In mid-October, I wrote about the mid-July encounter between Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney and a police officer who was working a traffic accident. A video from the incident showed Carney complaining about the number of city firefighters who had been called to the scene.
The headline called it “a bizarre interaction.” Looking at what he said were seven fire personnel, Carney mused that he “should have been a fireman … I’m just a lawyer and a banker, and I wish I was a fireman.”
As Carney left his car and got near the scene, the officer approached him. At that point, Carney said, “I’m the mayor of Delray Beach.” Carney explained that the city is in a “big budget fight.” One issue for Carney in that fight was what he considers the overly generous contract the previous commission approved with the firefighters’ union, which endorsed Carney’s opponent, Ryan Boylston, in the March election.
If the police officer had been a firefighter, Carney told him, “You’d already be retired going to another department.”
The video generated much talk around the city. In his Nov. 11 newsletter, Carney responded, in an item headlined, “True or False: Looking Out for Taxpayers.”
Carney said he spotted the first responder units after leaving his house nearby. Workers at a food truck said they were “mystified” by the heavy presence. After learning that the driver who blew a tire was unhurt, “I got back in my car and left.”
Carney wrote, “I thought it was odd to have so many firefighters responding to what seemed to be a minor incident.
“I have great respect for our first responders … But I do want to see responsible use of personnel resources and equipment.”
Carney then referenced that contract, under which firefighter/paramedics work 24 hours on and 72 hours off. The previous agreement was 24 hours on and 48 hours off.
“What do most firefighters do the other days of the month?” Carney asked. “Do they work overtime instead and get paid more? Do they have other part-time jobs? Do taxpayers know about the cost of this contract?”
Without “changes,” Carney said, the city might have to hire 21 more firefighters. (New Chief Ronald Martin is working with City Manager Terrence Moore on options.) “I understand other nearby cities are adopting similar work plans and the argument is Delray cannot hire good talent without providing a similar work schedule.”
Carney added, “My job as mayor is to ask questions and continue to examine the use of taxpayer resources … I will never stop fighting wasteful spending. Even if it upsets some people.”
On Monday, I asked Carney if he wanted to elaborate. He said of the newsletter, “I’d like to leave it at that.”
Delray still hasn’t approved first responder contracts
Speaking of Delray Beach and labor contracts, the city still has not approved new agreements with the Police Benevolent Association and the Service Employees Union International.
Those contracts expired Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Despite the delay in reaching new, three-year agreements, the city has not declared an impasse. Terms of new contracts will be retroactive to Oct. 1.
Delray decides how to spend portion opioid settlement funds
Narcan soon will be available all over Delray Beach.
Distribution of the medicine that reverses opioid overdoses is part of the city’s plan for spending settlement money from lawsuits against companies that made and sold OxyContin. Abuse of the prescription painkiller affected Delray Beach as it did few other cities in Florida.
After one failed attempt, the city commission in October approved a policy for spending the money and the first allocations. Assistant City Manager Jeff Oris explained that Delray Beach has received $239,000 and likely can expect another $1.5 million over the next 18 years.
Local governments must get approval from the state on their plans. Delray Beach is doing that. The settlement restricts spending to drug treatment, prevention and education but gives cities flexibility within those categories.
In addition, the commission must create and appoint a seven-member committee to advise on future spending. Five members must work in related fields. Two at-large members must be city residents. Those actions will come early in 2025.
Oris said the city will make Narcan available in about 100 boxes throughout the city, especially downtown. Overdoses have occurred in restaurant bathrooms, but Oris said some owners may keep the boxes in less prominent locations while making the product easily accessible for the staff.
Ariana Ciancio, the police department’s respected service population advocate, told commissioners that opioid deaths dropped 78% after Narcan became readily available. In the worst days of the opioid scourge, only paramedics had it. Narcan is sold over the counter now, but it can cost up to $25 per dose.
Of that $239,000, Delray Beach has allocated only $158,000. The city will roll over the balance. Delray Beach also must decide how to spend $1.1 million from settlement of a separate lawsuit involving the Caron Foundation. That discussion also will happen early next year.
Boca approves contract for downtown campus consultant
In a special meeting Monday, the Boca Raton City Council approved a contract with real estate services firm CBRE to evaluate proposals for the Governmental Master Plan Project.
City Manager George Brown withdrew the agreement from last week’s regular meeting because of questions from some council members. Those seemed to concern the company’s compensation if the council chose one of the developers that submitted proposals before CBRE’s involvement.
One of the company’s tasks is to market the redevelopment of the area around City Hall to prospective bidders. Terra/Frisbie and Ross Related already had expressed interest. Other developers have until Jan. 9 to join them.
The city will pay CBRE $20,000 per month, starting in January, and a “one-time mobilization fee” of $40,000 to gear up for the work. All other compensation will come from the chosen developer. Those fees could total roughly $3.2 million.
Councilwoman Fran Nachlas said, “I am uncomfortable” with the “reimbursements” to CBRE. Because the staff spent time on the Terra/Frisbie and Related Ross bids—and CBRE did nothing to bring them—the question is whether the company should get the same for them as for a later bid.
Nachlas did join the unanimous vote to approve the contract. Nachlas and Yvette Drucker, however, stressed the need for “listening and communication” as the city considers a project that could cost nearly $2 billion and reshape downtown.
Family files wrongful death suit against Brightline
The family of a man killed by a Brightline train in Boca Raton two years ago has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
According to the complaint, James Ostrowski was trying to walk across the track at Southwest 18th Street when he was struck. Ostrowski had been on the southwest corner. The incident happened on Oct. 25, 2022.
Like all crossings in Boca Raton, the one at 18th Street is a “quiet zone.” Trains don’t have to blow their horns because added safety provisions are in place to alert pedestrians and drivers. The lawsuit alleges that there were “issues” at the crossing and that, because of them, the train was going at an “unreasonable” rate of speed.
The lawsuit also names Florida East Coast Industries. It owns the rail corridor that Brightline leases.
First reading for Delray ordinance to add speed cameras to school zones
On today’s Delray Beach City Commission agenda is first reading of the ordinance to place speed cameras in school zones.
The “speed detection systems” will monitor the city’s eight public schools and five of the private schools. Tickets will be issued to anyone driving more than 10 miles over the limit 30 minutes before and after any “school session.” Accused violators can challenge their ticket before a city magistrate.
A second and final reading will happen next month. Boca Raton officials also are discussing whether to install the cameras. Many cities have done so since the Legislature authorized their use last year.
Delray group hopes to have city join in rebuilding inshore reefs
A group called the Delray Beach Restoration Consortium has organized to make the city part of an effort to rebuild inshore coral reefs that face extinction from climate change.
The discovery of lab-grown corals makes such restoration possible. The consortium, which includes former City Commissioner Jim Chard, will make a presentation Wednesday to the Beach Property Owners Association. I’ll have more as the consortium’s work proceeds.
