Since almost everything in Delray Beach becomes political, it figures that the choices of who will set policy for what until recently was a marketing organization have become the city’s counterpart to Supreme Court appointees.

That would be the Downtown Development Authority, which in 2022 expanded its traditional role to include operating part of Old School Square at the city’s request. More like begging, really, since a previous city commission had ended the lease with the group that ran the complex—with no backup plan—and left Old School Square dark.

At tonight’s meeting, the commission is scheduled to fill three of the seven DDA board seats. A year ago, commission politics were aligned with that evicted group—Old School Square Center for the Arts (OSSCTA)—and wanted to revive its involvement in the complex. That commission’s four DDA appointees reflected that sentiment.

The March election, though, scrambled that lineup, installing a majority hostile to OSSCTA. It includes Juli Casale, who with former Mayor Shelly Petrolia and then-Commissioner Shirley Johnson ended the lease. Casale has been the most vocal opponent, but Mayor Tom Carney and Commissioner Thomas Markert have made clear that even as they fumble through sorting out Old School Square’s future, they want to bury the group without which Old School Square would not exist.

In April, the new commission removed one of those 2023 appointees, Rick Burgess, after an ethics investigation found that he had lied on his application. The terms of two other board members, Mark Denkler and Christina Godbout, are up July 1. According to the staff memo, both incumbents would like a second and final three-year term.

Those 2023 appointees were more questioning of DDA Executive Director Laura Simon, who has had the job since 2015. They also wondered whether partial operation of Old School Square was distracting the agency from its longtime priority of promoting downtown Delray Beach. In an interview Monday, Simon defended the new role because of the complex’s importance to downtown.

“We have a rock star team,” Simon said of the DDA staff, which has “adjusted.” The agency has added two full-time staff members and a part-timer, as well as two contractors to handle bookings. Old School Square has “complemented our responsibilities. We’ve never been street cleaners.”

Under its contract, the DDA operates the Cornell Museum, the Fieldhouse, the amphitheater and the grounds, with the city providing maintenance. The city will have paid the DDA $1.6 million when this budget year ends Sept. 30.

When OSSCTA ran the complex, it took no money from the city budget toward operating costs. Now that the commission wants the DDA to operate renovated classrooms at Old School Square’s Crest Theater, the cost to the city will increase. The amount has not been determined.

City Manager Terrence Moore has said that he would like the current $1 million for non-Crest operations to be $800,000 next year, or roughly half what the DDA originally asked for. Moore wants a 90-10 split between the DDA and the city on Old School Square net revenues.

That lower figure, Simon said, would “limit us significantly” in terms of programming. There would be fewer free events. This year, Simon said, Old School Square has brought in $130,000 in revenue, including $25,000 in donations.

Simon’s most recent job evaluations reflect that political split on the board. Denkler, who is aligned with the faction that won in March, gave Simon a top score of five in all nine categories. Vera Woodson, who is similarly aligned, gave her seven scores of five and two fours.

But Chairman Brian Rosen, one of the 2023 appointees, gave Simon just 23 points, or an average of 2.5. Aaron Hallyburton, another 2023 appointee, rated Simon even lower, with 15 points. Cole Devitt was the outlier among last year’s appointees, with 45 points. Godbout gave Simon an overall rating of average—28 points.

Carney will fill the Burgess vacancy. Rob Long, who favors a place for OSSCTA but realizes that it won’t happen, and Markert, will make the other appointments. Based on prevailing city politics, Simon could emerge with a more supportive board.

But the appointment process itself has been problematic. The applications offer very little information. Vetting failed to spot Burgess’ address problem or a similar issue that tripped up the first possible replacement. When the commission tried a third time, one of the applicants—the owner of Big Al’s Steaks—turned out to be facing foreclosure.

As late as last week’s board meeting, Simon and agency officials were still trying to decide how best to work with the city, which receives the applications. I was told that Simon asked the city’s attorney’s office if she could have final say over the commission’s choices. Simon said she only had asked how the agency could better verify applicants’ information.

Whatever the makeup of the new board, questions will remain about Old School Square and the DDA. Carney asked on his own about the agency operating the Crest, but he also has said that he wants to “transition” away from the DDA to some other group, without offering specifics.

For her part, Simon seems ready for the DDA to be the “quarterback” Markert wants for the whole campus. “We have a strong sense of how this place runs. We want it to succeed.”

For now, a Google search for “Old School Square” lists the website for Old School Square Center for the Arts at the top—above the DDA’s new website for the complex. Perhaps the future of Old School Square can’t be fully resolved until Delray Beach resolves its factional politics. If that’s possible.

Burgess appeal may go nowhere

Burgess appealed his removal, as the law allows, but the case may never get before a panel of judges.

A June 7 order from Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge John Parnofiello demands that Burgess file within 10 days an amended petition to conform with the required standards or Parnofiello would dismiss the case for “failure to comply.” As of Monday, the court file showed no amended petition.

Election fields set for school board races

After qualifying last week, the fields are set for local school board elections in August and November.

Five candidates will compete in the Aug. 20 primary to succeed Palm Beach County District 5 School Board member Frank Barbieri. He declined to seek a fifth, four-year term.

Gloria Branch, daughter of former School Superintendent Art Johnson, posted her first fundraising report even though the reporting period doesn’t end until June 30. She has raised about $38,000, which includes a $20,000 personal loan. Branch has $1,000 each from her parents and $1,000 each from James and Marta Batmasian of Investments Limited.

The other four candidates are Mindy Koch, Mike Letsky, Suzanne Page and Charman Postel. Koch resigned in May as chair of the county Democratic Party’s executive committee after having been removed and reinstated. Page ran against Barbieri in 2020. If no one gets a majority in the primary, the top two finishers will move to the general election in November. I’ll have more about all of them after their next fundraising reports.

Challengers for Gossett-Seidman and Reicherter house seats

As expected, Democrat Jay Shooster will challenge incumbent Republican Peggy Gossett-Seidman for the Florida House 90 seat that includes Boca Raton and Highland Beach. In District 91, which includes Delray Beach, incumbent Democrat Joe Casello will face Republican William Reicherter.

There are no local state Senate races this year. Kelly Skidmore, the Democrat incumbent in House 92, won another term with no opposition. The district includes part of West Boca.

Ehrnst and Wright to remain on Boca Beach and Park board

Craig Ehrnst and Erin Wright also won new, four-year terms on the board of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District after no one else filed. The district levies a separate tax from the city for recreation facilities such as Sugar Sand Park. Ehrnst and Wright have been on the board since 2016.

Boca TCAI allotted $1 million from state budget

Though Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million worth of arts and cultural projects in the state budget, the leader of the group seeking to build a performing arts center in Boca Raton said the governor allowed a $1 million allocation toward the project.

Andrea Virgin, CEO of The Center for Arts & Innovation, emailed the news last week after the budget became final. The center would be on land in Mizner Park next to the city’s amphitheater, which the group would renovate and operate.