I had an interesting experience Monday July 13. As a board member of the Swing & Jazz Preservation Society, our President Rene Zerah who is away for the summer, asked me to represent him and speak to the Board of County Commissioners at their Monday meeting in West Palm Beach to make a plea for the modest Cultural Council grant we were awarded a few months ago. However the Commissioners, in dire need of money had already indicated that no money would be available for grants, as it was needed to meet the important needs of the County.

When you wish to speak at a Commission meeting you fill out a card and wait your turn to be called. The meeting was originally called for 2 PM, but they started at 1:30 because of the time pressure to review and discuss the entire budget amongst themselves (in front of the audience and televised on Ch. 20) before hearing from the public. There were over fifty people that requested the opportunity to speak. Because of that large number the normal three minute per person time allotment was reduced to two minutes.

I arrived at 1:20, filled out my card and waited to be called. Many people filled out cards after I arrived. As luck would have it my card was the last to be called—at 5:20 PM. Apparently they have no way of calling people in the order of when the cards are handed in. I had my two minutes, said my piece and departed.

I don’t envy the job of County Administrator Bob Weisman and the commissioners. Everyone has to tighten their belts and do with less.

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April 3, 2009
Dear Friend,
The budget will be a primary focus of mine during the next few weeks, but I will also be working to pass two of my bills that are moving through the Florida House. Momentum is continuing to build in support of legislation I am sponsoring with two other representatives to authorize an electronic prescription drug monitoring system in Florida that would help physicians and law enforcement officials better prevent abuse, misuse, and illegal sale of prescription drugs. The bill passed its third committee/council with unanimous support this week and has one more stop before hitting the House Floor. Click here for more info about the bill and to track its progress through the legislative process.
Another bill I am sponsoring to help the Florida Public Health Institute more effectively promote public health awareness is scheduled to be heard next week by its last committee/council before reaching a vote on the floor of the House. Click here for more info about the bill and to track its progress through the Legislature.
This week was also a very important week because it was Safe Teen Driver Awareness Week in Florida. Safe teen driving is a priority of mine, and I was proud to stand side by side with former State Representative Irv Slosberg and other safety advocates for a press conference at the Capitol to promote teen driver safety. I am sponsoring a bill that would limit the number of teenage passengers allowed in a vehicle driven by a sixteen or seventeen year old, which unfortunately has faced an uphill battle in the Florida Legislature. However, I will continue fighting to enact legislation that will make our roads and highways a safer place to drive.
While there is a lot of news to report from Tallahassee, the following items may be of interest to you as well.
New Safe Teen Driving Website: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has launched a new website geared towards teenage drivers to promote safe driving. Visit www.takethewheel.net to find information on tips, dos and don’ts, consequences and a survey that rates your safe driving practices.
Health Tip: For individuals who regularly take medications, it can be difficult to stay on schedule. The American Heart Association offers the following suggestions to help you keep track of medications that you may need to take at specific times of the day:
• Make taking your medication a part of your daily routine, as you would brushing your teeth.
Take your medicine while performing another daily activity, such as having breakfast.
• Use a daily pill box to organize and track when you've taken your medication.

• Track taking your medication on a calendar, and mark off the day afterward.
Use a white board to keep track of when you've taken your medication.
• Ask a family member or friend to remind you each day.
These are good suggestions, but make sure to follow up with your doctor before making any significant changes to your routine.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns. Our district office number is (561) 470-65
Kelly Skidmore, State Representative, District 90.
For more information, visit my official website at http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4364&SessionId=61

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Session is off to a quick start and the Capitol is a buzz with people. A student from Broward College came to Tallahassee to shadow me for two days this week and I’m happy he got such a great picture of democracy in action. The House is mostly focused on how to use $12 billion in recovery money allocated to Florida over the next three years from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and if we should accept it. Although some members in leadership have expressed serious reservations about accepting the recovery funding, I believe this money is essential to help reduce the cuts to Florida’s budget after years of reductions and a rapidly declining economy. New general revenue estimates will be released next Friday, and at that point we will know more about the size of the budget deficit for the next fiscal year.

The following items regarding our community may be of interest to you as well.
Recovery Money Available to Palm Beach County Businesses--The Palm Beach County Economic Development Office has received more than $13 million in federal loan money to offer local businesses in an effort to create jobs and boost the local economy. The money will be available in the form of a low-interest, five-year loan to profitable businesses that have been in operation for two years. Contact Claudia Lopez at clopez@pbcgov.com for more information.

