WELLINGTON SEEKS ‘HURRICANE HELPERS’ COUNTY WANTS INPUT ON WETLANDS PLAN SEE STORY, PAGE 7 SEE STORY, PAGE 18 THE
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INSIDE Palm Beach Aggregates Gets OK For Expanded Mining Operation
Volume 31, Number 18 April 30 - May 6, 2010
WARM OUTSIDE, CHILI INSIDE
Despite protests from several dozen people at an April 22 hearing, the Palm Beach County Commission last week voted to allow Palm Beach Aggregates to expand its rock mining operation on land west of Loxahatchee. Page 3
Officers Take Oath At Palms West Chamber Installation Gala
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce held its installation gala April 23 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The evening featured the installation of Chairman Carmine Priore III, along with the installation of the 2010-11 board of directors. Page 5
The 2010 Acreage Music & Chili Cookoff took place Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25 at Acreage Community Park. The event featured WIRK 107.9 FM radio personalities, local singers, Nashville recording artists, vendors and of course, chili and salsa judging. Pictured above is Texas-Tucson Two-Step Chili creator Mike Grimes with his creation. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 2 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Man To Direct County’s New Commission On Ethics
Wellington Pill Mill Crackdown Moves A Step Closer To Reality
Gary Kane’s ‘100 Faces Of Wellington’ Exhibit
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council moved closer to regulating pain management clinics on Tuesday, April 27 when it unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that will define, limit and set standards for such clinics and place a one-year moratorium on new pain clinics in the village. Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board recommended the ordinance on April 7. However, the council chose to delete three recommended requirements for the clinics: that they can only supply three days worth of medication, that they cannot have a pharmacy on site and that they must take insurance. “Our hope is that the [state] legislature will draft legislation governing these types of clinics that we will be able to follow in the next year,” Mayor Darell Bowen explained. A bill to do just that is under consideration by the legislature this week. Wellington Director of Growth Management Robert Basehart reported that there are several existing legitimate pain
Assistant State Attorney Alan Johnson, a Wellington resident, said last week that strong progress is being made on the implementation of a grand jury’s recommendations to combat corruption in Palm Beach County. Page 7
The Village of Wellington hosted the unveiling of photographer Gary Kane’s exhibit titled “100 Faces of Wellington” on Thursday, April 22 at the Wellington Community Center. It will be on display through March 2011. Page 9
Opinion Remembering RPB Manager David Farber
The Town-Crier was deeply saddened by the recent passing of longtime Royal Palm Beach Village Manager David Farber. On a professional level, he possessed a leadership quality that greatly benefited the village during tough times. And on a personal level, he was an inspiration to friends, family and colleagues alike. Page 4
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clinics, including one urgent care center and one in the office buildings near Wellington Regional Medical Center. Councilman Howard Coates wondered whether it is necessary to pass an ordinance regarding pain clinics and asked if it would be sufficient just to put a moratorium on them until the state legislature drafts clear-cut guidelines. But Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz said an ordinance is necessary to separate pain clinics from other medical establishments. “Right now, our ordinances do not differentiate between one medical specialty and another,” he said. “The first thing this does is it defines what we mean by pain management clinics, so you can begin the regulatory process. In order to implement a moratorium, we have to pass an ordinance, and we have to have an identified definition of what we’re trying to regulate.” Coates also was concerned that the village would prevent legitimate physicians from coming to the community. “As I understand it, the moratorium would preclude any legitimate doctors from coming in and
setting up a pain management clinic over the next year,” he said, asking if there is a way for legitimate pain management physicians to come before the council to plead their case. Kurtz said the ordinance would “eliminate the good with the bad,” but said the village wouldn’t be able to determine which physicians were good and which were bad until they were further regulated by the state. Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Carmine Priore noted that state legislation could be signed into law soon. “Before we go ahead with this, might we not want to see what that bill entails?” he asked. “And then if we’re satisfied with that, just create a moratorium based on that state legislation.” Kurtz said that the council could make changes on second reading. He also reminded council members that starting in December, a state-mandated prescription monitoring system would go into effect that will allow doctors and pharmacists to see all prescriptions issued to a patient. “It is hoped that will go a long way in addressing this problem,” See PAIN CLINCS, page 7
Spate Of Premature Paint Jobs Annoy Royal Palm Zoning Board By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission granted “forgiveness” Tuesday to two painting projects that were started before the contractors drew permits. U-Store It in the Royal Palm Business Park and Shoma Homes on State Road 7 south of Southern Blvd. were granted approval for painting jobs that were either complete or had started — but not without raising the ire of commission members.
Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin said U-Store It’s previous colors were white and dark blue, while the new colors are beige and dark tan. “We feel it is an improvement to the site,” Erwin said. The painting job had been cited and reported to the Building Department by the Code Enforcement Department, he said. Commissioner Tinu Peña asked representative Thomas Hankey with Accent Building Restoration why the painting was done without a permit, and he said his firm
was not aware that a permit is required for painting. Commissioner Darrell Lange said penalties should be imposed on projects that start before the permit is pulled. “A commercial contractor did it?” Lange asked. “I think there needs to be some type of penalty, three times the permit fee or five times the permit fee, and the contractor needs to be licensed. Other than that, I do think it is a big improvement.” Erwin said penalties are imSee PAINT, page 18
Serving Palms West Since 1980
Development Ideas Worry Neighbors Of Shuttered Plant By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Almost 100 Royal Palm Beach residents, mostly from northern neighborhoods near the village’s shuttered 165-acre wastewater treatment plant site, attended a workshop Wednesday on the site’s future use. Mayor Matty Mattioli opened the workshop at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center by noting that the village is in an exploratory phase, examining options for the site. “No decisions will be made tonight,” he said. “It’s a long process. It’s not that complicated, but most importantly, those of you who wish to speak will have the opportunity.” About 20 people spoke, mostly against suggested uses presented by consultant Collene Walter of Kilday Urban Design Studios. The site, dubbed the Crestwood Redevelopment Area, is on the northern border of the village. Kilday researched the site for future economic development that would provide high-paying jobs and a source of revenue for the village through property taxes and permit and impact fees. “This property currently does not generate revenue for the village,” Walter said. Walter’s firm also researched opportunities for a college or university, talking to Florida Atlantic and Lynn universities, and Palm Beach State College. Market studies done by Goodkin Research found businesses were interested in locating in the western communities, Walter said. The firm found growth potential in life sciences, alternative energy and green technology, and healthcare.
She explained that the village has been cleaning up the property from when it was a wastewater treatment plant. “A lot of the percolation ponds have been filled and a lot of the buildings on the property have been removed,” Walter said. A significant portion remains unspoiled and could be preserved as an upland and wetland preservation area. The western side of the property also could serve as a buffer to the residents of Saratoga to the west, she said. No endangered species have been identified on the property, although two abandoned gopher tortoise burrows had been found. Walter said some contamination from a former shooting range will have to be removed. Topsoil in overflow percolation ponds will be removed and used as berms, she said. Traffic studies showed that with development, service standards would be met on all roads except Royal Palm Beach Blvd. between Okeechobee and Southern boulevards. Crestwood Blvd. would serve as access for initial phases, she said, emphasizing that no definite plans had been made. The first step for making some use of the land would be to change the land-use designation to be an economic development center, which would allow for mixed uses. Madison Green resident Joanne Dazio said she was concerned about the median on Crestwood Blvd., which is maintained by her homeowners’ association. Acting Village Manager Ray Liggins said negotiations are underway for the See PLANT, page 20
Principal Guarn Sims Leaving RPBHS After Two Years On The Job By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Royal Palm Beach High School Principal Guarn Sims announced last week that this year would be his last at his current post. He is leaving RPBHS to become principal at the Village Academy in Delray Beach. Sims told the school staff of his decision Monday, April 19. He told the Town-Crier that he had intended to stay at RPBHS until he learned over spring break that the position had opened at Village Academy, a unique public school serving grades K-12. “This is 100 percent my decision,” Sims said Wednesday. “I felt that it was a perfect match. I was really intrigued by this opportunity to have a direct impact on students at the elementary, middle and high school levels.” Sims came to RPBHS in 2008 from Lantana Middle School. Before that, he was principal at Galaxy Elementary School in Boynton Beach. Sims said that his time at RPBHS allowed him to be creative when it came to educating
groups of students. “I learned even more to appreciate not compromising my philosophy of students first,” he said. However, his time at the school was overshadowed by high-profile concerns leveled by Royal Palm Beach village officials over the school’s performance, boundaries and violence issues. Councilman David Swift created a task force to review the situation at RPBHS last year. For Swift, Sims’ departure illustrates a larger problem for the high school. “There have been six principals in 13 years,” he said. “We don’t have a consistency of principals who follow through.” Yet Swift spoke very highly of Sims in comparison to others who have led the school. “He was like a breath of fresh air,” he said. “The people I worked with thought he really could do something.” Sims feels the situation at RPBHS is looking up and will continue to head in the right direction under new leadership. Although he said he didn’t See SIMS, page 20
Bidder Accused Of Bribery Puts SWEET CORN SHUCKIN’ Wellington Officials In A Bind By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report A divided Wellington Village Council approved a bid award Tuesday to a company whose owner is accused of bribing an employee of the Town of Palm Beach. The $54,890 bid for an interconnect directional bore was awarded to the Wellington-based Chaz Equipment Co. Inc. on Thursday, April 1. “We want to connect our water mains to Palm Beach County’s water mains so that we have the ability to supply water on the very eastern and northeastern edges of our service area without the necessity of having to build a very large storage tank,” Village Manager Paul Schofield explained.
On Wednesday, April 14, the company’s owner, Gary Czajkowski, was arrested and charged with unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and one count of conspiracy of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior. He was released that afternoon on $10,000 bond. Czajkowski, 50, was accused of paying Palm Beach employee Steven White kickbacks for construction contracts. Councilman Howard Coates, who felt the council lacked the necessary information about the charges, pulled the item from the consent agenda at Monday’s agenda review meeting. He wondered whether village staff knew if there had been an indictment, but Deputy Village
Manager John Bonde said that they had no information on the formal charges, but they were aware that Czajkowski had been charged and was out on bond. Coates, a lawyer, suggested they table the item until the council had all the information. “I know that everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “But there’s a perception problem that I have with the village doing business with anyone who would have been charged with a crime in terms of what has been alleged here.” Councilwoman Anne Gerwig disagreed and noted that the village’s bidding process was done legally and the company was qualified to bid. “We went through our See BID, page 20
The 10th annual Sweet Corn Fiesta took place Sunday, April 25 in Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Shown above is corn shucker Caley Sosnowski. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 7 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER