor's note and not a handicapped placard. It is on a first come first serve basis, so, for example, I would hate to see someone with a knee injury who can walk, but just slower, vs someone in a wheelchair. Will this truly benefit handicapped people at our beaches? I sure hope so.
Timestamp 2:45:20
-Commotion unfolded
There was a sh!&show at this meeting. Whatever chaos this was all about, I want to say thanks to, Denoble, Gubitosi, and Weber for approving an investigation because HOLY COW, this was our public time sitting there watching something that made no sense to us!! It highlighted not only the poor meeting management of Mayor Fox, but also the horrible communication that is supposed to happen prior to these meetings. It also continues to show how Ms. DeMarco votes along with the Mayor on almost, if not, every topic. I ask WHY, after the chaos that happened in that room that evening, would anyone vote down an investigation after the public had to sit through that while not knowing what in the heck was happening??? But now I am interested to find out. The Mayor says it's "SOMETHING OF NOTHING". When he treats our important commentary, money concerns, and questions also as nothing, I WONDER WHAT "SOMETHING OF NOTHING" REALLY IS!
TIMESTAMP to watch 2:25:27
-Much is beginning to sound scripted
During the opening of the meeting, the clerk mentioned a notice that if Zoom had technical difficulties, the in-person meeting would resume. This was a new notice which I don't believe was ever mentioned before. Supposedly, Councilman Gubitosi was to be out of town and zooming in, however, he was in fact sitting there in person at the meeting. The clerk still called out "ABSENT" for him during the roll call. It seemed all very scripted and was very odd.
TIMESTAMP to watch 7:00:00
In closing, I would like to share that the Mayor mentioned social media rhetoric as "disgusting", however, his body language, his constant paper shuffling, his lack of respect for whoever is speaking, his secrets, his disdain for the residents, his poor management of a meeting...Frankly, time and time again, his behavior is what's most disgusting.
Let the Dictator speak would ya??? 🙄
See the clip below.
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