Palm Beach County Offering Discount to Spay or Neuter Your Pets--I am sponsoring HB 1337 that would require shelters to spay or neuter cats and dogs before giving them up for adoption in an effort to reduce an overpopulation of stray cats and dogs, but there are also important measures you as a pet owner can take to help alleviate the problem. Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control is offering $100 vouchers to help pet owners cover the cost of spaying or neutering their cat or dog. The vouchers are available to low income residents, residents receiving unemployment benefits, and seniors over the age of 70. For more information, and to see if you may be eligible, please click on the “$100 Spay/ Neuter Vouchers” link at http://www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/animalcare.

Health Tip: House Resolution 9013, which I sponsored, passed the Florida House this week recognizing March 8 – 14 as patient safety awareness week in the state of Florida. The resolution also acknowledges the good work of the Florida Patient Safety Corporation in improving the quality and safety of health care in Florida. Visit http://www.floridapatientsafetycorp.com and click on the “Patient Checklists” for resources to help you choose doctors and pharmacists, and plan for hospital visits. Feel free to explore the rest of the website for great information on how to ensure you are receiving the safest and best quality health care possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns. Our district office number is (561) 470-6593.
Kelly Skidmore State Representative, District 90
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SeniorNet has lost its space at the JCC in Boynton Beach due to the coming closing of the JCC in West Palm Beach. This created a snowball effect that resulted in the need for additional space by the JCC at the Boynton Beach location, hence SeniorNet is being evicted.

SeniorNet began in 1995 with three students in a basement classroom. In 2003, ‘04 and ‘05 they taught 1,000 students each year. In 2008 attendance went down to 500.

SeniorNet, which has educated literally thousands of seniors in computer usage south Palm Beach, is in need of a new rent free home.

Contact SeniorNet at 561-306-4947 or Ed Ostrowski, President at 561-306-4947. See what they are about at their website: www.SeniornetBoyntonBeach.org.

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“My goals as a State Representative cover several areas,” says freshman State Representative Kevin Rader, District 78: “I want to help with insurance issues. We have to replenish the CAT fund. We should bring more insurance companies back into the Florida market. More competition will mean lower rates for consumers on their property insurance. I am also interested in Public Education and Health Care issues. Looking at the broader picture, the State budget is $66 billion. We are facing huge shortfalls for 2009 and 2010.* I support adding a $1 tax on cigarettes. We haven’t raised our cigarette tax in fifteen years. I would also like to see a sales tax on all items sold through the internet. This can help reduce our deficit.”
In the November 2008 election, Rader was elected as State Representative to fill the spot vacated by Richard Machek who completed eight years of service. Rader has kept Machek’s staff and relocated his office to the Ansca building, Suite 100 at the corner of Boynton Beach Blvd., and Hagen Ranch Road.
At age 40, State Representative Kevin Rader is a man of many accomplishments. Most important he and his wife Rabbi Amy Rader (Temple B’Nai Torah, 18th Street, Boca Raton), whom he married in 1994, are the parents of four children: boys Caleb, 12 and Ezra, 7; girls Ruby, 10 and Yael, 8.
“I believe I am the first elected official in the United States who is the husband of a Rabbi—known as a Rabbitzen,” says Rader with a grin.
After working four years at Advanced Insurance Underwriters, Rader was made a partner in January 2006 at this 188 employee insurance company, which has offices throughout the state. “We help people save money by seeking the best rates and improving their coverage,” says Rader. “In addition, as our company grows, we create job opportunities. In these tenuous times, being able to hire people provides great satisfaction. The most difficult part of the business is handling claims. When an insurance company denies a client’s claim explaining this to a client is not a pleasant task.”
Rader, born in Detroit, MI., earned a B.S., B.A. in Accounting at Boston University, Class of 1990. He lived in New York in 1993-1994, moved to Israel from 1995 to 1996 and returned to New York in 1996 until 1999 when he relocated to Boca Raton. He is an expert distance runner, having completed two New York City marathons in 1994 and 1998. He currently participates in Palm Beach County marathons.
“Our most serious family challenge,” says Rader “was putting my wife through rabbinical school and caring for the children as they were born. With hard work, love and persistence we established a stable home. Now, we enjoy hobbies of genealogy and running. I make time to have fun with the children and support my wife’s work as a Rabbi.”
Kevin Rader, State Representative will utilize his diverse talents to benefit his constituents in District 78; a wide and broadly diversified gerrymandered territory that zigzags from Boynton Beach north to St. Lucie and Ft. Pierce. He’ll join the outnumbered 43 other Democrats, who will work with 76 Republicans in the House to do the peoples business in Tallahassee. That’s a tall challenge.

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Many of you may already be receiving notification from your insurance
companies about the new insurance requirements that apply to individual HO-6
condominium policies which become effective January 1, 2009.

