New i PelFriday, May 31, 2019 - Vol.can XXVII, Issue 22 Pompano Beach • Deerfield Beach • Lighthouse Point • Lauderdale-By-The-Sea • Wilton Manors • Oakland Park • Hillsboro Beach Visit Us Online at: PelicanNewspaper.com • 954-783-8700 • Send news to [email protected] Perkins claims Honoring the racial divide in fallen vote on RMA By Michael d’Oliveira NEW PELICAN STAFF Pompano Beach – The issue of consolidating three contracts with RMA turned black and white at Tuesday’s commission meeting when race became part of the discussion. It started when resident Jocelyn Jackson held up an anti-RMA sign as she was sitting in the audience. RMA is the firm that previously ran the city’s CRA. Mayor Rex Hardin asked Jackson to take her sign down. Earlier in the meeting, he also asked a man in the See RMA on page 11 Veterans and others commemorated Memorial Overpayments Day in Pompano Beach. See photos on page 21. spark demands for [Photo by Elaine Fitzgerald] financial audit By Judy Wilson Recyclers not NEW PELICAN STAFF meeting the mark; Hillsboro Beach BSO Officer Dan McGrath [left] takes part in a marine exercise on Lake Santa Deerfield Beach – Commissioners Barbara. Personnel from multiple law enforcement agencies took part in the exercise. See story on Officials anticipate are moving to address questions page 13. [Photo by Anne Siren] being raised about the city’s financial cost increase processes after it was discovered By Judy Wilson former city manager Burgess Hanson received unauthorized longevity pay Two possible commuter train NEW PELICAN STAFF and cost of living increases for the 10 Deerfield Beach – Recycling years he served as top administrator station locations in Oakland Park contamination numbers are not here. By Judy Vik decreasing here which could mean an Earlier this month they directed increase in solid waste fees. NEW PELICAN STAFF Interim City Manager David Santucci The city has until July to improve Oakland Park – A team of South Florida transportation agencies, with a grant its percentage of unrecyclable See AUDIT on page 7 from the Federal Transit Administration [FTA], has been at work for two years recyclables. analyzing possible train station locations for a proposed commuter rail service But despite an aggressive public along the FEC corridor. Seven cities are involved in the grant applications, information campaign launched last including Oakland Park and Wilton Manors. August, commercial customers of the A proposed Tri-Rail Coastal Link would offer rail service from Jupiter to city’s recycling service continue to Miami and cities in between. toss contaminated material into the At a recent meeting of the Oakland Park City Commission, Dana Little, urban blue bins. design director for the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, presented The major contaminants are food study results and a look at design concepts. waste and plastic bags. No station locations have been selected yet. The issue is not this city’s alone. See STATIONS on page 23 See RECYCLERS on page 14 Color 2 New Pelican pelicannewspaper.com Friday, May 31, 2019 Urban farm finds common ground with garden Town to create two new for persons with limited mobilities staff positions; Deputy town By Kristen Maikoo an active seniors’ program Pelt. They met on Saturdays manager resigns was one of 40 submitted from to build the structures. “We NEW PELICAN STAFF By Judy Vik different organizations. Of built every single thing in this Oakland Park – Nestled those, 15 were presented to garden by hand, and that is NEW PELICAN STAFF off Dixie Highway in Oakland the class. something that I think I will Lauderdale-By-The-Sea – Commissioners on Tuesday Park on land that was once The idea was chosen and always be proud of,” said unanimously approved a budget amendment and the creation of a dairy farm, the Urban seven members were selected Natasha Markman, a member two new town staff positions. Farming Institute [UFI] is to help with the project. of Leadership Broward. The changes were prompted in part by the “unsolicited sprouting more than fresh Julie Van Pelt is the “All of us worked together resignation” of Deputy Town Manager Tony Bryan, an eight- produce in its gardens. chairperson for the group to bring it to life,” said Mike year employee who resigned on May 17. His last day with the Home to community of Leadership Broward Adams, another Leadership town will be June 4. gardens, a micro apiary, members. “We decided to Broward member. Town Manager William Vance said instead of keeping the hydroponic produce, and name it ‘Common Ground “We all have unique talents deputy manager position Bryan held, he is looking to fill a regenerative projects, the Garden’ because it really is we bring to the table.” finance director position and create an additional assistant farm, 1101 NE 40 Ct., a space where everybody in Several of the