Thursday, May 26, 2016

Memorial Day 2016: You are invited to American Legion Post 133.The remembrance poppy and the poem In Flanders Fields.

Monday is Memorial Day, a day to honor the brave men and women who gave up their lives in defense of our ideals and country. We owe our peace and democracy to them.

We must continue to remember the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers who have lost their lives on our behalf. May they rest in peace. Thank you.

YOU ARE INVITED - to remember Memorial Day Monday, May 30, at the American Legion Marlin Moore Post #133, Village of Palmetto Bay.

All patriotic members of our community are cordially invited to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony  honoring our departed sister and brother veterans on May 30 at Marlin Moore Post #133, 16401 SW 90th Avenue.

Coffee and donuts will be served from 9:30am to 10:30am.

The Ceremony will begin at 11:00am. After the service a hamburger and hotdog  cookout for all.

Please feel free to stop by and thank a veteran.

____________________________________

Brief History: The first Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. On Memorial Day, we honor the men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service to our Nation. Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The occasion is also marked in almost every State on the last Monday in May.

Congress established the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day, asking Americans wherever they are to pause in an act of national unity. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom.

The flag should be flown at half staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds and naval vessels throughout the United States, and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. All people of the United States are requested to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary period.


__________

The Remembrance Poppy and the Poem, "In Flanders Field"

“In Flanders Fields" was written on May 3, 1915 by Lt. Col. John McCrae who was a physician, poet, author, artist and soldier serving in World I. Flanders is a region of Europe that comprises parts of Belgium and France. This poem resulted in the remembrancepoppy becoming one of the world's most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict.


This poem can be found online at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
_______

Questions about how and when to properly display the US Flag? One of many online resources: http://www.afa.org/members/uscode.asp

Thursday, May 19, 2016

2016 Ride of Silence May 18, 2016, Key Biscayne, Florida

It was my honor - and responsibility to participate in the 2016 Ride of Silence held on Key Biscayne.

This is a local event of a worldwide movement designed to raise awareness of cycling deaths, injuries and remembering those no longer with us, killed while riding. I was inspired by Maribel Reyes (who lost her husband one year earlier near the starting point) & the bike community leaders that I'm proud to call my friends. I join the, in hoping there are no new reasons to do a Ride of Silence.  Thank you to all the organizers and sponsors who worked hard to make this event possible.


See NCB6 report - Ride of Silence Held in Key Biscayne, Stephanie Bertini reports


I am in a unique position on this issue, however, and ask my fellow council members to work with me to move bike safety off the planning stage and onto the implementation stage.  Bikes are a fact of life on our road.  They need room to be safe.  Drivers need room to pass them safely as well as to operate their vehicles.  See the 2006 law (as contained in a 2015 amendment)The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle.


Don’t drivers want, require, more room along our roads to operate?

It is time to focus on an issue long overdue for completion – the bicycle lanes in Palmetto Bay.

I am working with neighboring municipalities and Daniella Levine Cava, our County Commissioner, but it requires the support of a majority of our own village council to make it a reality. 

Palmetto Bay is a municipal partner of Miami-Dade County Bike305, and this will continue under my leadership. I will continue to support and work with groups such as the Green Mobility Network.

Let's all continue to work together and make biking even more accessible, more fun and most of all, safer for all involved.
Above: I am photographed with Maribel Reyes Frankie Ruiz, 
Sue Kawalerski, Eli Stiers and Ralph Rosado


Pictured above:  Libia Casas, Eugene Flinn, Ana Rivas Logan, 
Belen Valladares, Guillermo Cremati, and Mercy Maturrano



Wednesday, May 18, 2016

NOTICE: Town Hall Meeting - Palmetto Bay Parks - Monday, May 23, 6 PM - Village Hall

I have asked for a Town Hall meeting to discuss our parks.  We have already begun work on our 2016-2017 budget.  Hearings are held in September, but the actual budget prep goes on throughout each Summer.  It is time to take a look at one of the biggest areas of our budget - Parks which represents an expenditure of approximately $2,439,000.00 ($1.842, plus $597,000.00) of our total budget (CLICK HERE to view the 2015-2016 adopted budget) note that the largest single department expense is Police at $7,101,950.