Many of the changes are being met with resistance and there is already talk
that the new requirements will be repealed during the 2009 Legislative
Session. That being said, you still need to comply with the law as currently
written.

The three changes garnering the most attention are the requirements to add
the association as a "named additional insured and loss payee" on all
casualty insurance policies issued to unit owners; the requirement for the
HO-6 policy to provide loss assessment coverage of at least $2,000; and the
ability of the association to buy or "force place" missing policies.

A condominium association must now inquire one time per year as to whether
or not its owners have HO-6 policies that comply with the new requirements.
The owners have 30 days from receipt of the association's request to provide
proof of such coverage. If the owners do not provide such proof, the
association MAY but is not required to purchase or "force place" those
missing policies and specially assess the owners who neglected to insure
their units.

From a practical standpoint, many associations have already indicated that
they are not inclined to start purchasing missing policies in this economic
climate only to wind up pursuing those costs in court. Many unit owners are
understandably concerned that purchasing a compliant policy now will result
in any loss payments for any reconstruction costs related to any condominium
property that the unit owner is required to insure (i.e.
cabinetry,applicances, etc.) must be made payable jointly to the owner(s)
AND the condominium association. The owners will then need to obtain the
association's endorsement of that payment which could open the door to
problems in certain communities.

Many insurance agents are grappling with the new language found in Section
718.111(11) of the Condominium Act which does not comport with insurance
industry standards. Unfortunately, it will not be surprising if you and your
neighbors receive conflicting information about these new changes and what
they mean. If you are in doubt about your board's responsibilities
regarding HO-6 policies, please contact your association attorney for an
opinion.

On a separate note, reports have resurfaced about possible health problems
associated with so-called "Chinese drywall". Drywall is a very common
manufactured building material that is used globally for the finish
construction of interior walls and ceilings. Drywall is made from gypsum
plaster, the primary component of which contains sulfur, the element which,
when mixed with moisture, emits the distinctive odor of rotten eggs.

During the construction boom that occurred between 2002 and 2006, drywall
became increasingly expensive, forcing builders and suppliers to look for
alternate sources of the material. Suppliers began importing significant
amounts of drywall from China.

This "Chinese drywall" is believed to be the culprit behind increasing
reports of noxious odors in condominium units and single family homes,
frequent, unexplained headaches and other physical ailments. It is believed
that prolonged exposure to high concentrations of sulfur dioxide or other
compounds in defective drywall may pose significant health risks. One
warning sign that high levels of sulfur are present is the "blackened"
appearance of copper pipes in some air conditioning units since sulfur is a
copper corrosive.

Although health is naturally the first point of concern, monetary damages
may also be incurred if defective drywall must be removed and replaced. If
any of your owners have complaints which may be attributed to defective
drywall, please let me know. CAN is attempting to determine the scope of the
problem before developing a possible plan of action.

Lastly, our next two free Board Member Boot Camps are tentatively scheduled
for late Spring in Lee/Collier and Palm Beach counties. Please contact Drill
Sergeant Diane Schick at 954-315-0372 or via email at dschick@askthefirm.com
if you would like to register. A video clip from our Sunrise Boot Camp is
now posted on the CAN website at www.canfl.com.

Donna D. Berger, Esq.
Executive Director of the Community Advocacy Network (CAN)
Telephone: 954.315.0372
Facsimile: 954.315.0373
Web: www.canfl.com
Email: dberger@canfl.com

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Message from Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon's Office:

The downturn in the U.S. housing market and subsequent financial credit crunch has resulted in record foreclosure filings in Palm Beach County. These foreclosed properties have the potential to become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities. In an effort to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the decline of house values of neighboring homes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently unveiled it’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).

NSP will provide funds to state and local governments to address the problem of abandoned and foreclosed properties. HUD will allocate to Palm Beach County $27 million in NSP funds which will be administered by the Department of Housing & Community Development.

Eligible uses of the NSP funds include:
• establishment of financing mechanisms to purchase and redevelop foreclosed homes and residential properties;
• purchase and rehabilitation of abandoned or foreclosed residential properties; the establishment of land banks for foreclosed homes;
• demolition of blighted structures; and
• redevelopment of demolished or vacant structures.

All uses of funds must benefit households earning no more than 120 percent of the area median income for Palm Beach County. Contact the Palm Beach County Department of Housing & Community Development at (561) 233-3600 for area median income information.
Palm Beach County’s Commission on Affordable Housing sponsored a workshop on October 23, 2008 to discuss the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and to solicit public input. Additional public input can be submitted to the Palm Beach County Department of Housing & Community Development until November 17, 2008. Subsequently, the county’s NSP Program will be developed through the direction of the Board of County Commissioners and submitted to HUD by the application deadline of December 1, 2008.

