News from League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County

County Administrator
A. What is the relationship of the Commissioners to the County Administrator?

"It's an art, not a science. These days my relationship is more diplomatic." Robert Weisman is hired by contract and can be terminated by a Vote of 4 Commissioners. He maintains a high level of honesty and always gives his best and honest opinion when asked. He has been a county employee for 30 years and 19 in this position. He has no professional agenda and supplies the facts for the Commissioners to decide what should happen. He is responsible for running the government in the way they want and Commissioners can't order his employees. The Commissioners have power only as a group, due to the fact that there is no Mayor or elected executive. Four Votes win!

B. How is the relationship between the County Commission and cities in Palm Beach County managed?

"We don't manage the Cities at all." State law gives the cities independence and they have more power than the County on some issues. For example, annexing - the County has no say. There have been some nasty fights and disagreements with the Fire Departments, where the cities don't want to give up their own departments. The county does not want to spend time on the cities.

C. Does the County share mutual contracts with cities in Palm Beach County or outside the County?
As far as mutual contracts with cities, state law allows us to piggy-back on contracts for a better price, such as computers, cars, paper and big-ticket items.

D. Who is the "Watchdog" for Waste in County Government?

"The Watchdog for County Government is ME!" He has auditors, but could use more. There's an internal auditor and now the Inspector General. There has been a cut in staff due to the budget restraints. On average they find about 2% of employee fraud cases each year. He gets a bi-weekly report with a list of investigations and how those investigations are settled. He is short-staffed, especially on support staff. It is annoying that the Inspector General can hire people, and there is a November ballot question on expanding the role of the IG.

Florida Statutes and Charter
A. Who reviews and updates the Palm Beach County Charter? How often?

There is no schedule for a Charter review. It was probably done about 15 years ago. Commissioner Taylor asked to establish a Charter Review Committee. The charter can be modified based on need and the public can initiate specific issues. Seven percent of the Voters are needed for an initiative.

B. Who reviews and updates the Florida Statutes?

There is no review of the statutes. The Florida Legislature reviews and passes laws affecting the statutes. There is a Staff Lobbyist that works in our interest with the Palm Beach County Legislators to bring bills to the legislature or change laws.

C. What process is used to enact new statutes?

The County meets with the Palm Beach County Delegation a few times before legislative session. They have to get a legislator to take on their issue(s). They have no big gripes with legislators.

D. Is there an opportunity for the public to be involved in reviewing these changes and how?

All meetings with the delegates are open and advertised, scheduled a month in advance, and televised on Channel 20 and on pbc.gov.

Palm Beach County Commission
A. How are the Seven Districts drawn presently and who draws them?

There are approximately 1.2 million residents, and each district has about 125,000 people. The Glades has about 35,000 people. The staff, with help from a university consultant draws the districts. They get tweaked every 10 years when we have a Census. We try to keep cities together and districts are contiguous.

B. Do Districts get reviewed for changes? How often, and who can change them?
New districts will be very similar and we have had no major growth in the last 5 years.

Palm Beach County Departments
A. How are responsibilities for budgeting and planning for the County and the Cities handled?

Each entity is totally responsible for its budget. Robert Weisman does the budget and it gets reviewed by the Commission. He looks at the service and tax level to finalize the county budget.

Voting
A. Why was the at-large voting eliminated?

One reason was to minimize the influence on Commissioners of large condo voting blocks, like Kings Point. Efforts by the African-American communities and the economic council were also influential. The idea was sold and that district has consistently had an African-American Commissioner. Now we have seven Districts.

B. Any comment on why term limits were initiated?
It became a public issue of long term Commissioners.

C. Are all meeting of the County Commission open to the public?

No. Commissioners are allowed to discuss two things in private: #1 - Labor Negotiations, with no TV and no Tapes. #2 - Lawsuits are taped and released after the case is over. The Sunshine Law says that no two Commissioners can discuss anything that could come before them for a vote. The criminal justice commission advised on this.

D. If there is a tie vote, who breaks the tie?
The issue dies - no tie breaker. Land issues do require a super majority.

Miscellaneous Information
Long range planning is the hardest. We are pretty much built out in Palm Beach County. Hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land are near the Everglades, but that's it. There is a multi-county treasure coast planning council. DCA is the state watchdog over local planning.

The next meeting of the Palm Beach County Commission/Charter Study Group is: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH @ 10 A.M. at the Delray Beach City Library on Atlantic Avenue, Upstairs Tower Room. We will be formulating questions to ask our newly appointed election winners, and planning appointments! So, join us! For more information contact Susan Litchfield.