$2,439,000.00 is a big number.  Please make plans to attend and give input on the future of our village parks.  These are your/our parks.

My priorities?  Here are a few (the list is very expansive and what follows are only a part, far from all): Saving and maintaining environmentally sensitive areas and green space (capital expense), continual upgrades of our passive areas - continue the upgrades such as the rubberized walking paths, increased youth and senior programs - funding for our Youth Board and a new focus on special needs programing - an important area of services that our the village council needs to address. 

We all have our priorities.  Special events is blended with parks - and this town hall meeting would also be a good time to talk about ALL activities involving parks - what would you like to see more movie nights, date nights at Thalatta, more yoga, more senior programing? 

We want, we need to hear from you. 

From the official village web site:
Monday, May 23, 2016 - 6 pm
 
The Village of Palmetto Bay shall be holding a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, May 23, 2016, at 6 pm concerning the Village’s Parks.  The meeting shall be held in the Village Hall Chambers at Village Hall, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL.  More than one member of the Village Council will be present and may discuss items of importance to the Village. 
 
Any person may contact the Village Hall at (305) 259-1234 for information.  In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodation (or if hearing impaired) to participate in this proceeding or to review any documents relative thereto should contact the Village for assistance at (305) 259-1234 no later than four (4) days prior to the proceedings.
 
 

Monday, May 16, 2016

Manager's Traffic Town Hall Meeting - this Thursday, May 19, 2016, 7 PM

Our village manager has set an official town hall meeting as a continuation of the outstanding neighborhood meeting that was held last Friday. Here is my unofficial notice of this upcoming and important meeting.

The Village of Palmetto Bay (through the Manager) will be holding a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2016, at 7 pm concerning the neighborhood traffic initiative scheduled for the 84th Avenue neighborhood.  The meeting shall be held in the Village Hall Chambers at Village Hall, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL. 

More than one member of the Village Council will be present and may discuss items of importance to the Village.

See my prior post of May 12th: Notice:Aggressive measures proposed to address traffic - be forewarned and let's continue the dialogue - for background information – and thank you again to all who attended the neighborhood meeting held last Friday – a great meeting where significant input was provided.  This meeting is in follow up to that session – again, thank you to our hosts for that neighborhood meeting. As stated by participant Erica Watts: Well done to our meeting hosts. Ileah Frost-Hoppner and Hillary Girard Sturkie. Thank you Bob Buzzelli.Also thank you to Melanie Stoia as well.  The neighborhood hosts (and the issue) brought out many residents and will hopefully lead to some great block parties once this matter concludes.




Any person may contact the Village Hall at (305) 259-1234 for information.  In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodation (or if hearing impaired) to participate in this proceeding or to review any documents relative thereto should contact the Village for assistance at (305) 259-1234 no later than four (4) days prior to the proceedings.

This meeting has not been listed on the Village website as of 8:00 AM, Monday, May 16, 2016, so I am taking the liberty of providing this special advance (and note - unofficial notice).  When posted, the official notice will be posted on the official website at PalmettoBay.gov, specifically on its “Public Meetings” page (CLICK HERE).

Thank you for your continued interest. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone to improve our traffic management.   

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
Palmetto Bay
 





POD New speed trailer - LPR (license plate reader capable) coming to Palmetto Bay

Photo of the day.

This is a new delivery police equipment budged for this current fiscal year (2016-17).  Village Police Commander Serralta is inside checking out a new tool to help calm our traffic issues.

This unit comes equipped with a license plate reader and is solar-powered. It will be fully operation soon and will be coming to a street near you.

I am pleased that our Police Commander focuses on traffic enforcement - a priority issue in Palmetto Bay.

Serious business, though many have taken a humorous look at this photo and mentioned that we looked behind the curtain and found the secret to the LPR (License Plate Reader) speed trailer. It's an officer hidden inside with binoculars and a note pad.