Visit the Palm Beach County Department of Housing & Community Development website (http://www.pbcgov.com/hcd/) or contact the office at (561) 233-3600 for additional information on the program.

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SEMINAR NOVEMBER 14, 2008
CONDOMINIUM INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS AND BUDGETS
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes will be presenting information on elections and budgets relating to condominium associations. The seminars will include question and answer sessions and educational materials. All seminars are open to the public. The dates, times and locations are listed below. Reservations are not necessary.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
West Palm Beach Palm Beach County Governmental Center County Commission Chamber, 301 N. Olive Avenue, 11th Floor,West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Friday, November 14, 2008, 10:00 to 1:00
(561) 355-3575
Tara Laxer,Legislative Aide to Senator Deutch of District 30
324 Senator Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1100
1-850-487-5091
15340 Jog Rd, Suite 201
Delray Beach, Fl 33446
(561) 496-5939
(561) 496-5941 FAX
Laxer.Tara.S30@flsenate.gov; senatedeutch@yahoo.com
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MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER AARONSON
I recently learned that Palm Beach County has over 1,000 employees that are veterans. According to Craig Carr, the Coordinator of the County’s Veterans Services Division, our veterans served in every war from World War II through the current Iraq War. He singled out two employees, one was a Marine who served from 1943 to 1945 in the South Pacific and another, also a Marine, who participated in D-Day.

This is a good time to remind all of you that the County’s Veterans Services Division is dedicated to veterans, widows and children of veterans. The office serves all military veterans and their dependents including the Merchant Mariners and other auxiliaries. Craig and his staff have been specially trained to act on behalf of veterans. They maintain accreditation and certification through both the U.S. and Florida Departments of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans Services provides assistance in developing and filing claims and appeals with the Veterans Administration. They will help veterans, widows and children of veterans with applications, eligibility determinations and certification of various services such as compensation, pension, medical care, education, home loans and burial benefits. In addition, they can provide referral to other sources of help that may be available.

The main office of Veterans Services is located in West Palm Beach. You can call Craig and his staff Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm at 561-355-4761. In addition, staff is available on Wednesdays between 10:00am and 4:00pm at the County’s Library on 95th Avenue South in west Boca Raton and on Thursdays between 9:00am and 4:30pm at the County’s library on Hagen Ranch Road in West Delray Beach. I urge you to call or stop at one of these locations if you have any questions or need information.

Veterans Day reminds us to honor the many dedicated men and women who have served our country and preserved our democratic way of life. We must also honor our future veterans, those currently serving in the armed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Korea, the United States and many other places. They are all heroes. They deserve our love, respect and never-ending thank you.

Finally, Sheila, my staff and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I also want to thank you for the support I received during our recent election. I appreciate your confidence in me and I am proud to be your District Commissioner. I will continue to do all I can to insure that you, as well as all the residents in Palm Beach County, have the highest quality of life possible.

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Information courtesy of Donna D. Berger, Esq.
Executive Director of the Community Advocacy Network (CAN)
Telephone: 954.315.0372, Facsimile: 954.315.0373 Web: www.canfl.com
Email: dberger@canfl.com

(An abbreviated version due to blog space limitations.)
On December 19, 2007, the President signed into law the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (the "Act"). This law was named after the daughter of Nancy Baker and the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker who drowned in June 2002 after the suction from a spa drain trapped her under the water. This Act was first introduced by Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

The Act specifies that on or after December 19, 2008, swimming pool and spa
drain covers available for purchase in the United States must meet specific
performance requirements. Additionally, public swimming pools, wading pools,
spas and hot tubs must meet requirements for installation of compliant drain
covers. New drain covers which meet the current standard are now beginning
to make their way into the marketplace. Additionally, in certain instances,
public pools and spas must have additional devices or systems designed to
prevent suction entrapment.

The Act defines the term "public pool and spa" to include a pool or spa that
is open to residents of a multi-unit apartment building, apartment complex,
residential real estate development, or other multi-family residential area.
Thus, pools and spas found in condominium, cooperative, homeowners'
associations, timeshares, and mobile home communities must be in compliance
with the Act.

These federal safety requirements will apply to your community association
pool regardless of when the pool was constructed, as of December 19, 2008,
unless there are multiple drains already in place.
If your pool is not in operation on December 19, 2008, these requirements
will not apply until your pool returns to operation.

The requirement that a public pool or spa be equipped with an
anti-entrapment device or system applies to public pools or spas with a
single main drain other than an unblockable drain.

Thus, a plain reading of the statute indicates that pools and spas with
multiple main drains are excluded from this provision.

If a pool or spa subject to the Act has more than one independent drain
served by a separate, dedicated pump, then each such drain is a "single main
drain" and must comply with the requirements of Section 1404 (c)(1)(A)(ii).

*This federal law contains no provision on its preemptive effect and,
therefore, does not by its terms expressly preempt state law. However,
section 1404(b) of the Act has been deemed by Congress to be a "consumer
product safety rule" under the Consumer Product Safety Act. For this reason,
it is believed that the preemptive provisions of Section 26 apply directly
to the Section 1404(b) requirement that all swimming pool or spa drain
covers manufactured, distributed, or entered into commerce in the United
States conform to ASME/ANSI A112.19.8. Drain covers or other anti-entrapment
systems or devices marketed or sold in the U.S. on or after December 19,
2008 need to meet the new federal standard.

The fact that the Act lays out "minimum" requirements
suggests that States can pass greater restrictions in this regard. The
impact of the Act on a particular state law or
regulation needs to be analyzed on a state by state basis.

If your community has a pool or a spa, please make sure to discuss these
federal safety requirements with your property manager, your association
attorney and/or a licensed engineer to determine whether or not your pool or
spa will meet these requirements as of December 19, 2008. If you have more
questions about whether or not your community pool or spa will be compliant
come December 19, 2008, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at info@cpsc.gov or by phone at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270). Hotline staff are available from 8:30 to 5:00 ET or you can leave a message any time to receive a return call.

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Sgt. Melody Gamage of the Palm Beach County Narcotics Squad presented sobering information to our Citizen’s Academy group about the state of the drug trade at present.

Use of crack cocaine is going down. Prescription drug abuse is soaring. Oxycontin, Xanax and Valium are the drugs being used by young, old and mostly white people. Two sources: Some doctors are writing prescriptions illegally, and young people are finding these drugs in their own medicine cabinet from parent’s prescriptions. Deaths from overdosing these drugs are rising. It is imperative these drugs in the home be protected from family members that are not prescribed to use them.

Broward County doctors are writing more prescriptions than those in Palm Beach County. Regulations are a bit less rigid there. Law enforcement personnel are aware that people from Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee drive down to south Florida counties to pick up prescriptions for these drugs and sell them back in their states.

Narcotics department staff has found boats, and work trucks with hidden compartments used to smuggle cocaine and other drugs into Florida from Jamaica and Mexico. Some semi trailer trucks have been found with a false step up to the cab used as a hidden storage area to smuggle drugs. Drug lords in Mexico send a convoy of 25 cars into the United States loaded with drugs. If one car gets stopped and its load gets confisticated, the rest get through and those drugs are sold for street distribution.

Marijuana grow houses are prevalent in many parts of northern Palm Beach County. In 2007 plants worth $34.6 million were destroyed by the Narcotics Department.

Battling the drug trade is an uphill, never ending war for the Department. For further information go to www.pbso.org.

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District 6 Sheriff’s Captain Martin Bechtel hosted the second session of the Citizen’s Academy at District 6 Headquarters, Jog road, Boynton Beach. It was an evening packed with information and demonstrations by the brave deputies who protect us every day.

First speaker was Bomb & Arson Squad Detective William Atkinson. Assisting him was Deputy Udell. Det. Atkinson explained the intensive training they go such as 150 hours to be certified for hazardous material handling. The group then went outside for demonstrations of the department’s robot and the safety equipment they wear when on a bomb investigation. The helmet weights 12 lbs.; the jacket about 60.

Next demonstration was given by Sheriff’s Deputy Beth Goldweber who is assigned to traffic patrol in her cruiser. She showed how tickets are printed out right in her cruiser; how she can access records on the computer and how she uses her radar gun to clock speeders.

The final event of the evening was a demonstration of K-9 dogs and their handlers. K-9 Deputy Luis Ledbetter of the K-9 Unit stated that there about 50 dogs in the program. All were German Shepard’s, except for the 3 bloodhounds in the unit. All the Shepards are imported from overseas at a cost of 7 to $9,000. All dogs are male, with one exception. Each dog and deputy goes through 480 hours of training. It takes about one year to train the dog and his deputy handler. Each dog has one handler with whom he stays for his entire lifetime. The dogs have a 12 to 13 year life span and work for about 7 years. At the end of a dog’s tour they have a value of between $8,500 to $100,000, dependant on the work they have done such as explosives, narcotics.

Captain Bechtel was greeted happily by Deputy Ledbettter's bloodhound "Clue."

Deputy Frend introduced us to Falco, his German Shepard. Falco used a grassy open space adjacent to the parking lot to have Falco demonstrate his obedience to Frend’s commands,

including giving chase to Captain Bechtel (wearing a protective arm guard) posing as a bad guy.

It was an exciting, informative evening.

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Friday, August 15, 2008

The Alliance of Delray, The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County and The Palm Beach County Partnership for Aging invite you to listen, question and learn as we
“Meet the Candidates” for the offices of Supervisor of Elections, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Clerk and Comptroller, State Attorney and State Representative, District 78.

With Primary Election Day on August 26, just 11 days later, this is the perfect venue and time to listen to the challenger’s present their views. Each candidate will make an opening statement, respond to questions from the audience and the co-sponsors, and make a closing statement.
Moderator: Sally Robinson, League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County

The Public is Invited
South County Civic Center
16700 Jog Road
Delray Beach
Doors open at 9:00 A.M.
Meeting begins at 9:30 A.M.

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Lumosity Brain Games. Try it today. Click here: http://www.lumosity.com - Brain Games

Now available throughout the Hurricane Season a direct link to the National Hurricane Center on the Alliance of Delray Website:

Go to www.allianceofdelray.com and click on "Hurricane Tracking" in the very center of the home page...you will immediately be connected to the National Hurricane Center of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

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County Finances at Your Fingertips

If you wish you knew a little more about what government does with your hard-earned tax dollars, now you can! The Clerk & Comptroller’s office puts County finances at your fingertips with the second edition of Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances available at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com. The guide was released in May following Clerk Bock’s “Fiscal Year 2007 Year-End Financial Review,” an annual presentation to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners that provides important information about the county’s debt, investments and overall financial health.

The easy-to-read Checks & Balances guide is produced annually by the Clerk’s office and highlights current issues impacting County finances. The award-winning guide answers questions about how your property taxes are assessed, how special districts impact your tax bill and how the County incurs and pays debt. On each page you will also find links to additional useful information.

"By educating the public and increasing fiscal awareness, I will continue my commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in County government," said Clerk Bock. As the accountant, treasurer and auditor for the County – the Clerk’s office provides a check and balance on the County’s revenue and spending. The Checks & Balances guide contains condensed and simplified information, mostly from the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), a more detailed report the office produces at the end of each fiscal year containing roughly 200 pages of financial statements and reports. At just about 20 pages, Checks & Balances is much shorter and intended for the general public.
Now Available Online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com:

New! Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances

New! Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)

New! Annual Investment Guide
New! Annual Debt Guide

In the interest of educating and informing residents about County finances, I’ve also made other publications available online. Visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com to find not only Checks & Balances, but also the FY2007 CAFR and two new publications—the Annual Investment Guide and the Annual Debt Guide. These are YOUR guides. Please use them to better understand your community and the government that serves you.

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"The financial downturn has affected everyone in the country, especially
in Palm Beach County. Homeownership is a staple of being an American.
Through the efforts of this Task Force, we aim to give HOPE to those in
our community who are in danger of losing their homes. The first
business of government is to protect and to serve. There is no greater
goal now than to protect our homes from foreclosure."

The Governor’s Florida Home Ownership Promotes the Economy (“HOPE”) Task Force is established to develop a state plan of action to address escalating foreclosure rates and to identify effective ways to preserve home ownership for Floridians. Palm Beach County has been suffering from a high rate of foreclosures in the home and condominium markets. The outline of the Governor’s vision will be applied to specific instances of foreclosures here in the real estate market.

HOPE for Palm Beach County is hereby established as an outreach of the statewide task force. Its members shall consist of the following:
-Maria Lorts Sachs, State Representative, District 86
-Burt Aaronson, County Commissioner
-Susan Whelchel, Mayor of Boca Raton
-Rita Ellis, Mayor of Delray Beach
-Jerry Taylor, Mayor of Boynton Beach
-Cyd Spiro, CEO, Regent Bank
-Howard Milchman, Esquire
-Joseph Kaknes, Mortgage Expert
-Brian Lipshy, Esquire, Saraga and Lipshy
-Louis Caplan, Esquire, Sachs and Sax
-Mike Owen, Realtors Association of Palm Beach County

HOPE for Palm Beach County will have the authority to review the following issues:
1. An analysis of those mortgages that are in danger of arrearages
2. An assessment of available financial resources (public and private) to assist Palm Beach County homeowners facing foreclosure
3. Recommendations designed to assist the homeowner in maintaining homeownership
4. Practical solutions to assist the homeowner in working with the bank to maintain their home ownership
The mission of the Task Force is to assist the citizens of Palm Beach County to maintain homeownership by bringing together banking and mortgage industry representatives, lawyers specializing in home and condominium real estate, city officials, and real estate policy advocates to find practical solutions to the growing foreclosure problem.
For further information contact:
Michael Lapidus
The office of Representative Maria Lorts Sachs
Phone: (561)266-6645
Email: maria.sachs@myfloridahouse.gov