Leadership to the town manager. He recommended defunding a vacant recently opened the Common the community could come Broward members plan to assistant town manager position. Sharon Ragoonan, who was Ground Garden – elevated together—old, young, and return to UFI as volunteers. in that position until January, is now an assistant city manager garden beds designed to whatever your mobility is,” “Part of Leadership Broward, with the city of North Miami Beach. be more accessible for she said. the whole point of this, “We have a talented professional organization. It’s not gardeners with physical The Leadership Broward is to get connected with necessary for me to delegate through an assistant town ability issues and those who members drew from their the community and stay manager,” he said at Tuesday’s meeting. “We need additional use wheelchairs or mobility different professions while connected,” said Adams. resources in running my office.” He said the changes in scooters. building the garden beds. “I’m so excited that once positions will save about $60,000. Stacy Brown, director of Jaclyn Morrison said, “I’m we’re done with our actual Mayor Chris Vincent asked about qualifications for a operations and development at an interior architect so I know project to be able to come financial director. UFI, headed the project. a lot about the accessibility here and participate in the Town Attorney Susan Trevarthen said, “There are no specific “I realized the need, codes and standards that are classes . and see everybody minimum qualifications. There are a number of duties, so the as many of our current involved in ADA [Americans using our gardens,” said Pelt. town needs that position filled.” community garden members with Disabilities Act] Programming for the Commissioner Buz Oldaker asked exactly what the are getting older and need accessible facilities. I wanted garden is scheduled for the responsibilities will be with the new positions. For example, a better way to be able to to be part of that solution.” fall. The Active Seniors’ who would handle IT issues? garden a little easier. Even The team met weekly to Garden program will include “I’m very analytical and get in the weeds on some issues. minor reach limitations like develop designs for the garden gardening classes, group I am an accountant and have a degree in finance,” Oldaker arthritis make gardening on beds, such as determining the activities, coffee and tea the ground difficult.” height. garden chats, painting, See NEW STAFF on page 9 The grand opening for the “First we just had a hand- speaker presentations, and garden was held recently. drawing and then we put it culinary events. “We have some very, very, into a CAD system to have an very innovative programs that actual visual of it,” said Van See URBAN FARM on page 17 Send your news to [email protected] are in the process of emerging and others to follow and it’s just an amazing sort of thing,” said Jon Albee, CEO of UFI. Open forum in Pompano UFI collaborated with Pompano Beach – Mayor Rex Hardin will host an open Leadership Broward Class 37 forum Tuesday, June 4 at 6 p.m. at the E. Pat Larkins Center, to design and build the garden 520 MLK Blvd. Hardin, who will be accompanied by the city beds. Brown’s proposal for manager, said residents can come and speak or ask questions on any topic they want. “It’s more of a listening session,” said Hardin. He added that the forum is a chance to have the kind of conversations that aren’t possible during commission meetings. Color Friday, May 31, 2019 pelicannewspaper.com New Pelican 3 Protests don’t sway Bullies Be Gone! performance gets rave commission; Marijuana reviews at Norcrest Elementary School dispensary ban is official By Anne Siren NEW PELICAN STAFF By Judy Wilson NEW PELICAN STAFF Pompano Beach – Last week, Norcrest Elementary Deerfield Beach – After lengthy protests from the public Musical Theater Club and those invested in the medical marijuana industry, produced its first musical, commissioners approved a ban on further dispensaries here. Bullies Be Gone!, with They amended the pending ordinance to allow dispensary a packed audience in its owners, who had obtained certificates of use on or before May cafeteria theater. 21, to be exempt from the ban. The play opens as Ava The vote came despite Mayor Bill Ganz’s plea to the Jordon Borisoff, Madison West, Jennelle Coleman, Natalie Soyo and Nicolle [Nicolle Graves] arrives at her Graves. [Photos by Anne Siren] commission not to enact the ordinance. ”Respect this industry. new school. She confesses to See into the future. Please do not do this [vote the ban.] You are Mrs. Cathcart, her counselor stigmatizing this,” he said. [Claire Yates], that she had Vice Mayor Todd Drosky along with commissioners Michael been bullied at her former Hudak and Ben Preston maintained their previous position school.