Obviously, this trailer will be deployed throughout the village as another tool to limit cut through speeders in our village. 

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
Village of Palmetto Bay.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Notice: Aggressive measures proposed to address traffic - be forewarned and let's continue the dialogue

I am pleased to be part of this village council as we return to an aggressive traffic calming program as designed through our village manager and village staff.  We are seeking new methods to address our traffic issues.

I offer the following both as notification as well as to stimulate discussion as to our efforts to manage traffic.  Note that this is a very aggressive program and I am sure the proposed will be met with a full range of reactions.

From Ed Silva, Village Manager:

Council, we are contemplating a test in the area designated below for the remaining of the School year as a traffic calming initiative. Depending on the results and public input we may come back to Council and begin implementation of this half closure of certain streets Village wide. If this works, the solution would be to use landscape, curbing and allow for bicycle ingress and egress on the section that is being closed. We are doing this in conjunction with manning the signal with a Police Officer on SW 82 Ave and SW 168 Street to ensure flow through the neighborhood at rush hour.

Updated photo - 10:10 AM 5-12-16


Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Palmetto Bay Charter, Section 10.1, ruled unconstitutional on May 9, 2016

Court ruling is fully adverse to a Palmetto Bay Charter provision.

The Alexander Montessori school has been denied its expansion based upon its failure to obtain the 75% approval of eligible voters as required under the Village of Palmetto Bay Charter, Sec. 10.1 Private School Expansion. 


The Alexander School filed a lawsuit contesting this charter provision (Alexander School vs. Village of Palmetto Bay, case number 2015-024018 CA20).  Circuit Court Judge William Thomas ruled on May 9, 2016, the Charter language found in Section 10.1 was unconstitutional, the ruling and its language is attached (photo #2).

WHAT THIS MEANS (FOR NOW): The Alexander School can submit for expansion and not need 4/5 vote of the Council or have a special referendum of residents surrounding the property.

COUNCIL ACTION: The item has been added to the Zoning Council meeting for discussion on May 16, 2016 at 7 pm.
Sec. 10.1 Private School Expansion.
The number of enrolled students of any private school within the Village of Palmetto Bay shall not be increased without prior approval by a fourth-fifths (4/5) vote of the Village Council. No such approval shall be adopted by the Village Council until the request to increase enrolled students is submitted to a vote of Village of Palmetto Bay electors living within a 2,000 foot radius of the applicant school property by referendum, and 75 percent of the electors voting approve of such increase in enrolled students.
A list of Village of Palmetto Bay registered voters within the 2,000-foot radius of the school property shall be prepared by the Village Clerk. Any elector who resides on property or a portion of property that is within the 2,000 foot radius of the school seeking to increase the number of its enrolled students shall be eligible to vote in the election required under this provision. The cost of the election (including reimbursement to the city for all costs relating to the preparation of the list of eligible electors) required under this provision shall be borne by the school seeking to increase the number of its enrolled students.
I have no additional information at this time, but I will update with any relevant information as it becomes available.  For more information, please attend the May 16, 2017, meeting live, via online or WBAY broadcast.

Eugene Flinn, Mayor

Saturday, May 7, 2016

To all the moms, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, out there: Happy Mother's Day 2016

To all the mothers, grandmothers and those who are honored to be great grandmothers, Happy Mother's Day.


Enjoy this very special day! We wish all of our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers,  a very special Mother's Day.

This important tradition started back in 1914 when the U.S. Congress designated the second Sunday in May each year as "Mother's Day."  That year, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first official U.S. Mother's Day - then designated an official legal holiday.

The roles our mothers have played in creating a beautiful and vibrant community cannot be overstated. Beyond their own careers and successes, their love and attention can be seen throughout our communities in the quality and success of our youth.

On this special day, we also must remember and thank the mothers whose sons and daughters are serving in our nation's armed services. Please also remember the mothers who shoulder the burden as a single parent as their loved one serves our great county.

Happy Mother's Day!

Eugene & Alex Flinn

My mother earlier this month, photographed with her grandchildren and one great-grandchild.


Thursday, May 5, 2016

The facts regarding council action of Mon, 5/2/16. Protecting endangered land, managing vest rights inherited from Miami-Dade County.

Please review this rather long post.  This is my best effort at correcting the record:
 The Village of Palmetto Bay residents are being misled to believe the village has issued a building permit when in fact the village has modified the plan to reduce density, add a public park and put in a provision to conduct a traffic study for the Palmetto Bay Village Center.  The bottom line, this plan has no greater impact than what was previously approved by the village council.  It is time for Palmetto Bay residents to check the record to see how Palmetto Bay has now preserved 40 acres, now protected forever from a developer’s bulldozer, by transferring the potential development rights for 85 units from the 22-acre site along Old Cutler Road to the interior of the PBVC. We have slowly chipped away from a pre-incorporation massive starting point of 1,465 units and the potential of up to 1.25 million commercial sq. ft., down to the 485 units capped by Council action on Monday, May 2nd.  There are a lot of added benefits that came with the transfer such as more green area, a public park for the residents, the protection of 22-acres from development, new traffic requirements that was never present before, limited growth of the commercial structure, and interim use of an existing building for classroom space and senior programing.  There are the protections installed – and most important of all, as I explain further in great detail below, no actual development has been approved.  It can only move forward after future zoning hearings – public hearings and detailed action. 

We have worked over the years to reduce traffic impact.  There are NOT 400 new units. We are working to manage and reduce this project.   The truth is that over the years we have carved out – taken away, reduced, removed over 1,000 potential units from the PBVC. That’s traffic impact beneficial to our community!

I can understand when political candidates distort the facts for their political gain.  But it is surprising when such distortions are promoted by sitting council members and efforts are made at dividing this community.

History of the Burger King, now PBVC Site:

The property in question – originally the Burger King World Headquarters, now known as the Palmetto Bay Village Center (PBVC) was once a site slated for very dense development.  When Burger King purchased the Old Cutler property in the late 70's the County approved rights of up to 1,465 units on this site.

In 1985, Burger King got an approval to build and 311,000 sq. ft. of office space was constructed.  But, the site had rights to build approximately 1.25 million sq. ft. plus an undetermined amount in the rest of the property.  That, for the record, is FIVE TIMES the size of the building that exists today.

These rights traveled to the new owner when Burger King sold the property. This means that PBVC purchased the property with certain rights attached (described in the paragraph above.)  The government cannot simply take away these rights, except through the court system or through agreement with the property owner. It was the latter alternative that we sought to do.

Village Mixed Use District (The “VMU”)

In 2004 a charrette process was done that included 590 units, commercial space, a school and hotel which went through a public process – 42 public meetings were held.  The process resulted in the 2008 adoption of the VMU (Village Mixed Use district).  This VMU was a significant reduction and not an expansion of the rights granted to the property from prior County actions.  Where there had previously been up to 1,465 units or approximately 1.25 million sq. ft. of commercial, the new VMU limited development to 400 units, a hotel and about 550,000 sq. ft. of commercial, down from almost twice that.  It left the front 22 acres to be determined at a later date based on a trending of development rights.  Note that the 22 acres in dispute were not included in the VMU.  Since, I have been trying to save the 22 acres from development without unilaterally taking away property rights.

Resolution no. 09-11 was passed on January 12, 2009, during my prior term.  The goal contained in the resolution was to try and acquire this parcel with help from the Environmental Endangered (EEL) Funds from the County.  Why? To ensure they would not be developed.  That goal, however, was seemingly dropped by the subsequent council (which included the present Vice Mayor) – No action was taken on it after I left office in November 2010.  Now ask yourself, why would the initial council attempt to get the County to buy lands that some argued were “protected”?  The answer is because the lands were endangered – meaning they were threatened by potential future development.  Th2 22-acre parcel was under a covenant requiring a visual landscape screen to block the view of the commercial building from Old Cutler Road, not a ban from development.  The facts of the covenant were discussed in detailed by our village attorney at the council meeting of Monday, May 2nd.  The covenant could survive no more than 30 years, and the visual screen requirement expires in 2019.

The previous council (serving during 2010-2014) also had a proposal to build houses in these very 22 acres, deferring only temporary (until the process ended with the 2014 election).  Factual information can be found online - See the 7/22/2014 article, Palmetto Bay council defers old Burger King property zoning; approves Palmer Trinity’s site-plan changes, by Lola Duffort .  Note the effort was deferred (e.g., meaning to be taken up again at a later date) NOT denied.

It is also interesting to note that Vice Mayor Dubois recused himself from that vote in 2014 (as he did on the first reading of the latest action, yet ‘un’recused himself and participated in the final vote on Monday, 5/2/16, but ONLY after sending out an inflammatory, factually incorrect and self-serving press release on the same date).

What really occurred on Monday, May 2, 2016?

There was no “Final approval” for construction granted to any of the 485 units.  Remember, 400 were already authorized under the previous plan, so the issue centered over the 22 acres not part of the VMU. 85 units were determined to be the smallest supportable number and then those rights were sifted to the VMU.  As far as development is concerned, the Council vote Monday night did not approve or grant 485 new units.  Simply stated, the vote moved the owner’s developmental rights for 85 units from the 22 vacant acres to the interior (VMU) of the PBVC.

This was a change to the long range plan of the PBVC – part reclassification, part determination and settling of the development rights of the 22 acres and a shifting of those rights AWAY from Od Cutler Road and the adjoining neighbors.  The plan also amended the existing 400 units from partial senior housing to conventional units.  A traffic study commissioned by the village documented the lack of traffic impact from the change in designation. 

And to be blunt, ZERO units is not an option.  Historically, we have been working our way down from the original 1,485 figure.  It is an undeniable fact that I, we, have worked with the property owner over the history of these proceedings to reduce the impact on our community to the greatest extent possible.  Yes, from the owner’s original rights to 1,485 units and the possibility of up to 1.25 million commercial sq. ft. DOWN to the 400 units on the VMU property (obviously not including the disputed 22 acres). 

And, I cannot restate this enough - the property owner cannot build any of these units without going through public zoning process and obtaining approval after public hearing, and after considering the newly imposed traffic requirements placed on the property by the Schaffer amendments. So why all the misinformation that makes it appear that there will be a start of construction? Why no mention of the newly imposed traffic protections requirements?

Why 85 units on the 22 acres by Old Cutler Road– where did they go?

The Village has professional staff.  We have a Planner and a Village Attorney.  The evidence presented was that, if the owner of the PBVC were to attempt to sue for full rights on the 22 acres, he could claim between 85 units, which represent the lowest supportable number, to a maximum of 220 units, which is likely not supportable if challenged.  A court could easily find that the applicable number is between 85 to 165 units.

In the end, 3 of the 5 council members went with the lowest number – 85.  Based upon this number, the 85 units were transferred (not granted ‘final approval’ for actual development) and the long disputed 22 acres will now be transferred from the PBVC to ownership by the people of Palmetto Bay.

This is a great day for Palmetto Bay and for everyone who values preservation of endangered lands. We have a park, not more development on Old Cutler Road.

The ever shrinking hotel

Remember the hotel (few do).  Three out of five members of the village council further restricted the developer's rights by reducing the number of units to 485 inclusive of the hotel – this means that each hotel room built takes an entire unit off the property.  This is a further reduction, far from any expansion, of the vested property rights of the PBVC.

Shrinking the future commercial space

The majority vote from 3 out of 5 village council members also effectively limits the office space to what they currently have (remember – what they currently have there now is one-fifth of what could have been built out there under original county plans).

Adding traffic limitations – a new protection

Councilman Schaffer offered an amendment that was accepted and we went even further to require traffic studies in an area that is exempt from such studies.  This is a new level of protection for Old Cutler Road and will work to ensure that the impact is minimized.  The 400 units cannot have a greater traffic impact that the prior vested right of 100 town homes and the 300 senior housing.

What did Palmetto Bay gain in return? Your park, our piece of mind.

The Transfer of developmental rights (the 85) has the added benefit of preserving a natural forest area, reducing development. 

Senior programing anyone?

The Vote from 3 of 5 council members also allows for the use of building C (an existing, currently little- used building) by the Village as  interim space for senior programming and classroom areas.

The real “Sad Day” for Palmetto Bay

It is incendiary to incite residents with unsubstantiated emails and comments that we approved 485 NEW units to be built.  We built the barn, but the horse has not left the barn. Far from it.

The truth is what was approved has less impact than what has been approved in the past and this does not mean that any of these units will ever be built. (It is equally foolish to try to claim that only a few or none of these units will ever be built).  In the end, 3 out of 5 members – voted to cap the number of units, not permit them to be developed.

Perhaps the two dissenting council members would prefer that the 22 acres eventually be built out, devastating a current stand of nearly extinct Miami-Dace County Pinelands and lush hardwood hammock.  Perhaps the two dissenting council members would prefer to allow the possibility of the property to be developed based upon 80 acres, not the 40, that we, the 3 members of the village council removed from the developer’s possession, and, therefore, the calculations.

I personally find it very distasteful that those on the losing end would be so disrespectful to our residents and to this council by trying to divide this village with the same tactics that current members of this council (inclusive of a future political candidate) so fervently criticized in the past.  I know that the Palmetto Bay residents have not yet forgotten the hard lessons of the Palmer litigation.

Quasi-judicial decisions require evidence, not sensationalism and political gamesmanship

Part of the village action taken on Monday night were what is known as “quasi-judicial” – this means that decisions must be supported if challenged and must be based upon the evidence presented, not emotion – and certainly not based upon scare tactics, mistruths or vitriol.  We as a village face issues always but you elected us to make the hard decisions, not to allow the courts to make them.  A quality leader would work (as 3 of the 5 did) to avoid returning this village to Palmer style issues (though, for some, the politics of division does play well at election time).

The 3 majority members of the village council could have taken the politically expedient course and voted no, and played the “we defended the neighbors’ card” – which was the tone set by the inaccuracies that were circulated.  But this would only show weakness, an unwillingness to lead and would have simply allowed the courts to overturn a decision based upon political pandering, unsupported by the record, and then determine the maximum, not a reduced property right (at potentially huge legal costs to the taxpayers). By making this decision, we have controlled the number of units allowed to be built and the area upon which they will be built, rather than leaving us at the mercy of the courts.

Focusing on traffic

We know and understand that traffic is the number one priority to all of us, but we know that we cannot place a moratorium on vested property rights.  We have to focus on what we can do to help minimize traffic.

Some final thoughts, and a request for civility and to retake the high road

Property owners have vested property rights.  We must follow the law.  It is easy to simply say “stop traffic” and issue blanket denials, but failure to follow the law will only result in renewed Palmer style litigation.  Perhaps that is what certain council members and political office seekers would prefer – political grandstanding, and then the ability to blame the court for granting even greater property rights to the property owners.

Ask yourself if you want to hear the facts and have leaders who actually lead or do you prefer the politics of misinformation, grandstanding, passing the buck and resorting to being defendants in litigation through pushing the hard choices off to the court system.

3 out of 5 council members listened to the evidence and then made the right decisions for Palmetto Bay residents that further reduced the overall density on the PBVC property, obtained park land and will increase traffic protection when and if any of the residential units move forward to zoning. 

Ask yourself, who on the council (I respectfully suggest it is the 3 of 5) who are leading this community; trying to make this community a better place. And who is merely trying to defame reputations with misinformation simply because their either did not get their way or for political gain at the expense of our sense of community.

I ASK US ALL TO STOP, ASK US ALL TO WORK TOGETHER and, if we disagree, to discuss it peacefully and professionally at an open council meeting, not behind closed doors. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this rather long explanation.  I remain available to discuss your concerns.

Very truly yours,

Eugene Flinn, Mayor