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State Senator Ted Deutch and staff members Casey Kustin and Josh Sztorc held a luncheon meeting for the board of directors of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Senator Deutch wanted to hear from this group about issues that concerned them and their member communities. In a free wheeling, informal hour and a half meeting, the following subjects were discussed and are being addressed by the Senator’s office:

1. Sen. Deutch is working on securing funding for FAU’s Holocaust Center.
2. Congressman Wexler is working on seeking parity for HMO payments between Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County at the Federal level. Sen. Deutch will work to make sure State will be on board for whatever Federal changes may come.
3. Sen. Deutch staff members are checking to learn if Solar panels are allowed on homes under HOA rules
4. Researching the amount of revenue generated from state gas tax with rise in current gas prices.
5. My Safe Florida Home Program- Has the original $40 million grant been exhausted? What is the status of the free inspection program?
6. Confirming status of Mitigation reports to home buyers. New law stating sellers with Citizens must provide Mitigation report. In 2011 all insurance companies will provide.
7. Provide an outline of provisions of new Healthcare Bill.

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Richard Herman, Vice President of the Alliance of Delray; President of his Kings Point Condominium and a member of the Kings Point Board of Directors sent the following letter that is important for all to read. M.M.

To: Representative Julio Robaina & Committee Members.

I attended your session that was held at the Broward Community College last Saturday, the 26th of January.

I came with eleven other individuals representing communities in the Delray Beach area of Palm Beach County. We are all volunteers that are on local association boards of directors and all belong to the Alliance of Delray Residential Communities. Each and every one of us have been working in our community associations for our neighbors and are well qualified to speak to issues with 718 and 720.

Of this group, only two of us intended to speak, Barbara Zee on HOAs and me on Condominium issues.

We arrived shortly before 10:30 AM and signed in. (we were told that the sessions started at 11:00 AM).

Many speakers preceded me, complaining about everything. One complained about an assessment to repair his garage after the county engineers stated it had to be repaired for the safety of the building, but he thought his engineering degree and his lovely wife trumped the county assessment of the structure. Another gave a 15 minute diatribe concerning how the mafia had turned route 95 into a highway to riches for the New York mob. A third took 15 minutes to describe how his board had looted hundreds of thousands of dollars from the association. I sat through five and a half hours of these individual complaints, and as serious as many of them are, 95% are criminal complaints which should be resolved by existing criminal law and, at no time did you interrupt any of these speakers or actually compress their time for speaking.

When I was finally called upon to speak, I had a handout for each of the committee members which I wanted read into the record, including suggestions to strengthen existing statutes to protect unit owners and their treasury. Within three minutes of my briefing, you callously interrupted me, asked how many more pages I was going to read (you already had my two page input) and cut me short. In my opening statement, I referenced the Posey/Gardner bill which, at the conclusion of my statement, elicited a negative comment from you.

I got your message! You are only interested in horror stories from the disgruntled few and want to subpoena and further harass boards, many of whom already spend too many hours working for their neighbors. You seem disinterested in hearing about the problems facing well run associations, the source of these problems and suggestions on how to improve the situation.
You did not do your homework. You did not go into the communities to see for yourself what is actually going on. You expect unit owners from well run communities that are satisfied with their boards to come to you - it will not happen. Even when someone comes before you to "testify", if it is not a diatribe against their board or some horror story, you seem uninterested.

The South County Partnership, which is comprised of three umbrella organization has over 200 member communities. There are similar umbrella groups all over the state of Florida. You could have randomly selected any community to view their operation and get a truer picture.

I am extremely disappointed in the method you and your committee are using to collect information and data. Anecdotal input based on organized complainers will lead to bad legislation.

S/ Richard S. Herman, Vice President, Alliance of Delray Residental Community Associations
561-498-4343 

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To the Honorable Committee Members,
 
I e-mailed Rep. Robaina before the meeting to tell him I would like to appear before the Committee with positive information regarding boards of directors and members.  Surprisingly, Rep. Robaina called me and left a message saying he would be glad to have me appear and hear something other than negative concerns and complaints.
 
I made the trip (total of 80 miles), signed in at 10:30 am, and waited almost 6 hours (without food or water - not allowed in the auditorium) to be called to speak.  Dozens of people appeared before me and each was given all the time they needed or wanted.  Most speakers were before the Committee for 10 to 20 minutes.  Some were even asked for suggestions regarding legislation to solve their problems with the associations and boards.  While the others were speaking, I was taking notes on their specific problems.  At about 3 pm, Chairman Robaina stated that each speaker should take no more than "5, 6 or 7 minutes".  However, most of them continued with the same 10+  minute time frame. 
 
My name was finally called at 4:15.  The lady before me has a local religious radio show.  She spoke for 15 minutes about her program, her websites, her e-mail addresses,how she was going to talk every day, every hour about the problems, and pray for the Committee, etc. 
 
Now it was my turn at the microphone, I had a 6 -7 minute written statement:
 
"Good afternoon.  Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you.  My name is Barbara Zee.  I am a resident of a homeowners' association in Delray Beach and Secretary of the Board and the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the Alliance of Delray Board, an organization that provides a forum for the consideration of community, county, state and national legislation and other issues that may affect 70,000 residents.  Through the Alliance, I also have a relationship with COCA, the statewide association of associations.
 
COCA acts as a conduit for solutions to association problems and provides information regarding the same types of issues as the Alliance only on a statewide level.  In 2007, Dick Spears, one of the founders, stated that COCA as an association of people who live in associations should examine 718 & 720 and decide what, if any, changes should be made. 
 
With support from the Alliance, the COCA Legislative Project Committee was organized with expertise coming from Richard Herman (who spoke today), myself and others from the Alliance, Charlotte Greenbarg (who also spoke earlier) and members from the Broward Coalition, West Boca Community Coalition, COBWRA of West Boynton and many other knowledgeable members from across the state.  All the proposals that were submitted for 718 & 720 were consolidated by Dick Spears into 2 drafts, and placed with legislation professionals who finalized our efforts.  Now, Rep. Andy Gardiner is the sponsor for HB 679, and  the Senate bill will be sponsored by Senator Bill Posey.
 
This Bill contains provisions for making owner participation easier, less restrictive and adds clarity to what was ambiguous language."
 
(At this point Rep. Robaina stopped me and told me that since I had my information in writing, I should stop now and just send my points to the Committee.  I responded that  there were requests today of the speakers from the Committee for suggestions for legislation.  A number of their complaints and concerns are already addressed in this bill.  For example...)
 
"One concern expressed today was the law doesn't say when meetings with attorneys are not "open".  The new bill adds the words "to discuss proposed or pending litigation" with the association's attorney.
 
Several concerns were about members' rights at board meetings: 679 says, Members have the right to attend all regular meetings of the board and speak for at least 3 minutes on any agenda matter.  After the completion of the regular agenda, members may also address nonagenda issues..."
 
(Rep. Robaina said I would definitely have to stop and just give out my website address.)
 
I felt that I was treated unfairly, with discrimination and a lack of respect.  It is my impression that Rep. Robaina was doing to me what those "offensive, abusive boards" are accused of doing to their members at a meeting.  My testimony was not about a "horror" story, and it wasn't about the Committee's legislative effort.  It offered positive legislative changes, in an existing bill, which would correct some of the problems about which the Committee was hearing.  Why was I encouraged by Rep. Robaina to come to that meeting and give him positive information when it seems he really wasn't interested in hearing it? 
 
With respect, regret and disappointment,
 
Barbara Zee
561-638-0731
bzee7028@comcast.net 

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Residents throughout south Florida attended an all day meeting at Broward Community College South Campus in Pembroke Pines conducted by the new state Select Committee on Condominium & Homeowners Association Governance chaired by Rep. Julio Robaina on Saturday January 26 from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M. This is the first of five statewide public hearings. Four others will be held in Miami Beach, Tampa, Orlando and Tallahassee.

People who wanted to speak filled their name out on a form when they arrived. Those forms were placed in front of Robaina and he called the people’s names to speak. As each person spoke it was evident it was a complaint session. Richard Herman, Kings Point community President, who tried to say something positive about boards and board members, was cut short by the committee. “I was deeply disappointed in the bias of this committee,” said Herman.

The major complaints were lack of response to residents from boards; unavailability of meeting minutes and financial records; being unable to get copies of contracts with vendors for services.

Several members of the Alliance of Delray: Robert Schulbaum, President; Barbara Zee, V. P.; Lori Vinikoor, V.P.; Richard Herman, V.P.; Jack Miles, Alliance Board member; Carol Klausner, Vizcaya community board member; Rene Zerah, President Emerald Point; Jerry Mark, board member Emerald Point and Leo Plevy of Tivoli Isles were among those attending the meeting.

Richard Herman and Barbara Zee wrote scathing letters to Rep. Robaina and the committee members which will be posted in this space over the next few days.

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